《Soulless: Twisted hell》


 Act 1: Chapter 1

    ¡°Rise and shine, miss Hazelmere!¡±


    The loud, stern, feminine voice woke her up, replacing her sweet dreams with a dull headache.


    In response, she pulled the bedsheet over her head, with only her canine ears sticking out.


    ¡°That won¡¯t do!¡± The voice said, not changing its tone, as the sheet was skillfully torn out of her weak hands.


    ¡°Mhmm ¡­ give me some time, will you?¡± Her clouded, aching mind tried reasoning with the assailant, ¡°I have nothing important to do today! Let me sleep until noon. You know I need some rest now!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong, miss. You must get up, right this instant!¡±


    As soon as the voice said that, the light struck her sleepy eyes, making her frown deeply as she turned her head in the other direction.


    ¡°You inconsiderate ¡­¡± her words were filled with venom, but the voice just talked over her.


    ¡°The noon has already passed! I gave you plenty of time! You will either get out of your bed right now, like a proper, elegant lady, or I¡¯ll pour a bucket of cold water over your head!¡±


    Hearing that, she shifted in bed, trying to face the voice. The light stinging her eyes forced her to cover it with her hand.


    ¡°What¡¯s gotten into you? You¡¯ve never been this aggressive before!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve been neglecting your duties for too long, and now you¡¯re running out of time!¡±


    ¡°Time for what? I¡¯ve told you, there¡¯s nothing important left for me to do! That¡¯s why I had the gala in the first place!¡±


    As her eyes started adapting to the light, she realized she was the only one in the bed.


    ¡°Wha ¡­ where have my guests gone?¡±


    The voice paused a little bit before answering: ¡°They¡¯ve already left! They woke up on time, had their breakfast, and left the estate.¡±


    The voice paused again, before returning with a slightly pleading tone in it: ¡°I must say, once again, that I ¡­ disapprove of your current lifestyle ¡­ miss Hazelmere. That is not how a noble lady should behave.¡±


    ¡°Oh, come on!¡± Hazelmere yelled as she landed on her back, ¡°Will you stop with it already!¡±


    ¡°As your butler, I have to make sure you don¡¯t lose your way.¡±


    Hazelmere opened her eyes slowly. Her head was hurting like hell, but her eyes have finally adapted to the light. The windows were open wide, enabling the sunlight to fill the room, followed by the slight breeze.


    Right next to the windows stood her unforgiving, stoic butler. It was an older female with a proper posture and a dead serious face, the most typical kind of a butler the noble houses choose for their daughters.


    The butler was dressed in practical, formal clothing. Sure, it was designed to look elegant, just like everything else in a noble¡¯s home. Still, a butler¡¯s clothing is a rare example of a noble¡¯s willingness to compromise when absolutely necessary. If elegance or aesthetics could get in the way of a butler¡¯s performance, those would be discarded. And that means you won¡¯t see any frills, looseness, or unnecessary gadgets anywhere on a butler¡¯s suit. Even the butler¡¯s big ears were neatly tied together, so those wouldn¡¯t get in the way somehow.


    Taking a good look at her butler, Hazelmere tried her best to sound reproachful. However, that served no purpose since her canine, honey-brown tail swished around in annoyance.


    ¡°Listen, Luana ¡­ don¡¯t you think I deserve some slack ¡­¡±


    ¡°No, I don¡¯t think so,¡± her butler cut her off once again, making her roll her eyes and start gesticulating with her hands.


    ¡°Listen ¡­ look ¡­ I did everything anyone has ever asked of me, and more! I was a good kid, never caused any trouble, and studied well when I became an adult. I stayed pure for two centuries just to get the chance at becoming an archmage and, mind you, a lot of handsome males were running after me. You know that better than anyone else!¡±This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°I also remember catching you a few times when you were about to succumb to the temptation.¡±


    Hazelmere rolled her eyes again, blushing a bit.


    ¡°Anyway, I became a mage in the end. And that was what everyone expe ¡­¡±


    She paused with a troubled expression on her face. She had one soundless hiccup, then another one, after which she hastily leaned over the bed, emptying the contents of her stomach on the floor in the most unladylike manner.


    The butler¡¯s facial expression didn¡¯t change, but the disgust was reflected in her stare.


    ¡°Anyway,¡± Hazelmere got back up as if nothing has happened, ¡°I became a mage, and that was what everyone expected of me. But that¡¯s not where I¡¯ve stopped! Against all odds, I became the royal archmage! Do you have any idea how hard it is to become one? Our family never had one, I made history that day! So, don¡¯t you think I deserve some slack? While everyone else enjoyed their lives, I worked hard to get where I¡¯m now! And shouldn¡¯t I get some reward for it? I mean, why did I have to work so hard and sacrifice so much if I¡¯m not allowed to enjoy a few privileges?¡±


    ¡°You are in your best years, my lady. You aren¡¯t so young anymore. Your actions can¡¯t be excused as the fleeting entrancement of a young mind. You¡¯re a fully grown adult and should therefore act like one! You should focus on marriage now! No, you must! You have to attract a suitable husband to ensure the longevity of your house¡¯s legacy! And any promising candidate certainly won¡¯t approve of your current lifestyle! Your ¡®galas¡¯ are severely limiting your options!¡±


    ¡°This again?¡± Hazelmere squinted her eyes in annoyance, ¡°What you¡¯re saying makes no sense since I¡¯m getting the proposals every week! Do you have any idea what the title of the royal archmage means? Everyone wants an archmage in their family! Seriously, you¡¯re even worse than my father!¡±


    But her tirade ended abruptly as she landed back into the bed with a sigh.


    ¡°I see what you¡¯re doing here ¡­ and it worked. I¡¯m awake now. Satisfied?¡±


    The butler certainly had a satisfied smile on her face: ¡°Not really, not until you get up.¡±


    Hazelmere hugged the pillow next to her: ¡°What is it? Why are you so insistent? I don¡¯t remember you ever being this annoying.¡±


    The butler pulled an envelope out of a convenient pocket in her suit, showing it in an almost theatric way.


    ¡°You¡¯ve been summoned to the senate. You have to arrive there before the three-quarters of the sunset.¡±


    That made Hazelmere¡¯s eyes open wide as she turned to face the butler once again: ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    ¡°The Senate has been summoned and, as the royal archmage, you have no choice but to attend it.¡±


    Hazelmere looked like a fish out of the water, together with the round-opened mouth: ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me that! They certainly didn¡¯t send the letter today!¡±


    The butler nodded nonchalantly: ¡°Indeed, they¡¯ve sent the letter the day before yesterday. However, every time I wanted to notify you of it, you¡¯d dismiss me. Quite rudely, I must add. You didn¡¯t want me infringing on your fun. So, according to your own instructions, I waited until your ¡®gala¡¯ ends.¡±


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you ¡­¡± Hazelmere stopped mid-sentence.


    After some pondering, her voice sounded much less confrontational: ¡°I see. That was a very low blow on your part, not saying anything about it. But I get it.¡±


    ¡°You are talented, my lady, but not as capable as you think. You still have much more to learn. You¡¯ve spent all your life studying magic, and that made your other qualities deteriorate. A proper lady should be competent in all things, if not fully capable.¡±


    ¡°That sounds nice, but I don¡¯t see what it has to do with any of this.¡±


    ¡°You have to learn that ignoring those who are trying to help you will certainly have consequences.¡±


    ¡°Well, thanks! Thanks for putting me in a pinch now!¡±


    ¡°I made sure you have enough time, if you get up immediately.¡±


    After a deep sigh, Hazelmere got up, putting her legs on the floor.


    And stepped on something squishy.


    Looking down and realizing it¡¯s her own vomit, she cradled her face in her hands.


    ¡°Oh, great!¡±


    Butler said nothing. She just eyed Hazelmere disapprovingly.


    ¡°I take it everything is ready?¡±


    ¡°I made sure of it personally.¡±


    ¡°Will you be coming with me?¡±


    ¡°Even though I should, considering your lack of proper mannerisms, there¡¯s a huge mess to sort out here. Thanks to you and your guests, I have my hands full. Besides, they wouldn¡¯t let me attend the senate meeting anyway. As long as you go there and come back soon, you won¡¯t need me.¡±


    ¡°Does the letter mention anything about the session? Why are they summoning us?¡±


    ¡°There are no specifics, but the letter did mention it will be an extremely impactful session. It stated that no excuses would be considered if one fails to attend.¡±


    ¡°Well, that¡¯s just great.¡±


    After yet another sigh, Hazelmere raised her head. Her eyes looked at the butler pleadingly.


    ¡°Luana ¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, my lady?¡±


    ¡°Can you please, tell the servants to prepare something for the headache? It¡¯s killing me.¡±


    ¡°What, you still haven¡¯t learned a magic spell for that?¡± The butler said mockingly.


    Then, she waved her hand in front of her, as if to clear up the air, mocking Hazelmere even further: ¡°While we¡¯re at it, you should also learn some spell to fix that disgusting breath.¡±


    ¡°Ha, ha, ha,¡± Hazelmere responded in a dull, sarcastic voice, ¡°hilarious and original, hilarious and original.¡±


    After which, she blew in the butler¡¯s direction, making the stern female recoil.


    ¡°Everything is already prepared, my lady. This isn¡¯t your first time, you know? Just don¡¯t go anywhere until I fetch the maids. We don¡¯t want you spreading that ¡­ filth all over the room.¡±


    And with that, the butler was gone.

 Chapter 2

    Being the royal archmage is, of course, an extremely responsible position. But it also comes with a lot of benefits. For example, since the royal archmage must be close to his Majesty at all times, she¡¯s granted an estate near the palace. Not only does this make the royal archmage very responsive to any summons, but it also makes her far less dependent on her family, making it much easier for her to realize where her true loyalties should lie.


    Hazelmere made the most out of it, much more than the previous royal archmages did.


    Thanks to how close her estate was to the senate, she arrived on time. The Senate floor was already bustling when she walked in but. Luckily, her position in the state also meant that there was always a special, reserved seat in the room for her.


    All the senate members had to walk through the entrance alone, no servants or personal security was allowed. There was a time when such restrictions were unnecessary, but a certain bad experience made those restrictions unavoidable.


    So, Hazelmere strode alone towards her seat, trying to hear what the other senate members were chattering about. She quickly realized that everyone else was as lost as she was.


    However, she knew a certain someone who always knew what was going on. And luckily, that person had a seat right next to her.


    Reaching the first row, she made eye contact with the person in question. It was a female, a bit younger than her. And, although Hazelmere always considered herself to be unusually beautiful, she knew she could never compete with this girl.


    Not only she had stunning looks, but she also had a few essential things Hazelmere lacked. Something a pretty face and feminine mannerisms can never compensate for.


    And she also had that dark-golden hair everyone is so crazy about, a true sign of royal heritage.


    Seeing Hazelmere, the girl smiled. But it wasn¡¯t a typical warm smile the people get when they see someone they like. It was a smile of satisfaction a person gets when the pieces start falling in their place.


    ¡°Ahoy, Hazelmere!¡± The girl saluted.


    ¡°Ahoy, Rowena!¡±


    ¡°Getting married yet?¡± The girl couldn¡¯t wait to tease her.


    ¡°Really?¡± Hazelmere said while rolling her eyes, but she did respond politely, ¡°You know, anyone else can ask me that. Anyone but you! You¡¯re almost the same age as I am!¡±


    Rowena¡¯s long, canine ears twitched in amusement: ¡°I¡¯m the Emperor¡¯s personal advisor. I don¡¯t get to marry yet. Having a husband could compromise my loyalties.¡±


    ¡°Now that¡¯s a convenient excuse if I¡¯ve ever heard one!¡±


    Rowena chuckled at that: ¡°Oh, come on. You know I¡¯m just teasing you. It¡¯s only amusing because you¡¯re so easy to rile up. Come, take a seat!¡±


    Hazelmere did so: ¡°You didn¡¯t have to stay a virgin for an entire century! Forget that, two centuries! One to become a mage and another one to become an archmage! I spent almost half of my promised lifetime restraining myself, and now, when I finally have a chance to enjoy life, everyone is giving me shit for it!¡±


    Rowena smiled inaudibly with a huge grin over her face, turning her head so Hazelmere wouldn¡¯t see it: ¡°Sorry ¡­ sorry. You¡¯re just too amusing when you¡¯re annoyed.¡±


    Hazelmere sighed, unconsciously taking a glance at Rowena¡¯s cleavage while her face was turned away: ¡°Forget about me. What is this all about?¡±


    After a few moments, Rowena¡¯s face was serious once again: ¡°You¡¯ll see.¡±


    ¡°Aww, come on! I will know it soon anyway! At least give me a hint!¡±


    ¡°Nope, I can¡¯t tell you.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Hazelmere¡¯s voice betrayed her annoyance, along with a hint of offense, ¡°I thought we had a mutual understanding going on.¡±


    Rowena faced her: ¡°If I tell you what¡¯s going on, you may come up with some reasonable counterarguments. I can¡¯t let you in on this one.¡±


    Hazelmere opened her mouth in surprise: ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll give you one hint, though. Let¡¯s say that, from now on, you¡¯ll have your hands full. So, I hope you enjoyed your galas to the fullest because you won¡¯t be getting any more of them anytime soon.¡±


    Hazelmere blinked several times without saying anything.


    Rowena turned her face away from her while lifting the nose unusually high: ¡°As you¡¯ve said it yourself, you¡¯ll soon know about it anyway. Don¡¯t worry, it won¡¯t be anything you can handle.¡±The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    That only made Hazelmere¡¯s eyes go even wider, but the conversation ended with a loud bang of the gong.


    ¡°All rise up for his imperial Majesty!¡±


    Rowena almost jumped straight up, with practiced ease. Hazelmere was much slower and carried a stupefied look on her face.


    There was a pause before anyone showed up. In fact, the labored huffs and puffs could be heard long before anyone could be seen.


    Eventually, a figure did show up, and what a figure it was! It was so rounded, one could even argue it was an as perfectly round figure as a mortal could be. A ball of meaty lard encased in the skin was slowly and tiredly making its way towards the podium. It was adorned with all kinds of fine clothing, except in one place.


    Its belly.


    The ceremonious cloak covering the figure was tied below its neck from which it fell freely on both sides, ensuring that its gargantuan stomach could move independently from the rest of the body. So, as the body was dallying forward, the belly danced left and right at its own pace.


    The roundness of the figure was only disrupted by the huge crown sitting on top of it.


    As soon as the crowned figure appeared, everyone on the senate floor started clapping.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t our Emperor the very personification of wealth?¡± Rowena said through the noise the applause made.


    ¡°Perhaps a bit too much,¡± Hazelmere responded.


    Rowena looked at her knowingly, her eyes looking Hazelmere through her long eyelashes: ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear that from someone who shows no restraint when indulging in sinful behavior.¡±


    ¡°Oh, excuse me, you oh-so-pure-and-noble bastion of virtue! For a moment, I didn¡¯t recognize you there! What, are you offended? Are you into that? You like well-rounded males?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t expect someone with a private estate to understand it, but the roundness is the best indication of a person¡¯s wealth. It takes a lot of effort and a lot of coin to afford such a figure. Not to mention, all the servants needed to take care of such a well-rounded individual.¡± Rowena responded, not ceasing with the clapping for a moment, ¡°But, I must admit, such roundedness can get in the way sometimes. Lifting such a well-endowed belly can be a real problem when you¡¯re trying to find the tool but, luckily, our Majesty is quite endowed in some other areas too, so it¡¯s not that much of a problem.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need to know everything!¡± Hazelmere closed her eyes with a disgusted grimace on her face. Then, she started vigorously shaking her head as if she hoped something would fall out of it.


    ¡°And here I thought you mages were all about the knowledge.¡±


    Their conversation was interrupted once again, but this time with a violent cough. The Emperor grabbed the podium for support with one hand as he coughed in the other, the sheer volume of his gut making the coughs much louder than one could expect them to be.


    He cleared his throat and straightened up, as much as his body allowed him.


    ¡°Thank you all for coming, and on such short notice. This isn¡¯t how we usually do things, but there are some good reasons for it. First of all, I have to point out something we all know already. Rash decisions always come with consequences. What I¡¯m going to talk about today isn¡¯t such a decision. We¡¯ve planned this for decades! Very few of you know of it, not because this happened suddenly, but because we¡¯ve taken all possible precautions to keep it as secret as possible. But now, when all the pieces have fallen in their place, we can finally start the most glorious project of our age!¡±


    After clearing his throat one more time, the Emperor continued: ¡°What I¡¯m going to tell you will certainly shock you. It¡¯s something that has never been attempted after the fall. There¡¯s no doubt that a lot of you will feel uncertain about it. Some of you may even find the very notion heretical.¡±


    He paused, fixing his eyes on the particular person sitting in the first row.


    ¡°Is he looking at the transcendent cardinal?¡± Hazelmere asked Rowena with a whisper.


    ¡°Oh, he certainly is.¡±


    That made Hazelmere¡¯s tail flutter nervously.


    ¡°Nevertheless,¡± the Emperor continued, ¡°there is no cause for alarm. We¡¯ve planned this for so long, and with such devotion and intensity, that we¡¯ve made sure to completely nullify any possible complications. We made sure to pay attention to each and every single detail, which is why I¡¯m notifying you now, only when we¡¯re absolutely sure of our success. Only now, when our royal archmage has assured me that we can¡¯t fail, have we decided to go forward with the plan.¡±


    As he said that, the Emperor pointed towards Hazelmere with his outstretched hand.


    Hearing that, her ears and tail went straight up. She didn¡¯t move though, as she could almost feel the stares of everyone in the room.


    After a few moments, the Emperor continued: ¡°What we are about to do will change the balance of power in Greadinall, forever. As you all know, our Empire is struggling against the enemies who employ dirty, dishonorable tactics to get the advantage. The treacherous high-elves are financing the hosagian invasions to slowly, but surely, bleed our coffers dry. They¡¯ve realized that their armies aren¡¯t capable of winning honorably, on the field of battle, so they¡¯re trying to outlast us by forcing us to constantly spend the coin on our defenses. And, since the damn high-elves have a monopoly on several critical resources, they have an almost unlimited amount of coin to throw on their little project.¡±


    ¡°But, that ends today!¡± The Emperor proclaimed loudly, hitting the podium with his fist, the loud sound echoing all over the senate, ¡°Today, we unleash the new, bold plan to end this foolish war the Hosagians and high-elves have started, once and for all! What we¡¯re about to start today will ensure that we, just like the high-elves, have the unlimited funds to supply our armies properly! Once they realize that we have a new, much better source of income, one that they can never hope to match, those fools will have no other choice but to give in to any demands that we may make!¡±


    With a determined gaze, the Emperor made a pause. One that was clearly dramatic.


    ¡°Today, we start building the portal to an alien world!¡±


    After hearing those words, the entire senate went eerily silent. Hazelmere¡¯s jaw unhinged completely, but Rowena closed her mouth quickly, with a nimble move of an index finger. She didn¡¯t even have to look at Hazelmere to do it.


    As the silence slowly turned into muffled murmurs, Hazelmere slowly turned her head to look at Rowena, horror clearly painted in her eyes.


    ¡°We can¡¯t do that!¡± Her voice was so low, yet full of urgency.


    ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it after the session. Just you and me,¡± Rowena responded in a disinterested, cold manner.


    ¡°But ¡­¡±


    ¡°Hush!¡± Rowena¡¯s disinterested demeanor turned into outwardly hostile as her eyes pierced Hazelmere. Completely caught off guard and not knowing what to do, Hazelmere obliged.


    But, there was someone in the room who clearly had no intention of staying quiet.


    ¡°Are you insane! You¡¯ll doom us all!¡±

 Chapter 3

    ¡°Ah, yes ¡­ our venerable, transcendent cardinal. I take it you have some reservations about it?¡± The Emperor said in the most uncaring tone.


    ¡°What do you think?¡± The cardinal spat back, standing defiantly and looking absolutely furious, ¡°have you forgotten what has happened the last time someone dared to open a portal?¡±


    ¡°How can we ever forget, cardinal? As long as people like you are among us, we can¡¯t forget no matter how hard we tried.¡±


    The Senate floor was utterly silent. Even the murmuring stopped.


    Hazelmere leaned in towards Rowena, as discretely as possible: ¡°Any other time, this would be an amusing joke. But I¡¯m afraid our Emperor doesn¡¯t realize just how serious this is,¡± she said in a whisper.


    Rowena didn¡¯t acknowledge it at all. Her focused gaze didn¡¯t shift away from the Emperor.


    ¡°I did say,¡± the Emperor continued, ¡°that we¡¯ve taken all necessary measures of precaution. I had plenty of reservations, just like you venerable cardinal. I didn¡¯t agree to this until my associates were absolutely confident there are no risks involved.¡±


    ¡°Do you have any idea what¡¯s going to happen if anything goes wrong?¡± The cardinal retorted.


    ¡°You¡¯re repeating yourself, dear cardinal. Can you at least let me explain everything before you cast your judgment?¡±


    The cardinal paused at that, but his facial expression didn¡¯t change.


    ¡°Will the Senate have a chance to vote on this?¡± He asked.


    ¡°No. This matter is too delicate to be entrusted to the senate.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s only because you know everyone is against it! You¡¯re going against the will of the noble houses! You¡¯re abusing your power!¡±


    The Emperor glowered at the cardinal: ¡°I don¡¯t want to hear that from the head of the church! When have you cared about the will of the houses? All you¡¯ve ever cared about is filling your coffers with noble coin! Look at you! You¡¯re almost as round as I am! Someone who cares about others would certainly share his meals with those in need! When was the last time your church has done anything useful?¡±


    The cardinal stared at the Emperor, looking quite shocked, eyes wide open and mouth agape. It took him a few moments to respond.


    ¡°How dare you! We purify water every day! We¡¯re lifting the curses! We offer guidance to those who are lost! We keep your Empire afloat while you indulge in unnecessary, expensive wars!¡±


    Rowena stood up, much to everyone¡¯s surprise.


    ¡°With all due respect, sirs, I don¡¯t think the senate is the proper place for this kind of conversation. Can we try to keep the conversation civil?¡±


    The Emperor and the cardinal still glared daggers at each other, but they did stop with the insults.


    ¡°We can certainly reach a compromise,¡± Rowena continued, ¡°after all, isn¡¯t that what makes the timkik Empire great? Unlike the other nations of this continent, our Empire is guided by reason. So, how about this: how about we let you, venerable cardinal, oversee the portal personally? I¡¯m certain our Emperor will have anything against it since his intentions are pure.¡±


    The Emperor nodded: ¡°I can agree to that. If you want, cardinal, you can come and observe the portal personally.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not a practitioner of arcane arts! Besides, what would my presence achieve? Whether I¡¯m there or not won¡¯t make any difference!¡±


    ¡°But, venerable cardinal,¡± Rowena countered, ¡°you can bring the council of archpriestesses with you. They can observe the portal with their divine powers and, if at any point in time they detect any traces of corruption, we¡¯ll abort the spell.¡±


    The cardinal¡¯s expression softened a bit as he considered the idea for a few moments.


    ¡°Are you saying an arch priestess can feel if the portal is leading to hell?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely! The royal archmage assured us of it!¡±


    Hazelmere didn¡¯t dare make a move. She just sat in her seat like a statue.


    But, she soon felt a slender finger poking her vigorously from within her dress. She didn¡¯t realize it before, but Rowena has somehow managed to put her hand inside Hazelmere¡¯s dress and was now making the most out of it.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that right, miss Hazelmare?¡± Rowena asked in a polite voice as her poking got ever more vigorous.


    Hazlemere, still looking like a frightened deer, finally turned her head. With a quick glance, she saw that Rowena hid the lower part of her right arm masterfully, as her and Hazelmere¡¯s dresses were conveniently too close to one another. She quickly realized that, almost certainly, nobody but the two of them knew what was going on.


    And clearly, defying his majesty always comes at a cost. So, Hazelmere did the only thing she could do. She nodded her head slowly, in affirmation.


    ¡°Your archmage looks very uncertain about it,¡± the cardinal noticed.


    ¡°Nonsense,¡± Rowena was quick to retort, ¡°she¡¯s just not used to being the center of attention. As you may know, she¡¯s been the royal archmage for a little more than a year. And since the mages are known for their terrible lack of social skills, it¡¯s no wonder the girl feels very uneasy about speaking in front of a crowd.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me, your excellences ¡­¡± another feminine but noticeably more mature voice said.


    Hazelmere turned her head towards the voice, seeing a familiar face. A middle-aged lady stood in the second row.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    And, although the face was familiar, it was for all the wrong reasons.


    Since no one objected, the middle-aged lady continued: ¡°Excuse me but, considering that miss Hazelmere got to such a responsible position so recently, can we really trust her judgment? Would it not be much more reassuring to ask the council of mages for their opinion before we proceed?¡±


    Rowena fixed the female with a slightly threatening gaze: ¡°That same council gives the royal archmage her mandate. Had it considered miss Hazelmere unworthy of such an important station, it would¡¯ve never given it to her,¡± she said in an extremely calm manner.


    ¡°I understand and respect that, trusted advisor, but perhaps we should seek the opinion of other experienced mages in this matter. That would certainly alleviate this unnerving feeling most of us have.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly what we did, lady Bruna. We¡¯ve asked the most trusted mages for their opinion before reaching the decision. There was a very heated debate regarding whether we should ask your house for opinion but, in the end, we decided we should act as safely as possible. I hope you don¡¯t feel slighted because we didn¡¯t contact you on this matter. The crown isn¡¯t doubting your loyalties. We were worried that you were insulted because the royal archmage title, which was granted to your house for thousands of years, has finally been given to some other family. Considering just how delicate the situation is, we didn¡¯t feel like taking even the most minimal risks.¡±


    ¡°Oh,¡± the lady¡¯s face became disheartened in an instant, ¡°oh ¡­ I see. I was only trying to offer an alternative. Please, forgive me.¡±


    ¡°Worry not, lady Bruna. Your family is kept in high regard by the court. There¡¯s nothing to forgive. We appreciate your input.¡±


    The lady got back into her seat slowly and with some difficulty, her ears lying flat on top of her head.


    ¡°Of course,¡± the Emperor said as soon as lady Bruna was back in her seat, ¡°this matter is too delicate and important to be entrusted with one person. We¡¯re expecting most of the mages to partake in it. And, if the venerable cardinal wants, he and his council of archpriestesses can participate too. Yes, I know, it¡¯s not fair that I¡¯m bringing this matter to your attention this late. But now, when everything has been revealed, and when secrecy is no longer paramount, I promise the crown will be far more transparent.¡±


    ¡°But, still ¡­¡± the cardinal protested.


    And was immediately interrupted by the Emperor.


    ¡°But still, you didn¡¯t let me finish the speech! If you, dear cardinal, and the other senate members will kindly allow me to finish, then most of your questions will be answered very soon. How about you let me say what I have to say and then, if there¡¯s something you aren¡¯t satisfied with, you can ask your questions!¡±


    ¡°Surely you can wait for a few moments before casting your final judgment, cardinal,¡± Rowena said with a pleasant smile on her face.


    The transcendent cardinal looked very uncertain, but he did sit back in the end. Rowena followed immediately after him.


    ¡°Thank you, venerable cardinal,¡± the Emperor continued, ¡°now, as I¡¯ve said, we¡¯ve taken all the possible measures of precaution. First of all, it¡¯s not like we got this idea all of a sudden. I didn¡¯t wake up one day with the idea of opening a portal. All of this started when we got a very intriguing scroll from one of the adventuring parties we trust. They found a very unique structure, deep in a certain ancient dungeon. They got some riches, plenty of magical items, and even more strange instruments. We had the experts analyze all of it, and they got to the conclusion that those artifacts and instruments were certainly used for traveling between the worlds. That makes sense because the dungeon is located in our realm, quite close to the holy site of ...¡±


    The Emperor made a pause as he struggled to read something from the piece of parchment in front of him.


    ¡°¡­ Treadmondo. As the transcendent cardinal certainly knows, many rumors surround that holy site and other sites like it. One of those is the assumption that the ancient Sun elves used such sites to travel between the worlds. That would explain the proximity of the dungeon. A long time ago, it was probably used as a planning and support structure for traveling between the worlds.¡±


    ¡°How didn¡¯t we discover this dungeon sooner? There are hundreds of pilgrims visiting that holy site each moon!¡±


    ¡°Patience, cardinal. And besides, it¡¯s not my fault that your priests can¡¯t seem to find a hole, even when it¡¯s right in front of them.¡±


    That did draw a series of giggles from the crowd.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the important stuff. The dungeon was filled with all kinds of writings and scrolls but, unfortunately, many of them were unusable. Time has taken its toll on them. However, we did get some exciting findings. I¡¯m not easily fascinated by the magical arts, and yet, even I¡¯m excited about it! I can only imagine how those who have magical blood coursing through their veins might feel.¡±


    During a short pause, the Emperor cast a glance at the Hazelmere.


    ¡°First of all, we¡¯ve found a clearly depicted summoning process. Everything our mages need to know about summoning the portal is written there. But that¡¯s not all. As far as I¡¯ve understood what the mages have told me, they also need a set of complicated coordinates. A portal can lead anywhere, and our world has learned that the hard way. I fully respect the worry our revered cardinal feels. Nobody wants to summon another portal to hell. As I¡¯ve been told, the ancient Sun elves didn¡¯t understand the dangers of such a portal. They toyed with them, unaware of all the terrible places such a portal can lead to. But we¡¯re wiser and much more careful about it. And above all ¡­¡±


    The Emperor made another dramatic pause.


    ¡°Our mages will have all the necessary coordinates that will lead them to a bountiful world! Miraculously, one set of scrolls has remained intact!¡± The Emperor said as he raised his chubby arms victoriously.


    However, there was no applause.


    That didn¡¯t deter him: ¡°With all the necessary components, there¡¯s no risk involved at all! Our mages will have everything they need to open a portal to a specific world. We aren¡¯t going anywhere new. We¡¯re going somewhere where the Sun elves have already been!¡±


    ¡°Do we have a description of it?¡± A random male voice from the audience asked.


    ¡°Oh yes, we have. That world is full of all kinds of riches! And the best of it all is that there are no people there! Our armies won¡¯t have to fight anyone! There are only animals out there, many of which are well suited for hard labor! It¡¯s even written that the world where we¡¯re going has a very unique kind of cattle. One that has both high endurance and a developed intellect, which means it can be easily trained to be servile! With these new riches and plenty of new cattle, we¡¯ll reinvigorate our economy! The endless stream of new resources will ensure that we can continue to finance our military struggle, and not only that! I swear, in front of all of you, that each and every noble house will get its fair share!¡±


    He raised his right arm, vigorously: ¡°I swear it, in the presence of the transcendent priest!¡±


    The uncertainty of the crowd was palpable. Nobody dared say anything.


    Until one male stood up in the crowd.


    ¡°My house has served the Emperors for centuries! It will follow his majesty even if the road leads to hell itself!¡±


    Another one stood up: ¡°My house is also at your disposal, your majesty. We trust your judgment, no matter what.¡±


    ¡°As the patriarch of a merchant family, I fully support this endeavor,¡± the third said.


    ¡°Your majesty!¡± Lady Bruna stood up, ¡°I am not trying to stand in your way or dissuade you. I am merely offering my humble opinion. Even if our mages have access to all the necessary knowledge, we will need an enormous amount of magic to do it! It will be a huge investment! We will need thousands upon thousands of crystals to store the magic in, and we will need to mobilize all the mages in the Empire! Even personal ones! This will put a huge strain on our economy and military before we can get any return on our investment!¡±


    ¡°Thank you for your input, lady Bruna. I appreciate it,¡± the Emperor responded, ¡°but our royal archmage has already warned us about that. Yes, some unpleasant measures will have to be taken. Yes, that will also include the mobilization of all the mages. Yes, that will affect our military capabilities and our quality of life. But, no worthy enterprise can ever start without the investment! We¡¯re temporarily sacrificing our prosperity to make it much better for the generations to come!¡±


    As soon as the Emperor said that, the small group of people standing up started cheering. It wasn¡¯t long before everyone else realized their best option was to do the same.


    And as everyone cheered, Hazelmere just set there, completely lost and tense as a drawn bow.

 Chapter 4

    It wasn¡¯t long before the senate was dismissed. Realizing the crowd has started leaving, Hazelmere prepared to do the same. But, the gentle hand landed on her thigh, stopping her.


    ¡°Miss Hazelmere,¡± Rowena, who was still sitting next to her, said with a very polite and respectful expression on her face, ¡°can you please wait until everyone else leaves? I want to talk to you about the details.¡±


    Hazlemere¡¯s expression could best be described as a measured rage. Her eyes looked Rowena scornfully, but there was no hostility in them.


    ¡°I¡¯d really appreciate it if you¡¯d follow me to the palace, where I¡¯ll explain everything to you. I understand you¡¯re very ¡­ displeased with being put on the spot here, but we wouldn¡¯t do it without good reasons. I hope you¡¯ll allow me to explain why such secrecy was necessary.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have much of a choice, do I?¡± Hazlemere spat venomously, with an exaggerated, formal posture.


    Rowena smiled at that: ¡°You¡¯re learning fast. I must say, I¡¯m impressed. Still, even though you¡¯re new to this, it does take a lot of intelligence to get where you¡¯re now.¡±


    ¡°Flattery doesn¡¯t work on those who have spent their lives reading the books!¡±


    Still, Hazelmere shifted in her chair, her hand absently going through her hair.


    ¡°And yet, appreciation should be shown when you¡¯re asking the people to do something for you.¡±


    ¡°Are you ready to go, Rowena?¡± The Emperor inserted himself into the conversation, severing it completely.¡±


    ¡°Oh, your majesty,¡± Rowena turned meek in an instant, ¡°if you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯d like to have a conversation with our archmage regarding our endeavor. I think that the sooner we get everything started, the better.¡±


    The Emperor nodded his head in agreement, visibly pleased: ¡°Good ¡­ good. Do that. But remember to return to the castle soon, the sunset is approaching. Don¡¯t forget about your other duties!¡±


    ¡°Oh, of course, your Majesty! Actually, I¡¯d like to invite miss Hazelmere to come to the palace with us tonight. That way, both of us will be at your disposal.¡±


    The Emperor measured Hazelmere from head to toe, looking both pleased and yet disappointed at the same time. Like when a child gets a toy it really wanted, but something is missing from it.


    ¡°Ok, she can come.¡±


    Then he turned away and started wobbling.


    As soon as he was out of the earshot, Hazelmere started pulling Rowena¡¯s sleeve aggressively.


    ¡°No! No! I¡¯m not doing that!¡±


    Rowena raised her hands as if to show she doesn¡¯t mean any harm: ¡°Relax! Nothing¡¯s going to happen. You and I will talk about summoning the portal, and that¡¯s it. If you want, you can sleep in the palace, or you can go home as soon as we¡¯re finished.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m definitely not staying there!¡±


    ¡°Ok, it¡¯s your choice! No one will force you to do anything. His Majesty is entitled to many things but, honestly, I don¡¯t think he¡¯s into skinny girls.¡±


    ¡°Well, excuse me for burning all of my excess energy when using magic!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not trying to rile you up. Anyway, if his Majesty happens to barge in while we¡¯re talking about the portal, just take off all of your clothes and I promise you he¡¯ll lose interest in no time.¡±


    Hazelmere stared at Rowena uncertainly, as if she was questioning everything she knew about the royal advisor.


    ¡°That was just a joke.¡±


    ---


    The palace wasn¡¯t far away. After all, the senate was placed close to it so the Emperors wouldn¡¯t have to waste their much-needed energy traveling reasonable distances.


    ¡°I believe you want us to discuss the portal as soon as possible, right, miss Hazelmere?¡± Rowena said as soon as they¡¯ve disembarked the carriage.


    ¡°Yes! The sooner we start, the better.¡±


    The Emperor gave them a serious look, nodded his head, and left with his escort.


    ¡°Well then, follow me,¡± Rowena¡¯s commanded in a pleasant, understanding voice.


    The four royal guards escorted them as Rowena led Hazelmere to the medium-sized room located on the first floor.


    When they¡¯ve reached the door, Rowena turned towards them: ¡°We won¡¯t need you here. You¡¯re dismissed.¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll stay in front of the door, my lady,¡± the one with the most decorated armor and the roundest belly stated.


    ¡°As you wish,¡± then, with a calculated smile, she turned towards Hazelmere, gesticulating with her hand, ¡°if you¡¯ll follow me, miss.¡± She opened the regular-looking door, and the two of them entered the room.


    The room looked like a typical study. There were plenty of shelves with books on them, but not enough to dominate the room. There was one big work desk with a comfy sofa and a low-height, long table surrounded by several chairs. All the furniture was excessively decorated, to the point it looked ridiculous.


    Rowena sat in one of the chairs while pointing at the chair on the opposite side. Hazelmere obliged, but not without a comment:


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you a bit too commanding for an advisor?¡±


    ¡°Darling, I do more commanding in a week than the Emperor did in his entire life.¡±


    ¡°Ohh,¡± Hazelmere acted amazement, ¡°how so?¡±Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°Do you honestly think the Emperor is running day to day business? He has much more pressing matters, like stuffing himself with fancy cakes.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you think you are too young to be entrusted with that?¡±


    ¡°Look who¡¯s talking! You aren¡¯t much older than I am! Besides, I don¡¯t know when was the last time you saw yourself in a mirror, but we aren¡¯t so young anymore. We¡¯re ripe fruit, ready to be plucked before we rot.¡±


    Hearing that made Hazelmere roll her eyes.


    ¡°Speaking of rotting,¡± Rowena continued as she shifted her legs in the chair, ¡°the royal advisor I replaced got old. This position has plenty of responsibilities, and some of them are affected by age. His Majesty wasn¡¯t satisfied with that state of affairs, so he got himself a younger advisor.¡±


    ¡°And you are ok with that?¡±


    ¡°Absolutely!¡±


    ¡°You aren¡¯t worried the same will happen to you?¡±


    ¡°She was rewarded for her service with a suitable husband. She¡¯s living a life of luxury now.¡±


    Hazelmere glared at her: ¡°You consider that to be a reward?¡±


    ¡°It only sounds bad because you don¡¯t realize how the royalty works. The royal advisors have a lot of influence in the court, and smart advisors can make their fate by convincing the Emperor to give them a hand. She chose her husband herself and has convinced the Emperor to persuade his family. That¡¯s how she got a very handsome and tough husband, who is much younger than she is.¡±


    Hazelmere¡¯s glare turned into a frown of judgment: ¡°From the way you are talking, some would say the royal advisors are manipulating the Emperors.¡±


    Rowena smirked: ¡°I like that. I like it when the people go straight to the point. It makes my job much easier.¡±


    She sunk deep into the chair: ¡°Yes, the Emperors can be manipulated by the royal advisors. But we advisors aren¡¯t the only ones trying to do it. Everyone is trying to manipulate the ruler in every country. That¡¯s just how it goes. It¡¯s the job of the royal advisors to ensure those manipulations don¡¯t go too far. And luckily, although there are many great things about our Emperor, he¡¯s a male. And just like all the other males, he can be quite gullible. If the one has the right tools for the job, of course,¡± Rowena accentuated that by puffing out her chest.


    ¡°Oh, come on! That¡¯s getting old! You¡¯re acting like an immature teenager!¡±


    ¡°I just like putting the others in their place and making them aware of my advantages.¡±


    ¡°Can we talk about the portal, please?¡± Hazelmere asked, looking tired.


    ¡°Sure!¡±


    ¡°But first, where are the other advisors? I doubt you¡¯re the only advisor his Majesty has.¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes, there are about a dozen royal advisors. I just happen to be the Emperor¡¯s favorite.¡±


    ¡°Well, where are they? Aren¡¯t they interested in summoning the portal?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re probably hiding like they usually do. No one else will be coming if that¡¯s what you¡¯re wondering.¡±


    ¡°Aha. Well, then, let¡¯s get to business. The sooner we finish this, the better.¡±


    ---


    ¡°Look, even if we have everything, which is way too optimistic, we still won¡¯t be able to convince all of the mages to participate,¡± Hazelmere argued over the table which was now covered with all kinds of writings and drawings, ¡°especially the archmages! The nobles are constantly summoning powerful archmages to deal with all kinds of problems. Think about it. If someone in your family is suffering, and you have plenty of coin to spend, you would rather hire an extremely costly archmage than a regular mage. Even if the regular one is perfectly capable of solving your problem. People just feel much more at ease when they know a world-renown person is taking care of it. You will be asking the archmages to give up on all that coin and do some non-paying, high-risk job instead.¡±


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t the royal decree take care of it? I don¡¯t think they¡¯d go against the will of his Majesty.¡±


    ¡°They won¡¯t rebel, but there will be a significant backlash. Nobles will be furious. You have no idea what menial tasks they are having us do! To them, it is a matter of prestige. They like bragging about calling for an archmage. Almost every problem the nobles have called me to solve was perfectly solvable by a novice mage. Of course, I have never complained about it. I just do the simple work and take a chestful of coin. And, in turn, the nobles get the bragging rights. I don¡¯t get it why but, for some reason, most of the nobles think that wasting coin on something overpriced is a praiseworthy thing to do.¡±


    Rowena chuckled at that, unconsciously bringing the quill in her hand closer to her mouth: ¡°I must say, you¡¯re much more perceptive than you look.¡±


    ¡°Was that supposed to be an insult?¡±


    ¡°Quite the contrary! I¡¯m actually dismissing the criticism I¡¯ve heard about you. And your lack of proper lady-like mannerisms.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t really have the time to learn how to be a proper lady, and I¡¯m not sure I want to be one. But, more importantly, you will have a hard time convincing the powerful mages to get on board. Some may even defect to foreign countries. They may even join our enemies! The magic gives us plenty of opportunities, so most of the mages feel no attachment to the fatherland.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I¡¯m fully aware of that, but thank you for bringing it up. Speaking of which, I¡¯ll need you to write down the names of any mages you think would even think of defecting.¡±


    ¡°That will be quite a long list.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s necessary. I¡¯ll send it to our spymaster, and he¡¯ll certainly find some ways to motivate those mages to stay.¡±


    Hazelmere raised her brow: ¡°I have spent most of my life in my study, but I am not as stupid as you may think. What do you intend to do to those mages?¡±


    ¡°That changes on the personal basis but, in most cases, the spymaster, or his agents, will have an unpleasant conversation with the mage. The shadow guild is already monitoring all the mages. But, if we could narrow the number for them, it would make their work much easier.¡±


    ¡°I take it they are monitoring me too?¡±


    ¡°Of course! They monitor you even when nothing is happening! The title of the royal archmage is extremely influential. We have to know what¡¯s happening with you.¡±


    ¡°This unpleasant conversation ¡­ what exactly do you mean by it?¡±


    Rowena looked at Hazelmere without lifting her head from the papyrus sitting on her lap: ¡°What, are you worried about them?¡±


    Hazlemere hesitated for a few moments: ¡°As the royal archmage, I represent all the mages.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not true. The head of the mage¡¯s guild represents them.¡±


    ¡°You know what I mean!¡±


    ¡°It will be nothing more than a conversation. We don¡¯t want the people to obey us out of fear, but we also don¡¯t want them to take us lightly. There will be some threatening involved but nothing beyond that.¡±


    ¡°And if they don¡¯t obey.¡±


    ¡°If they try running away, we¡¯ll have to treat them as the traitors they are.¡±


    Hazelmere shifted in her seat: ¡°What if they don¡¯t run away but also refuse to help with the portal?¡±


    ¡°Then we¡¯ll just make sure they can¡¯t earn any coin. The nobles are a noisy bunch, but they don¡¯t accept the outcasts.¡±


    ¡°I see ¡­¡±


    ¡°With that out of the way, let¡¯s talk about the scrolls themselves. I can¡¯t let you take a look at them right now.¡±


    Seeing the confusion on Hazelmere¡¯s face, Rowena continued: ¡°We¡¯re taking the ultimate measures of precaution so, until your team is assembled, no one is allowed to take a look at the scrolls.¡±


    ¡°How will I brief the other mages if I have no idea what the scrolls say?¡± Hazelmere raised her voice slightly, ¡°How can I tell them what to do unless I know what has to be done! I need to know what spells and ingredients are needed!¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t think you¡¯ll be starting tomorrow, didn¡¯t you?¡± Rowena¡¯s smirk made Hazelmere¡¯s brow twitch, ¡°it will take at least one full moon until the shadow guild deals with the problematic mages. Only then will the mages be conscripted. Until that¡¯s done, the scrolls are staying in the safe.¡±


    ¡°So, what am I supposed to be doing in the meantime?¡±


    ¡°You could throw a few of those galas you enjoy so much. After all, you won¡¯t be having those for a long time.¡±


    ¡°Ha, ha, very funny,¡± Hazelmere said in a flat voice.


    But Rowena was dead serious: ¡°I¡¯m not joking this time. I¡¯m not a mage, but I do know some theory behind the magic. I also know a few things about Axulla and her ways. For example, why only the virgins can receive the gift of magic. Once you start collecting the energy for the spell, we¡¯ll need every ounce of it, which means that wasting it will be prohibited. Therefore, I suggest you spend the next moon enjoying yourself to the fullest. Do it like you never did before, because you¡¯ll be staying chaste for a long, long time.¡±


    Hearing that, Hazelmere started staring in the empty space, mouth agape as her ears moved slowly.


    ¡°What, it didn¡¯t occur to you?¡± Rowena asked, ¡°it should¡¯ve been obvious, really. We want to gather as much energy as soon as possible. Everything you¡¯ve said leads to that conclusion. We can conscript the mages only for so long before both the nobles and the mages start protesting.¡±


    The only response from Hazelmere was: ¡°Well, nail me sideways ¡­¡±

 Chapter 5

    A few days later, Hazelmere returned to the palace with a sealed envelope in her bag.


    ¡°We were notified of your arrival,¡± the same decorated guard from before said, ¡°please follow me, my lady. You!¡± he yelled at one of his guards while pointing finger towards the section of the palace, ¡°go get the other guest!¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The guard that was yelled at started running right away.


    ¡°Is such yelling necessary?¡± Hazelmere asked.


    The decorated, rounded guard didn¡¯t even look at her. He started walking instead: ¡°That¡¯s just how you discipline those who are lesser than you, my lady. That boy is a commoner, and it¡¯s my job to make a proper guard out of him.¡±


    ¡°I thought the royal guard is filled with the elite soldiers?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s indeed the case. But we always need fresh blood. There¡¯s a common misconception about the royal guard. People think our ranks are filled with war veterans. That would be incredibly stupid for two reasons. First of all, a guard¡¯s job is completely different from a soldier¡¯s. They are concerned with killing while we¡¯re focused on protecting. And the second reason is that veteran soldiers are much more useful on the battlefield. So, the royal guards aren¡¯t taken from other units, as many people believe. They¡¯re trained. Being a royal guard is much more demanding than being a regular soldier, or even a knight, so we must start training them at a very young age.¡±


    ¡°So ¡­ even though he is a commoner, you have no issues with entrusting the Emperor¡¯s safety to him?¡±


    ¡°He lacks discipline and proper training, but his fighting spirit is admirable. He has a long way to go, though.¡±


    Looking at the veteran¡¯s roundness, Hazelmere had to agree: ¡°Well, that much is obvious. There is much growth ahead of him.¡±


    The veteran noticed the jab: ¡°I don¡¯t want to argue with the lady, but a well-grown guard has a much higher chance of surviving a knife in the gut than a skinny one. The royal guards aren¡¯t supposed to be running around. We¡¯re supposed to take hits instead of his majesty ¡­ and his guests.¡±


    ¡°I meant no disrespect,¡± Hazelmere¡¯s voice became noticeably gentler.


    ¡°I know.¡±


    ---


    ¡°Ah! Welcome, miss Hazelmere!¡± Rowena greeted her.


    Hazelmere nodded in acknowledgment: ¡°Ahoy, miss Rowena.¡±


    ¡°Please, take a seat! We¡¯ll have another guest join us soon.¡±


    ¡°Can I give you the list now?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    Hazelmere¡¯s mood visibly darkened: ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°Because I have no use for it! Please, take a seat!¡±


    Hazelmere did so, looking more than annoyed.


    ¡°What is this about, Rowena? It¡¯s as if you¡¯re nailing me every chance you get, ever since that damn senate session!¡± The violent, nervous movement of her fluffy, canine tail accentuated Hazelmere¡¯s words.


    ¡°Now, don¡¯t be mad, our guest is very confiding. In fact, his job is to make sure you get all the mages you need. You can¡¯t do a thing without his help.¡±


    There was a gentle knock on the door.


    ¡°Oh, please, come in!¡± Rowena raised her voice.


    The door opened slowly, as if whoever was on the other side had a knack for the dramatic.


    An old male walked in, completely unceremoniously. He looked like a peasant elder, dressed in very simple clothing, no jewelry or decorations of any kind on him. The only unusual thing about him was that all of his clothing was completely black.


    The one interesting thing Hazelmere registered when the old guy closed the door behind him was that he moved in complete silence. If she wasn¡¯t looking at the door, she¡¯d be completely unaware of him walking in.


    ¡°Is he from the shadow guild?¡± Hazelmere asked in a whisper.


    ¡°Close, but not exactly,¡± Rowena responded, ¡°please, take a seat, spymaster.¡±


    ¡°Ahoy, ladies! Thank you, advisor. I will. These old bones aren¡¯t what they used to be.¡±


    Hazelmere looked sullen: ¡°The spymaster?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what I am.¡±


    ¡°I always ¡­ I thought ¡­ I heard the spymaster looks ¡­ differently.¡±


    ¡°You thought he¡¯s a dashing rogue, didn¡¯t you? A skilled, handsome duelist with a well-defined jaw and a piercing gaze. An unparalleled sweet-talker and master seducer.¡± spymaster said.


    ¡°Well ¡­ that¡¯s what the stories say.¡±


    ¡°Then, our stories are a success! If an archmage like you believes them, that only means we did our job right!¡±


    ¡°Or maybe, you are just a substitute?¡± Hazelmere looked at Rowena uncertainly, ¡°I mean, if the shadow guild is as elusive as the stories claim, then it would be very ¡­ unprofessional for the real spymaster to reveal himself to me. Right?¡±


    The spymaster chuckled with amusement: ¡°Listen, child, sometimes the tales are just that. This matter is too delicate to be entrusted with anyone else. I¡¯m sorry if I¡¯ve shattered all those intriguing, steamy stories about the dashing, self-serving rogue, but none of it is true. The truth is, almost all the stories you¡¯ve heard about anything aren¡¯t true. But that¡¯s a different topic.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, miss Hazelmere came here personally to deliver the list.¡±


    ¡°May I know how many names are on it?¡± The spymaster asked.


    ¡°Forty-seven,¡± Hazelmere said as she took the envelope out of her bag, offering it to the elder.


    ¡°That¡¯s too few,¡± the spymaster leaned over the table, taking the envelope with a shaky hand.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°There are over a hundred mages in the Empire, but very few of them are worthy of notice. Most of the mages only know how to do a single spell properly, and they live off of it until they die. Such mages have nothing to lose by being conscripted. People see each and every mage as a powerful force. They consider all of us mighty. But, just like the tales of the dashing rogue, these stories aren¡¯t true either. Very few mages are actually competent.¡±


    ¡°So, the mages have secrets of their own,¡± the spymaster said with a sleazy smile that made Hazelmere¡¯s skin crawl.


    ¡°As if you didn¡¯t know that,¡± Hazelmere retorted.


    ¡°Darling, if I were a century or two younger, I¡¯d find your defiance cute. But now, I only see it as a sign of immaturity.¡±


    ¡°But, more importantly,¡± Rowena interrupted them, ¡°you wanted to convey the importance of our undertaking to miss Hazelmere. Isn¡¯t that right, spymaster?¡±


    ¡°True. As I¡¯m certain you already know, miss, your title has a lot of weight. You may not have it personally, but your station does. It comes with enormous responsibility, but it also commands a lot of respect. Therefore, as a sign of due respect, I¡¯ll share some crucial information with you. Instead of motivating you to work hard using traditional methods, I chose to use persuasion and trust with you.¡±


    The tone of his voice changed slightly when he realized Hazelmere was trying to suppress the smile on her face.


    ¡°You may find it laughable, but this matter is the most important undertaking in the long history of the Empire. Therefore, for you to do your best, I have no other choice but to share with you just how grave the situation is.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m listening,¡± Hazelmere finally succeeded in making a serious face.


    ¡°I know too well how you feel about it, how everyone feels about it. I understand your worries and your fears because I share them with you. Ever since the ancient Sun elves have summoned a portal to hell and have let the demons into our world, the very idea of summoning portals became heretical. Luckily, our Empire isn¡¯t under the religion¡¯s thumb ¡­ at least not fully. But that doesn¡¯t mean it isn¡¯t influential.¡±


    The spymaster straightened his posture, ¡°but I digress. Forgive me, it¡¯s a sign of old age. The point is that I was against the idea myself. I also think that the risk is too high. Even if we forget about the hell, even if the summoning is successful, the booty may not be worth it. We¡¯ll have to spend so many resources on the summoning, I¡¯m wondering if we¡¯ll be able to recuperate our losses at all.¡±


    He hunched forward and started fiddling with his shaky fingers. He didn¡¯t look at Hazelmere. He just stared at his hands.


    ¡°But, every time I start thinking about it, I realize we have no other options. As the spymaster, I¡¯m privy to all kinds of sensitive information, the information my guild doesn¡¯t let out. You see ¡­ our Empire is dying. Its power is waning. Our economy can¡¯t support the weight of military campaigns anymore. And yet, we can¡¯t give up on our military struggle because we know for sure that the hosagians and the high-elves are determined to crush us. Both those races see it as a matter of pride. The high elves hate the fact that we are the most influential in the world. They see themselves as superior to the other mortals. In their arrogance, they see themselves as some demigods! And let¡¯s not forget that the Sun elves used to rule all of the Greadinall before the fall. But, when the fall had happened, someone had to pick up the shattered pieces. So, our ancestors rose to the occasion and took the leading role. The high elves think that we¡¯ve taken their destined position in the hierarchy away from them by doing so.¡±


    ¡°I am aware of the history,¡± Hazelmere said.


    ¡°Then, I guess you also know why the hosagians want to see our demise too?¡± Spymaster asked, extending his palm towards her while looking her in the eyes.


    ¡°A lot of our territory used to be theirs.¡±


    ¡°True,¡± the spymaster nodded his head, ¡°they hate us because our ancestors have not only expanded but have actually created the timkik Empire on account of hosagians. Our ancestors emerged as the only remaining power after the fall, so they took what they were owed, naturally.¡±


    The spymaster let out a small sigh: ¡°And that¡¯s why those races have no intention of stopping until our Empire has been completely annihilated. They have no intention of negotiating or reaching a compromise. Nothing short of our unconditional surrender will do. That¡¯s why we have, in our desperation, turned to such ridiculous methods like summoning a portal. Yes, we¡¯re all aware that it¡¯s an extremely risky move with a slim chance of success, but we have nothing to lose. Either way, our Empire is over. So, why not take the risk?¡±


    Rowena interrupted him: ¡°What the spymaster is trying to say, miss Hazelmere, is that, considering the grave situation our Empire is in, you¡¯ll be given anything you ask for. Anything you need to summon the portal properly.¡±


    ¡°Since I haven¡¯t seen the scrolls yet, I have no idea what I will need. Besides the time. I can say for sure that I will need a lot of it.¡±


    ¡°How much time, exactly?¡± Rowena asked.


    ¡°A few years.¡±


    ¡°A few ¡­ really?¡± Both Rowena¡¯s and the spymaster¡¯s eyeballs bulged at that.


    ¡°Correct me if I am wrong,¡± Hazelmere proceeded, ¡°but if I have understood you correctly, there is no room for error during the summoning. Having the spell fail is simply not an option.¡±


    ¡°True,¡± the spymaster nodded.


    ¡°Therefore, to minimalize the chance of an error, I would like to take some extra time. I don¡¯t know if you are familiar with how the spells work, so let me explain it in the most basic terms.¡±


    Hazelmere shifted in her seat as if to prepare for a lengthy explanation.


    ¡°Some simple spells can be cast instantly. But, generally speaking, the more useful a spell is, the more complicated it is. And the more complicated a spell is, the more time is needed to cast it. Ingredients require more time to prepare, incantations are longer, a caster must place herself in a proper state of mind, all of it takes time with complicated spells.¡±


    ¡°But, I¡¯ve seen some mages cast complicated spells in a few moments,¡± the spymaster protested.


    Hazelmere pointed her index finger at him: ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m getting at. While the more complicated spells take more time to cast, a skilled mage can speed-up the process. There are all kinds of shortcuts a mage can use but, of course, there is a catch. These shortcuts carry certain risks with them. A skilled mage can circumvent these risks but, regardless of how skilled and experienced a mage is, there is always a chance she will lose her concentration.¡±


    ¡°Even the best carpenter hits his finger with a hammer sometimes,¡± the spymaster¡¯s ears twitched in understanding.


    ¡°Exactly! However, everything is much more serious when it comes to magic. If a mage loses her concentration while casting a spell, the spell will fail. But that is not the worst that can happen. For example, if a mage loses her concentration while casting a fireball, she can set herself, and her own allies, on fire.¡±


    ¡°There were such examples throughout history,¡± Rowena commented.


    ¡°So, what can happen if we try to summon a portal as fast as possible?¡± Hazelmere continued, ¡°Imagine if we make a mistake and the spell fails. All the resources will be gone in an instant without any result. And that is a very real possibility since we will need all the mages that we have to pull off such an epic spell. The more mages participate in casting a spell, the greater the chance of its failure is. Still, we will need all of them to participate during the summoning, even the low-skilled ones. But, what if the portal spell fails catastrophically?¡±


    ¡°I guess no one knows what can happen?¡± The spymaster said.


    ¡°Is that how the portal to hell was opened?¡± Rowena asked.


    ¡°We can only guess. Some people think that is exactly what has happened while others think the Sun elves were just too curious for everyone¡¯s good.¡±


    ¡°Those puritans are certainly insufferable,¡± the spymaster didn¡¯t try to hide his dislike of the Sun elves.


    ¡°So, you want us to ensure you have several years to work on the portal?¡± Rowena asked.


    ¡°If you want us to have the highest chance of success possible. And, even if we do that, I still can¡¯t guarantee the spell will work.¡±


    ¡°That sounds reasonable,¡± the spymaster nodded in agreement, looking as if he was lost in thought.


    ¡°You think it¡¯s possible?¡± Rowena turned towards him.


    ¡°Yeah, I think it is. The faster we do it, the better. But we can¡¯t just rush blindly either.¡±


    ¡°We could buy some time with a new offensive. That would keep the hosagians occupied,¡± Rowena proposed.


    ¡°No, they¡¯d notice the lack of mages in our armies.¡±


    He stood up slowly, straightening his back as he did so: ¡°But don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll come up with something. Miss Hazelmere, you do what you need to do, and I¡¯ll do my part. It will take a full moon to have a conversation with all the mages on this list, but I guarantee you won¡¯t encounter any opposition from the other mages.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, I appreciate it.¡±


    ¡°Especially from the Zegrath house.¡±


    Hazelmere lowered her gaze, looking uncertain about something.


    ¡°I understand the rivalry is strong between your houses, and I¡¯ll make sure that doesn¡¯t affect anyone¡¯s performance.¡±


    This time, there was no thank you from Hazelmere.


    ¡°Well, I¡¯m a busy, old guy, so I¡¯ll leave you lovely ladies to your own devices.¡±


    ¡°Looking forward to seeing you again, spymaster,¡± Rowena responded with a giggle.


    He left the room the same way he got in, without making a sound.

 Chapter 6

    It was exactly as the spymaster had said. A full moon later, Hazelmere once again received a letter summoning her to the palace. There, she had another conversation with Rowena. She expected the spymaster to be there too, but he was nowhere to be found. She didn¡¯t complain though.


    They agreed that the base of operations should be at the holy site of Treadmondo. The reasoning was simple: if it was true that the Sun elves used that site to travel between the worlds then, perhaps, it could offer them some advantages they weren¡¯t aware of yet. And it also helped that the ruins where the scrolls were found were nearby. Especially since their detailed exploration was still in progress, meaning that any new findings would be available to the mages in the shortest time possible.


    So, all the conscripted mages were summoned to Treadmondo. The base of operations was set-up even before they¡¯ve arrived. As the mages from all over the empire gathered, she directed the engineers, ensuring the base has everything necessary for over a hundred mages to do their craft properly.


    It wasn¡¯t through Hazelmere¡¯s initiative though. The engineers had no idea what they were supposed to build since no one has built anything similar in thousands of years, so Rowena figured it was an excellent chance for Hazelmere to gain some experience in directing people.


    ¡°So, you did manage to build the thing,¡± Rowena approached Hazelmere amidst the bustling workers, confused mages, and even more confused personal servants.


    ¡°Oh, look who is here,¡± Hazelmere¡¯s didn¡¯t sound enthusiastic.


    ¡°What, already tired?¡±


    ¡°No, actually ¡­ the engineers were surprisingly reasonable. At first, they were completely lost. But, once we started talking about what we will need, they started coming up with the ideas themselves! I¡¯m very pleasantly surprised! And I had no idea just how useful the culiars are!¡±


    ¡°Oh, yeah. They¡¯re very useful creatures, but they creep me out to no end. They look like cursed creations of some twisted god.¡±


    ¡°Well, you are much closer to the truth than you think. According to the legends, they used to be people like you and me, but the gods cursed them and took their souls away when they tried rebelling against the heavens themselves. Anyway, it is not that I am tired. You just got here at the wrong time. Maybe you didn¡¯t notice how busy the place is?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve noticed. The engineers seem to know what they¡¯re doing, but the mages are completely lost. It¡¯s as if nobody told them where they¡¯re supposed to go and what they¡¯re supposed to do.¡±


    ¡°Well, excuse me, but I¡¯m too busy at the moment!¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing to apologize for, that¡¯s why I¡¯m here! His highness sent me here to be his eyes and ears during the opening ¡­ can we call it a ceremony?¡±


    ¡°Not at all! We won¡¯t be celebrating anything. I will just tell them what the rules are, what we are supposed to do here, what teams they are in, and we will start with the work right away. I bet everyone is eager to see what those scrolls are all about.¡±


    Rowena didn¡¯t look that interested: ¡°Although I was sent here to observe, nobody told me I¡¯m not allowed to help. So, how about you tell me where you¡¯ll be holding the opening speech, and I¡¯ll make sure the mages get there.¡±


    Hazelmere looked Rowena sideways, looking surprised.


    ¡°What?¡± Rowena sounded a bit offended, ¡°if you don¡¯t want my help, just say so!¡±


    Then her face turned to dejected for a moment: ¡°Look, I love teasing you, but not out of malice.¡±


    ¡°Sorry, I just ¡­ I mean, sure! Why not?¡±


    ---


    The order soon followed. With Rowena¡¯s help, the mages, all of them females, were quickly arranged in neat rows at the dominant plateau. She even found a suitable improvised stage for Hazelmere, a conveniently placed pillar.


    Some veteran soldiers, who served as the guards, helped Hazelmere get on top of it. It took her some time to adjust to the difference in height.


    Using the ingredients she prepared ahead of time, she cast a spell that hovered in front of her mouth. It took the form of light-blue, half-transparent magma, slowly flowing through the invisible round container suspended in the air.


    ¡°Check, check ¡­ can you hear me?¡± The volume of her voice increased as it passed through the spell.


    The mages on the plateau nodded their heads.


    ¡°Are there any distortions in my voice?¡±


    This time the mages shook their heads left to right.


    ¡°Okay,¡± she cleared her throat, ¡°we all know why we are here. And I know none of us are happy. Trust me, I am not happy either. Nobody tried anything similar in thousands of years, and we are too well aware of what can happen if only a single spell goes wrong. Nobody here wants to summon yet another portal to hell.¡±


    She put her hands on her hips.


    ¡°But ¡­ we have a duty! No soldier wants to go to war either, but they do it nonetheless! Because there is something much more important than our feelings! It is our duty towards the fatherland! It is our duty towards its people! We don¡¯t get to bail out the moment we are feeling inconvenienced! And, while I don¡¯t look forward to being in charge of this enormous undertaking and taking all the blame for its possible failure, I have no other choice but to face all my fears, all my uncertainties, for the sake of serving the emperor and the people! And the same goes for all of us! It is now that we will see how much each of us is worth, who among us has what it takes to be a proper mage, and who are the cowards that will take the easy way out the first time their skill gets put to the test!¡±


    That caused the gathered mages to shift in place, with visible frustration on their faces.


    ¡°But ¡­ we have a huge help! We won¡¯t be dealing with the unknown! Yes, nobody tried these spells in several thousand years, but we have unearthed the scrolls which tell us exactly what is needed and how it needs to be done! Therefore, the first task will be to study these scrolls! For that purpose, I will need all the archmages to gather in the designated tent where we will collaborate. That is probably the most critical part of our achievement, which is why I will need our best and brightest minds to work on it. I also welcome the transcendent priest to join us, so we can share our findings with him and his council of archpriests to ensure no demonic taint is present anywhere.¡±If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    As she said that, she extended her hand towards the person in the first row. The transcendent priest sat there, in a comfy chair which was being carried around by his trusted servants. The archpriestesses surrounded him on all sides who were, in turn, surrounded by the paladins in full plate armor.


    ¡°The transcendent priest will monitor everything we do so that we can stop the spells immediately if any trace of anything demonic is detected. And, while the archmages are focused on studying the scrolls, the rest of you will be pouring your energy. You will have nothing to do until the scrolls are deciphered, so it would be best to start collecting the energy immediately.¡±


    ¡°You mean mana?¡± One of the mages spoke. Hazelmere recognized the voice immediately, making her sigh in frustration.


    ¡°Mana is a term used by trained mages. Therefore, very few other people know what it means. And, since we will be working with the people who aren¡¯t mages, like the archpriestesses, for example, it would be nice if you would be considerate enough to use the term energy. Yes, that is a general term, but it is much more understandable to the people without magical knowledge.¡±


    ¡°Anyway,¡± Hazelmere continued, rolling her shoulders, ¡°speaking of the energy gathering ¡­ I have some bad news for you.¡±


    That caused a stir among the mages.


    ¡°I see most of you already know what I am talking about. And yes, it is absolutely necessary. We will have to be extremely dedicated if we are to succeed. We can¡¯t waste our energy on unnecessary things. We have to be as disciplined as we were before we received the gift of magic.¡±


    The mages started clamoring quite loudly.


    ¡°Therefore, you are forbidden from engaging in any carnal relations as long as we are working on the portal.¡±


    Now the mages started protesting loudly.


    ¡°But I became a mage only two moons ago!¡± An especially loud cry stood out from the chorus of voices.


    ¡°Well, that is just too bad!¡± Hazlemere responded, leaning in, ¡°Listen, I am not the one who has decided to summon the portal, but you can be sure I will do everything in my power to make it a success! I know, I am not happy about it either, but we have no choice! If we don¡¯t preserve our energy, we will spend decades feeding the spell! I would expect all of you to be well aware of that. Those are the basics of spellcasting we are talking about!¡±


    ¡°With all due respect, royal archmage,¡± a pretty female spoke from the crowd. Her striking feature was her golden hair. It didn¡¯t have the color of shining gold like some high-born elves have, its tone was much darker. But, for a timkik, that tone was as close to the golden hair as she can get.


    The same spell Hazelmere used was floating in front of her mouth, increasing the volume of her voice without making it sound aggressive, ¡°With all due respect, it just won¡¯t work. We all know what you are talking about. We all agree we have to preserve our energy, but completely forbidding any relations is simply impossible. You know what the mages are like. That rule will certainly be broken many times.¡±


    ¡°Do you have any ideas?¡± Hazelmere asked in a friendly voice, sounding as if she¡¯s genuinely interested.


    ¡°We can certainly reach an agreement. We can all agree to tone it down to, let us say, a few times per week?¡±


    ¡°That is too much! But I can agree to a once per week allowance,¡± Hazelmere responded.


    ¡°That¡¯s not how romance works!¡± The familiar, loud cry interrupted her once more.


    ¡°Listen!¡± Hazlemere continued with a deep frown on her face, ¡°I don¡¯t know what you expected coming here, but we will all be monitored regularly! The soldiers you saw around here, they are here to make sure you do your jobs right and don¡¯t waste your energy on stupid things! So, unless you intend to do stuff like that while being observed, you don¡¯t really have a choice in the matter!¡±


    ¡°Fine by me!¡±


    ¡°Listen here, you twat!¡± Hazelmere¡¯s face disfigured in a fit of rage, ¡°I don¡¯t know who you are, and I don¡¯t care, but what I know for sure is that you should be really, really grateful I¡¯m willing to arrange for the soldiers to leave you alone once per week! Ok, I get it. You became a mage only recently, I was in your shoes too. Forget that, I still am! For two centuries I held myself back, watching everyone else have their fun while I had to stay a virgin! I am not looking forward to this any more than any of you are! But this is way too important! If you could hold it for an entire century, then you can accept this too!¡±


    ¡°I am not looking forward to it, but once per week sounds reasonable,¡± the golden-haired female agreed.


    The other mages started nodding their heads reluctantly.


    ¡°Ok! Now that we are finally done with it, I will read the names of the mages I will need by my side, the ones who will work on deciphering the scrolls. The rest of you will go to the tents with the crystals, so you can start storing your energy right away. The sooner we do this, the sooner we will be rid of the restrictions.¡±


    It took some time for the crowd to disperse. The unhappy and somewhat agitated mages started arguing about and debating on the restrictions imposed on them, meaning that most of them stayed there for some time.


    Once everything was over, Rowena approached Hazelmere.


    ¡°You did well.¡±


    ¡°Thanks. But it is easy to get it right when you have the others write the speech for you. And it also helped you had Natle direct the conversation in the proper direction.¡±


    ¡°I knew you didn¡¯t even think of writing a proper speech, and we can¡¯t have you stumble on the first step. You¡¯ll never get your points across unless you have someone supporting you in the crowd. But, then again, you¡¯re expected to be a walking tome of arcane knowledge, not a social events organizer.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, I am in your debt.¡±


    ¡°Putting that aside ¡­ I¡¯ve heard the stories, but that was absolutely absurd.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t believe that the major issue you were discussing was about getting laid.¡±


    Hazelmere rolled her eyes: ¡°Axulla, the goddess of magic, is the one to blame. She only gives her gift to virgin females.¡±


    ¡°I told you I know about that. That also explains why the majority of the mages are so ugly. Although, curiously enough, all the archmages are pretty. Makes you wonder.¡±


    Hazelmere gave Rowena the look of disapproval: ¡°Do you have a problem with that?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just ¡­ strange! You mages are seen as some of the most powerful people in the world, and here you are, acting like teenagers.¡±


    ¡°It is the classical forbidden fruit story. If you are forbidden from doing something your whole life, you will start acting like an unchained beast the moment that restriction is lifted.¡±


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t that completely defeat the whole point of it though? You¡¯re forbidden from having sex to prove you have your desires under control, but what¡¯s the point if you do the exact opposite the moment you¡¯re not required to follow the rules?¡±


    Hazelmere shrugged: ¡°I don¡¯t know, I don¡¯t make the rules.¡±


    ¡°And why males can¡¯t become mages?¡±


    ¡°Uuhhh ¡­¡± Hazelmere started shifting uncomfortably in place, ¡°Axulla doesn¡¯t like males. A male scorned her once upon a time and, ever since then, she hates all of them.¡±


    ¡°So, she refuses to gift any male with magic?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Ok, fair enough. But that doesn¡¯t sound like something a kind deity would do.¡±


    ¡°Well, that is the thing. Axulla isn¡¯t kind. Her magic can be used for both good and evil.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    Rowena leaned towards Hazelmere, grabbing her shoulder in a friendly manner: ¡°Now, with that out of the way, there¡¯s someone I¡¯d like you to meet.¡±


    ¡°Oh, no.¡±


    ¡°What, what is it?¡± Rowena shook Hazelmere¡¯s shoulder gently.


    ¡°The last time you introduced me to someone it was an old, shaking, grandpa. And he wasn¡¯t a kind one, that bag of bones wanted my list so he could threaten people. So please, forgive me for being skeptical about the people you¡¯re introducing me to.¡±


    ¡°Well, in this case, it¡¯s a young knight!¡±


    Hazelmere¡¯s eyes brightened immediately and her tail became lively.


    ¡°It¡¯s a young, fit, dashing knight who will be personally responsible for your safety. He¡¯ll be commanding the soldiers stationed here and, if something goes awry and you somehow manage to summon another portal to hell, even though you had everything you needed to summon a proper portal, he¡¯ll be the one to defend you from the onslaught of the demonic monsters.¡±


    ¡°A young, fit knight you say ¡­ hmm.¡±


    Rowena narrowed her eyes knowingly: ¡°Weren¡¯t you telling the others not to engage in any carnal relations not so long ago?¡±

 Chapter 7

    Hazelmere stood in the command tent, her face sour and irritated. Her eyes, which were almost beaming as she was walking into the tent, now gave off a cold, blank stare.


    Rowena was right next to her and, although she said nothing, the vexatious smile on her face revealed her enjoyment.


    On the other side of the table stood the knight, looking completely disinterested and above all, tired. Not physically but mentally, his slumped posture showed the kind of fatigue reserved only for those who are tired of living.


    ¡°I should¡¯ve known,¡± Hazelmere¡¯s irritated voice broke the awkward silence.


    ¡°Known what?¡± Rowena feigned surprise, much more by instinct than expecting it to actually work.


    ¡°I should¡¯ve known there¡¯s a catch.¡±


    Rowena said nothing this time. She just observed Hazelmere¡¯s face, loving the way her eyebrows and ears twitched in harmony.


    The knight didn¡¯t say a thing. He rested his hands on the table, leaning in, his face completely disinterested and unaffected by Hazelmere¡¯s all too obvious disapproval.


    Hazelmere sighed heavily and finally addressed the knight:


    ¡°How did someone as dark-skinned as you become a knight?¡±


    The knight¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change at all. Rowena hurried to answer in his stead.


    ¡°Ok, I admit he isn¡¯t what you¡¯d imagine a knight-commander to look like, but he¡¯s here for a good reason.¡±


    Hazelmere faced Rowena, narrowing her eyes: ¡°You told me the fate of our empire depends on this, and then you place some peasant as the military commander! Are you serious! You couldn¡¯t find anyone better?¡±


    ¡°But that¡¯s exactly the point!¡± Rowena wasn¡¯t backing down, despite the all too obvious aggression Hazelmere displayed, ¡°Well ¡­ ok, you have a point there, he was born as a peasant, but that only shows he¡¯s the right person for the job.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Hazelmere backed away in disgust, ¡°You didn¡¯t even bother to find someone from a reputable family known for generations of capable knights? First of all, how will the other knights act when they learn he is to be their superior? Do you honestly expect the noble knights to obey his orders? Aren¡¯t they supposed to be proud?¡±


    ¡°Listen to me!¡± The moment Hazelmere backed away, Rowena switched to the offensive, ¡°Our Empire is a meritocratic society! Yes, the blood is important, one¡¯s house is crucial, but the most important of all is that the people achieve results! This guy, while dark-skinned as tree bark, has delivered consistent results! And that¡¯s the most important thing here, making sure the summoning is a success!¡±


    ¡°Are you honestly telling me that this guy is the best knight we have?¡±


    ¡°No, he isn¡¯t the best knight, but he¡¯s our best legion-commander. There are knights much more capable than him, but his unit has the most impressive combat record in the empire! He didn¡¯t become a knight because he was groomed to be one since he was born, he got the title as a recognition of his achievements! Ok, I admit, his knight-commander title is actually a sham since he isn¡¯t commanding any knights. He¡¯s commanding a legion of light infantry, and yet, it¡¯s performing better than any knight legion is!¡±


    That finally drew the words out of the knight¡¯s mouth: ¡°That¡¯s only because the knights don¡¯t fight the war. They just parade around, looking pretty.¡±


    ¡°But this guy,¡± Rowena pointed the finger at the dark-skinned knight, ¡°has seen a lot of combat. He started his career as a regular foot soldier. He worked hard, advancing through the ranks, and now he has the title of a knight-commander. There¡¯s not a single soldier in the empire who has more combat experience than him! And trust me, that¡¯s the kind of person you¡¯ll want by your side when exploring the unknown, alien world. As professionals, it¡¯s our duty to leave nothing to chance. Even if that will inconvenience us somehow!¡±


    ¡°Except creating a portal to the unknown, alien world,¡± Hazelmere sneered, ¡°that¡¯s something we¡¯ll gladly take chances with!¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    Rowena stared quietly at Hazelmere for a few moments before answering in a calm voice:


    ¡°Professionals leave nothing to chance if they can help it.¡±


    ¡°Listen, lady archmage,¡± the knight spoke in a commanding manner, which only agitated Hazelmere even further, ¡°I¡¯ve no intention of getting in your way. I¡¯ll let you do your job in peace, and all I¡¯m asking in return is for you to let me do mine. And I¡¯m fine with you questioning my capabilities because, frankly, I¡¯m also questioning yours.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Hazelmere¡¯s ears went straight up.


    ¡°I have a habit of questioning the abilities of those who place more importance on someone¡¯s background than their record.¡±


    ¡°Are you honestly telling me that someone who spent his life as a peasant is more qualified for the job than someone who has trained his whole life?¡± Hazelmere got an extremely irritable, smug look on her face.


    That didn¡¯t faze the knight at all. Instead, he threw his hands in surrender.


    ¡°I have no intention of proving you wrong, that¡¯s not why I¡¯m here. No matter how much you hate it, you¡¯re stuck with me. And, unfortunately, I¡¯m also stuck with you. I don¡¯t care what you think, I just hope you have enough common sense to put our differences aside when it matters.¡±


    Hazelmere raised her nose high up: ¡°I am not petty. I am just concerned about our success if we have resorted to putting someone like you in charge of anything. But, as long as you stay out of my and other mage¡¯s way, I think we will be fine.¡±


    The knight turned around to leave the tent: ¡°If you ever need me, I¡¯ll be in the military district. I have no intention of leaving it unless absolutely necessary. Don¡¯t want to spook the rest of your mages.¡±


    ¡°Sounds good to me!¡±


    The knight left without any farewells.


    As soon as he did, Rowena put her arm around Hazelmere¡¯s neck, leaning into her:


    ¡°Ok, he¡¯s not the looker ¡­¡±


    ¡°Not at all!¡±


    ¡°But that¡¯s completely unimportant. I know, all of this sounds like some fairy tale. We¡¯re going on an adventure into the unknown, opening a portal to an alien world where all kinds of dangers await! A pretty mage and a dashing knight lead the way for the other plebs to follow, fighting together and gradually getting closer to each other.¡±


    ¡°Shut up! There was no need to lead me on like that!¡±


    ¡°Tsk, tsk ¡­ I know our age isn¡¯t that different, but your naivety is impressive. We aren¡¯t here to have a good time, we¡¯re here to do our jobs.¡±


    ¡°Well, excuse me, you oh-so-wise sage!¡± Hazelmere raised her voice as she disentangled herself from Rowena¡¯s embrace, ¡°I¡¯m so, so sorry for not being wise enough to try and make a fool out of someone every chance I get!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re missing the point,¡± Rowena¡¯s face didn¡¯t have a single hint of hostility, ¡°I respect you, a lot. Your title demands respect since no fool can ever attain it. I¡¯m just worried you¡¯re too trustful of others and are also a hopeless romantic. If we had assigned an ideal knight to you, you¡¯d be dancing to his tune in no time. We need you to be in charge, no matter what. We know you won¡¯t let the other mages get in your way, you proved that much, but your lack of self-control when it comes to the opposite sex is worrying.¡±


    Hazelmere crossed her arms, her mouth agape in disbelief.


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, really.¡±


    ¡°Do you have any idea? Do you have any idea just what kind of self-control it takes to become an archmage?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I know. And I¡¯m worried you may be tired of it, tired of always being in control of your emotions.¡±


    ¡°Listen, Rowena, and listen well,¡± Hazelmere showed Rowena her most serious face, ¡°as you have pointed it out yourself, a fool can never become an archmage! There are times when having fun can¡¯t hurt, and there are times when being focused makes all the difference between life and death! Do you honestly think I would get this far if I wasn¡¯t aware of that?¡±


    ¡°No, of course not.¡±


    ¡°Then what¡¯s your damn problem? Ok, I admit, I was hoping for some romance with a dashing knight-commander. Yes, I am a romantic, and I love such stories. But do you honestly think I would forbid all other mages to engage in carnal relations while I am gorging myself? Sex isn¡¯t necessarily a part of the romance, you know? I can wait until the summoning is done!¡±


    Rowena raised an eyebrow: ¡°To be perfectly honest, I can¡¯t trust you completely. You became the royal archmage only recently, so I know very little about you. It never hurts to have additional safety measures when in doubt. Besides, him being dark-skinned is just a convenient benefit. He and his legion are here because they are the most distinguished legion in our army.¡±


    ¡°Then why haven¡¯t I ever heard about him or his legion?¡±


    ¡°Because no one is interested in hearing the stories about some peasants, there¡¯s nothing romantic about it. Would you be interested in hearing a story about two peasants rolling in the hay? It¡¯s the same thing with the warriors. No one is interested in some random peasants fighting battles! Everyone wants to hear a story about some lost prince in full-plate armor slaying a dragon with a magical sword.¡±


    Then, she gave Hazelmere a suggestive look: ¡°But ¡­ a story about a high-born lady and a filthy peasant who get to know each other better ¡­¡±


    That caused a myriad of grimaces to show up on Hazelmere¡¯s face in quick succession, each and every one of them filled with disgust. When her emotions finally settled, she pointed her finger towards the exit:


    ¡°Piss off!¡±


    Rowena turned around and walked out of the tent with a satisfied smile on her face. But, in the next moment, she poked her head back in.


    ¡°Oh, yeah! I almost forgot!¡±


    ¡°What!¡±


    ¡°Since you never bothered to ask, his name is Heartwell. I thought you might need to know that.¡±


    ¡°Just the peasant-commander will do. I have no intention of getting to know him.¡±


    ¡°Oh, well,¡± Rowena shrugged, but her shoulders were on the other side of the curtain, ¡°your choice.¡±


    And with that, she left.

 Chapter 8

    Heartwell was true to his word. He didn¡¯t bother any of the mages. He didn¡¯t even show up in front of them. He let them do their work unobstructed while he focused on keeping the camp secure.


    It¡¯s not like his presence was necessary anyway. He could handle all of his duties from inside his military command tent, thanks to his loyal attach¨¦.


    The ¡°lesser¡± mages, as they are known in the archmage circles, started storing their energy into the crystals right away, while it took a few days for the archmages to organize themselves. They spent more time trying to assert their individual dominance than actually trying to reach a constructive agreement. But, eventually, they agreed on dividing the scrolls among themselves so each archmage could work on her scrolls independently.


    Hazelmere¡¯s work progressed exceptionally well, perhaps too well. She managed to decipher the first scroll in just three weeks, even though she thought it would take her moons to do so. A few days after she started working her second scroll, she was interrupted by the pleasant voice coming from outside of her personal tent.


    ¡°Excuse me, Hazelmere, may I enter? We need to discuss something.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead, come in!¡± Hazelmere said as soon as she had checked that nothing that should be hidden from the prying eyes is on display.


    A fellow archmage walked in. It was the golden-haired one who spoke from among the crowd when Hazelmere was briefing the mages.


    ¡°Sorry for the interruption, but I would like to share some of my concerns with you.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so formal with me, Natle. Oh, yes! I was too busy ever since I came here, I forgot to thank you!¡±


    Natle waved her hand dismissively, with a smile, ¡°Think nothing of it.¡±


    ¡°Anyway, thank you! It may sound silly, but having you assert it will be impossible to forbid carnal relations was really important. It shows to the other mages that I am willing to compromise and appreciate their input.¡±


    ¡°I must say, I never thought you would ask me for that kind of favor.¡±


    ¡°It was the royal advisor¡¯s idea. I wanted it to be Mizette, but the advisor insisted it has to be someone I am not friends with.¡±


    ¡°Well, the royal advisor seems to know what she is doing. The rest of us do need to know you are open-minded.¡±


    Hazelmere¡¯s face went sour: ¡°Well, that is great but ¡­ I am not so certain about that advisor.¡±


    She recovered quickly: ¡°But, anyway, what do you need?¡±


    Natle took a seat without asking: ¡°I have some serious concerns regarding these scrolls.¡±


    ¡°Ok, I am listening.¡±


    ¡°I have just finished deciphering the second scroll ¡­ and I can¡¯t help but think it was too easy.¡±


    Hazelmere¡¯s look got serious: ¡°I agree. It was too easy. I expected it would take at least a few moons to decipher the first scroll.¡±


    ¡°Exactly! I have never seen scrolls that are so easy to use! It is as if whoever wrote them is leading us by the hand.¡±


    ¡°I admit I share some of your worries but, then again, the mages of old had much better arcane knowledge than we do. And these scrolls were most likely written by the ancient Sun elves. I guess they understood the magic so well, their scrolls didn¡¯t have to be complicated to work.¡±


    ¡°I get that but, as I am figuring out those incantations, I can¡¯t help but feel some ¡­ uneasiness. I can¡¯t describe it in words.¡±


    ¡°The arch priestesses have checked each and every scroll that we have. There is not a single trace of demonic taint on them.¡±


    ¡°I know, but ¡­ I don¡¯t know,¡± Natle said with a sigh, ¡°it is just that it was never supposed to be this easy. We were all taught that there is the easy way and the right way when it comes to magic. This feels like it.¡±


    Hazelmere also sighed: ¡°Yes, I know, I feel uneasy about it too. You know what? We shouldn¡¯t just dismiss those worries. I will wait a week and see what progress have the other archmages made. Maybe you and I just got some simple scrolls? But, if everyone else gets the same feeling that we have, that is a sign something may be wrong here. If that happens, I will summon all the archmages, and we will see what to do about it together. Are you ok with that?¡±


    Natle nodded, looking satisfied: ¡°Yes, that is what I was thinking too. I wish we could talk about it right away, but I realize some mages, who didn¡¯t decipher a single scroll yet, may take it as an insult.¡±


    ¡°I agree! I don¡¯t want anyone to feel singled out.¡±


    ¡°Not even Cybil?¡± Natle asked.


    That gave Hazelmere a pause.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°She¡¯s a ¡­ a different story, but I can¡¯t let myself be seen as acting petty. Her house would immediately use that against me.¡±


    ¡°They are still sore about it?¡±


    ¡°It makes sense since I have ruined their family¡¯s heritage.¡±


    ¡°It is not your fault you were chosen as the royal archmage.¡±


    ¡°Well, that is exactly how they see it! But, then again, I bet they are giving Cybil a much harder time than they are giving me since she is the first mage from their family to fail them. So, I can¡¯t really be mad at her.¡±


    ¡°You know she holds an obvious grudge against you. She isn¡¯t even trying to hide it.¡±


    ¡°If she has any common sense, she will realize now is not the time for infighting.¡±


    Natle¡¯s tail swished slowly: ¡°I am not so sure about that.¡±


    But she quickly stood up.


    ¡°Anyway, I am glad we think the same. Thank you for your time. I will take my leave now.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t hesitate to come again if you need anything!¡±


    ¡°Thanks, I appreciate it.¡±


    And with that, Natle left the tent.


    ---


    A week later, Hazelmere summoned all the archmages:


    ¡°All right, I have summoned you here to see how the deciphering is going. Anyone who has deciphered at least one full scroll, please raise your hand.¡±


    All the archmages raised them.


    ¡°Well, that is disturbing.¡± Hazelmere continued, ¡°I admit, it felt good thinking I am just too good a mage since I have deciphered one so quickly, but if everyone was as successful, I can¡¯t help but be worried about these scrolls.¡±


    ¡°You mean, all of us managed to decipher a scroll?¡± An unimpressively-looking archmage named Mizette asked.


    ¡°That is what I have said,¡± Hazelmere set down, putting her fingers on her forehead for support, ¡°I hoped my scrolls just happened to be so easy, but this is ridiculous.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand, what is the problem?¡± another mage asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t it good that the scrolls are so easy to decipher? That only means our job will be much easier, and we will be done with it quickly!¡±


    Everyone in the tent looked at her judgingly.


    ¡°How did you even become an archmage?¡±


    ¡°What? What is wrong?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you learn, at the very start of your training, that everything useful comes at a cost? If something is easy to do, then it is probably not worth doing it with magic.¡±


    ¡°And we are summoning a portal here, to the other world nonetheless,¡± Natle said, ¡°few things are harder than that. I would expect these scrolls to be complicated, unlike any other scrolls I have seen.¡±


    ¡°I agree. Something is wrong here. It is as if someone has already prepared these scrolls for us.¡±


    ¡°But, the ancient Sun elves were the masters when it comes to spells and magic! It makes sense they would optimize them somehow!¡±


    ¡°That argument made some sense to me until I have realized something,¡± Natle spoke over the others, making them lower their voices, ¡°the truth is, the ancient Sun elves have designed all the spells we use.¡±


    ¡°What are you getting at?¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t there much more useful spells you would expect them to optimize first? I find it unbelievable that the ancients would optimize traveling between the worlds but not healing spells, for example. It took me much less effort to decipher these scrolls than to decipher a simple scratch-healing spell.¡±


    ¡°And that is coming from a restoration mage,¡± the red-haired archmage named Peratha said. She looked a bit older and more mature than the other mages present, but she was hardly out of her prime.


    ¡°That is not all,¡± Natle continued, ¡°take water purification, for example. We mages don¡¯t deal with it, but I know some priestesses, and it takes them much time to master water purification spells. You would expect the ancients to make those scrolls much more accessible, considering their importance. I find it unlikely that the ancient Sun elves have written such simple, yet effective scrolls, considering the complexity of all the other scrolls they have made.¡±


    ¡°But, that leaves us with the question: if the ancients didn¡¯t create these scrolls, then who has created them?¡± Hazelmere wondered out loud.


    That left the tent in awkward silence.


    Until a voice filled with mockery broke it.


    ¡°What is the matter, Hazelmere? Are you getting cold feet on your very first task?¡±


    Nobody had to look in the voice¡¯s direction to know who spoke, but Hazelmere took those words as the challenge. She saw the familiar face of her bitter rival. A female who was easily identifiable by her unusually white hair and an extremely pale skin complexion. Although her skin complexion wasn¡¯t as pale as the elven, it was totally uncharacteristic for any timkik who doesn¡¯t belong to her family.


    And, since those striking features are present in all the family members, they took it as a sign of their divine origin. And above all, their supremacy and divine purpose.


    ¡°Listen, Cybil, now is not the time,¡± Hazelmere dismissed the childish comment, ¡°If there is even the slightest chance that someone has messed with these scrolls, that is a major cause for concern.¡±


    ¡°That would mean someone is really, really interested in seeing us succeed. Someone really powerful,¡± Natle agreed.


    ¡°Someone even more powerful than the ancients,¡± Mizette added, ¡°I don¡¯t even want to think what kind of power it takes to make the scrolls as simple as this. And it would take ... thousands of years to create all these shortcuts we have seen in them!¡±


    Hazelmere nodded in agreement, ¡°Shortcuts ¡­ yes, that is a great way of explaining it! These scrolls are so simple, thanks to the fact that several incantations you would normally use on a scroll are merged into one. I never really thought about it like that, but you are right. This level of spellcrafting requires unbelievable knowledge of arcane arts.¡±


    ¡°But ¡­ I am only saying this hypothetically, but if it would take thousands of years to make these scrolls, and they are so simple yet do such wonderful things, and also considering that someone made them so simple because they want us to succeed ¡­ would it be possible that some god has created them?¡± Mizette wondered.


    There was a brief silence in the tent.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t have to be a god, I doubt they would meddle in something so mundane, but it could be possible that some divines are involved,¡± Natle entertained the thought.


    ¡°And what if it is not the divines but their counterparts,¡± red-haired Peratha asked.


    That caused another pause, but the air was much tenser this time.


    ¡°I think we are getting ahead of ourselves,¡± Hazelmere broke the silence, ¡°the point is, we have no idea who made these scrolls. I just wanted to share my worries with all of you, that is all. I mean, if some demons, or some other hellish entities, have truly meddled with these scrolls, then the archpriestesses would detect their taint for sure!¡±


    ¡°We were just speaking hypothetically.¡±


    ¡°Well, don¡¯t! We are here to study these scrolls, not to come up with all kinds of wild hypothesis! Let us focus on the job at hand!¡±


    All the archmages but one nodded in confirmation.


    ¡°We will continue with the deciphering, but make sure to pay close attention to everything! We will see what we come across as we are deciphering them and, if in time we realize there is some serious cause for concern, I will take it to the Emperor. If we find some serious evidence that these scrolls are created so masterfully just because someone wants to take advantage of us, his highness will certainly want to know about it. Then, we will leave the choice up to him.¡±


    Seeing that no one is objecting to her proposal, Hazelmere dismissed them all.

 Chapter 9

    The weeks passed, but nothing changed. Hazelmere finished deciphering her second, third, and then fourth scroll. All of them were incredibly easy, they were no challenge at all. And, regardless of how high Hazelmere¡¯s opinion was regarding her abilities, she was getting increasingly sure that someone went through great lengths to make those scrolls so easily decipherable.


    And clearly, it wasn¡¯t for her or her fellow mages benefit. So, she summoned the archmages once again.


    ¡°All right,¡± she started as soon as they¡¯ve assembled, ¡°this is getting ridiculous now. I don¡¯t know about you, but I find these scrolls to be even easier to decipher now.¡±


    ¡°I agree,¡± Natle nodded her head, ¡°there is a certain kind of pattern in these scrolls. Once you figure it out, deciphering them becomes almost as easy as reading a regular parchment. Even regular mages could decipher these!¡±


    ¡°It is not that easy, but I agree,¡± Mizette said, ¡°there is a pattern to all the scrolls I have seen so far. What worries me the most is that it certainly took much more effort to come up with such a pattern than it took to create these scrolls in the first place.¡±


    ¡°And it only made their creation more complicated,¡± Hazelmere asserted while prodding the table with her index finger, with excessive force, ¡°whoever made these scrolls was clearly much more concerned with making them as easy to decipher as possible than creating them in the first place. Think about it. All those scrolls are written in the same pattern! What that means ¡­¡±


    ¡°We didn¡¯t decipher half of those scrolls yet!¡± Cybil interrupted Hazelmere, a patronizing look on her face, ¡°you are concluding way too soon!¡±


    ¡°Now is not the time, Cybil!¡± Mizette complained, her voice hinting at mild annoyance, ¡°something strange is going on here, and it affects all of us! Can you please keep your rivalry with Hazelmere out of this?¡±


    ¡°I am just stating the obvious,¡± Cybil¡¯s voice was emotionless, even though she did her best to show some attitude, ¡°we can¡¯t conclude that all the scrolls share the same pattern if we haven¡¯t gone through half of them yet. That is basic math.¡±


    ¡°So, if you were put in Hazelmere¡¯s place, you would have us decipher all the scrolls first and only act then ¡­ when you are absolutely sure. Yes, that is why you didn¡¯t get the title of the royal archmage.¡±


    ¡°Mizette!¡± Natle raised her voice, ¡°that is going too far! Yes, she is acting childish, but she isn¡¯t offending anyone! She is just teasing Hazelmere, she isn¡¯t trying to harm her!¡±


    ¡°Well, her teasing isn¡¯t amusing to me, especially now!¡± Mizette responded with a raised voice of her own, ¡°I am not here to listen to some petty squabbling! She can tease Hazelmere at her own free time, as much as she wants!¡±


    ¡°Anyway!¡±, Hazelmere yelled over all of them, so loud a soldier poked his head through the entrance to take a look at what¡¯s going on, ¡°if the scrolls are written in the same pattern, and their purpose is to create a portal that leads to some alien world, do you have any idea how long it would take to make them?¡±


    ¡°It would take centuries at the very least!¡±


    ¡°No, it would take even more than that,¡± Natle said, ¡°much, much more! It would take several thousand years! We can easily understand these scrolls because the pattern replaces many runes that would usually be written on the scroll. I have seen it everywhere, and I bet all of you have seen it too. A single rune on these scrolls is doing the same work as several dozen runes we usually deal with! If not for this pattern, not only would we have a much harder time understanding these scrolls, but we would need a library to store all the scrolls we would need. Whoever made these has access to magic we can only dream about.¡±


    ¡°Or maybe, they had,¡± Peratha, the red-haired mage spoke, ¡°these scrolls may be older than the ancient Sun elves themselves! We know that knowledge is steadily declining. The ancient Sun elves had much more powerful magic than we do. Who is to say they didn¡¯t have their own ancients?¡±


    ¡°That is a wild guess, but it may be true,¡± Natle said, ¡°there may be even more truth in that question than we realize. Let us assume that the Sun elves did have their own ancients. What is stopping us from assuming their ancients had their own ancients too?¡±


    ¡°What are you getting at?¡± Peratha asked.


    ¡°If you go down the line of ancients, you will eventually reach the gods.¡±


    There was silence as everyone considered such a possibility.


    ¡°Are you saying the gods made these?¡±


    ¡°No, I am not. I can¡¯t know that! But I am fairly certain these scrolls didn¡¯t come from the ancient Sun elves. Everything we know about the magic can be traced back to them. After all, we have studied their books to become mages. And yet, we have never seen anything like this! Some patterns yes, but those have always been the universal patterns that can be replicated on any other scroll. Whoever made these scrolls invested far more time and energy than the ancients were ever willing to, just to make sure someone gets to decipher them properly.¡±This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    ¡°And casts their incantations,¡± Mizette finished the thought, to which Natle nodded deeply.


    ¡°Where did we get these scrolls from?¡±


    ¡°In the ruins, below us,¡± Hazelmere responded, ¡°the ruins are below the Treadmondo itself.¡±


    ¡°Could we, perhaps, explore it?¡± Peratha asked, ¡°maybe we can find some clues there? A few experienced adventuring parties could explore those ruins in a moon or two.¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t. The soldiers won¡¯t let us, and I doubt we will get permission from the Emperor to do so,¡± Cybil responded.


    ¡°For once, I agree with Cybil,¡± as she said that, Hazelmere exhaled as if she was done lifting a heavy burden, ¡°The Emperor wants us to summon the portal as soon as possible. However, I will still go to the palace and ask for permission. In light of our quick progress, maybe the Emperor will be willing to give us at least one moon to explore the ruins. I will try persuading him by saying that exploring the ruins may give us more insight into the spell.¡±


    ¡°So, you are going to lie to him,¡± surprisingly, the usual venom was missing from Cybil¡¯s voice.


    Hazelmere opened her mouth to respond but managed to stop herself. She considered her words carefully.


    ¡°Is anyone against it?¡± She asked.


    Everyone looked at each other in silence.


    ¡°That isn¡¯t fair!¡± Cybil broke it, ¡°You are pushing your responsibilities on the rest of us!¡±


    Mizette interfered before Hazelmere managed to respond: ¡°It is also not fair to make her shoulder this burden alone!¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that what the royal archmage is for?¡±


    ¡°In that case, you will have no trouble naming at least one royal archmage who had to make a call this big!¡±


    After a short standoff between them, Mizette continued.


    ¡°I think it is safe to assume that someone extremely powerful wants this portal summoned, and I doubt that whoever ¡­ or whatever has created these scrolls has our best interests at heart. It isn¡¯t fair to force Hazelmere to shoulder this burden all alone, especially considering she got her title only recently. Actually, I see her willingness to ask for consensus as proof that she doesn¡¯t consider herself to be above us all!¡±


    Hazelmere stared uncertainly at Mizette for a few moments.


    Until Peratha got her attention back to the topic: ¡°So, basically, we are discussing whether we will be deceiving the Emperor or not.¡±


    The unpleasant silence lasted for a few moments.


    Then, Natle started laughing.


    Peratha turned towards her, giving her the look of playful reprimand.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry, I just can¡¯t,¡± Natle said through her laughter, waving her hand around.


    Taking a look at Hazelmere, Peratha noticed the worry on her face. So, she decided to alleviate it.


    ¡°We had situations like this before. We have seen just how short-sighted the people in power can be, too many times. Cybil is especially familiar with that, considering her grand-mother was the former royal archmage. People underestimate just how dangerous the magic can be, and it is your duty as the royal archmage to make sure your ruler doesn¡¯t do anything stupid with it.¡±


    ¡°Soo ¡­¡± Hazelmere proceeded with the utmost caution, ¡°are you ok with me asking his majesty for permission?¡±


    ¡°Yes, and feel free to lie as much as you need to. Even if he agrees with it, we probably won¡¯t find anything, but still, we must take a look. As long as we have enough time to prepare for the exploration, and some proper escort, of course. Not these peasant soldiers we have in the camp.¡±


    ¡°What I am curious about the most is: who told him the scrolls lead to an abundant world?¡± Mizette said.


    Peratha shook her index finger left to right: ¡°You are getting close but no, that is not what should worry you the most.¡±


    ¡°Go on.¡±


    ¡°Has his majesty, or any of his subjects, asked any of you for their opinion on these scrolls? Has anyone seen them before? His majesty says he had the best mages examine them and yet, I didn¡¯t get to see a single one.¡±


    There was no response.


    That made Peratha frown slightly: ¡°Has anyone seen these scrolls before the senate was summoned?¡±


    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Not me.¡±


    ¡°So, you are telling me his majesty didn¡¯t ask a single archmage in his Empire about the scrolls?¡±


    ¡°Maybe some of us are lying and just don¡¯t want to admit it!¡±


    ¡°What about your grand-mother Cybil?¡± Hazelmere asked, ¡°Maybe his majesty has asked her for opinion? It would make sense to ask his former royal archmage instead of me, she is much more experienced than I am.¡±


    ¡°Not as far as I know.¡±


    ¡°Your mother perhaps?¡± Mizette followed.


    Cybil opened her mouth, but Peratha interrupted her the moment she showed a hint of hesitation.


    ¡°Her mother isn¡¯t a mage. She didn¡¯t stay virgin long enough.¡±


    ¡°And I know you knew that!¡± Cybil¡¯s didn¡¯t sound as angry as she sounded disappointed.


    But Mizette looked completely unconcerned: ¡°I really didn¡¯t know.¡±


    ¡°Anyway,¡± Peratha stopped their bickering before it has even started, ¡°while you are asking the Emperor for permission to investigate those ruins, you might as well try finding out who told him where the portal leads. The more I am looking at these scrolls, the more I am convinced that is a key part of the puzzle.¡±


    ¡°I agree,¡± Mizette nodded her head.


    ¡°Ok, I will try.¡±


    ¡°Also, bring the knight-commander with you. He may come in ¡­ handy,¡± Peratha teased.


    Hazelmere frowned in disgust. Her mouth opened, but no voice came out of it.


    ¡°Well, the truth is, he is responsible for your safety. We don¡¯t want you getting hurt on the way,¡± Natle pointed out.


    ¡°You will have to tell us how it feels to sit right next to a peasant in a cramped chariot. I bet it is a unique experience,¡± Peratha continued, ¡°considering his background, you can do whatever you want with him and, if he resists, you can threaten to accuse him of doing the same thing to you! He knows too well you would win in the court!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re all dismissed!¡±


    ¡°These youngsters,¡± Peratha shook her head in feigned disappointment, ¡°no imagination or initiative. He would like it for sure, you know. Every peasant dreams of a pale, noble girl like you.¡±


    ¡°Out!¡±

 Chapter 10

    Despite her prejudice, Hazelmere did end up requesting the knight commander for escort. To her surprise, he was one step ahead and, instead of escorting her himself, he sent his adjutant along with the detachment of soldiers.


    The adjutant turned out to be the real, proper knight. He introduced himself as Vukasin, and he did it in the proper, noble manner. His looks weren¡¯t anything special, but Hazelmere found his form to be pleasing to her eye. She soon learned that, unfortunately, he was the only proper knight in the entire legion.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you feel ¡­ disrespected when you are expected to take orders from some ¡­ peasant?¡± Hazelmere asked, disgust palpable in her voice, ¡°he isn¡¯t even a proper commoner!¡±


    The knight sighed: ¡°I get that question often, most often from my own family. They see it as an insult to our entire house. But, the truth is, I demanded to be transferred to his legion.¡±


    Hazelmere recoiled slightly: ¡°Why would you do that?¡±


    ¡°I owe a debt to him.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t you repay it with coin? I bet the peasants love the coin, much more than we do.¡±


    ¡°My debt can¡¯t be repaid in such a way. Besides, Heartwell doesn¡¯t like the coin. There isn¡¯t much he can do with it anyway.¡±


    ¡°That makes no sense since peasants have so little of it. Even if he has enough for himself, because I bet a peasant like him doesn¡¯t need much, I would expect him to send some of his coin back home. His family could certainly use it.¡±


    ¡°Well ¡­ that¡¯s the thing. He doesn¡¯t have a family anymore.¡±


    ¡°How so? Since you said ¡®anymore¡¯ I bet he wasn¡¯t born an orphan.¡±


    ¡°He lost his family in the war, three offensives ago. That¡¯s also when he joined the army.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    ¡°He has no one to send his coin to. It¡¯s pretty much useless to him.¡±


    ¡°Even if that is the case, he can still buy a lot with it. For example, aren¡¯t the soldiers famous for spending copious amounts of coin in the brothels?¡±


    The knight blushed at that, his tail going wild.


    ¡°Well ¡­ yes, but ¡­ Heartwell is visiting them much less frequently than one would assume.¡±


    ¡°What, he has no desire?¡±


    The knight started fidgeting: ¡°Umm ¡­ I don¡¯t know. I wouldn¡¯t say he doesn¡¯t have it, it¡¯s just that ¡­ I guess he feels tired and hollow. He isn¡¯t interested in much else besides the war.¡±


    ¡°Is any of this connected to your debt?¡±


    That made the knight straighten up: ¡°Forgive me, but I prefer to keep my debt personal. Truth be told, I don¡¯t think any other noble would understand it.¡±


    ¡°What makes you say that?¡±


    ¡°Because no noble can understand anything about Heartwell or his legion.¡±


    ¡°And why do you think so?¡±


    ¡°He isn¡¯t your regular legion commander. Unlike the other commanders, he takes this war personally. He isn¡¯t in it for the glory, he only cares about killing as many hosagians as possible. And the same goes for each and every one of his soldiers. All of them lost their homes and families. That¡¯s why they rally around him and carry out his orders unquestionably. They recognize his rage, his zeal.¡±


    ¡°Does the same apply to you?¡±


    Vukasin hunched forward a bit: ¡°Yes I ¡­ I lost my brother. If I¡¯d get transferred to any other legion, I would probably stay safe until the end of the war. After all, I¡¯m a noble knight. But only the Heartwell¡¯s legion will give me the chance to avenge him properly.¡±


    He faced Hazelmere with a sad smile on his face: ¡°That¡¯s what my fellow nobles don¡¯t understand. A lot of them tell me that¡¯s not how a proper knight is supposed to act. And they¡¯re right, I can¡¯t argue with that. But, there are some emotions, some feelings, that just can¡¯t be explained logically.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± Hazelmere didn¡¯t even try to hide her expression of disapproval and boredom.


    ---


    Hazelmere found the rest of their conversation to be much more enjoyable. Once the topic moved away from the peasant-commander, the knight started showing proper conversational skills, ones fitting for a noble.


    It took them a few weeks to reach the castle. Hazelmere saw these days as a pleasant change of pace, all those scrolls were slowly getting on her nerves. She also realized that the knight proved himself to be the best company she could ask for. Yes, he wasn¡¯t as good looking as a distinguished damsel like herself would hope, but she realized it was for the best. His looks were pleasing enough to make him nice to look at, he was also good at carrying the conversation and making it interesting, and yet, luckily, he wasn¡¯t stunning enough to awake her desire. Which was great, considering she had to conserve the energy for the ritual.


    Once they¡¯ve reached the palace, the guards sent them to see the royal advisor immediately.


    ¡°This is unusual,¡± Hazelmere protested, ¡°did something happen? Why are you rushing us?¡±


    ¡°Nothing that I¡¯m aware of. It¡¯s just that we¡¯ve received the orders to lead you to the advisor as soon as you show up. She said that you wouldn¡¯t come as long as everything is ok. If you do arrive, that means something is wrong so, we¡¯re to lead you to her immediately,¡± the royal guard responded. It was the same well-rounded guy who has escorted her before.


    Hazelmere nodded: ¡°That¡¯s very forward-thinking of her.¡±


    ¡°Indeed.¡±


    They walked in silence for some time.


    ¡°You won¡¯t ask what has happened?¡± She asked the guard.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need to know.¡±


    ¡°Who knows what might have happened ...¡±


    ¡°Lady, the royal guards don¡¯t need to know what doesn¡¯t concern us. All you need to do is point us at someone to protect or something to destroy. We leave the thinking to the smarter people ¡­ people like you.¡±If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°That¡¯s very commendable.¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°But what if ¡­¡±


    ¡°If something happens that requires our attention, we¡¯ll be notified of it. Spreading rumors is not what the royal guards are for.¡±


    ¡°Oh ¡­ I didn¡¯t think about it that way. That makes sense! I bet the court is a very intriguing place.¡±


    ¡°And there¡¯s no need for us to add any more intrigue to it by spreading unverified information. Besides, some people have a bad habit of toying with others. We can only know if something is true if the news comes from the trusted source.¡±


    ¡°Am I not the trusted source? I am the royal archmage, after all.¡±


    ¡°Not until you prove yourself worthy of our trust.¡±


    ---


    There was no comfy study this time. Hazelmere was received in the regular office. Every item in the room oozed bureaucracy. The room was dominated by shelves filled with stacks of rolled papyrus. There were a few fancy decorations around, which only served to accentuate the lifelessness of the room.


    There was a single, large desk in the room, at the center of which set Rowena. One side of the desk was stacked with differently covered ink bottles, some of them half empty and some of them full. The other side was filled with all kinds of quills, many of them varying in shapes and sizes.


    ¡°Ahoy, Hazelmere!¡± Rowena greeted her without lifting her eyes away from the table.


    ¡°Ahoy. I have something very important to report to his Majesty.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I bet you do. However, his Majesty is very busy so you¡¯ll have to report it to me instead. I¡¯ll make sure his Majesty hears your message.¡±


    Hazelmere hesitated as her face turned both confused and worried: ¡°I would like to speak with his Majesty. There is something very important, and I think he should hear it directly from me.¡±


    ¡°And I¡¯ve told you his Majesty is very busy. I¡¯ll carry your message to him as soon as he¡¯s available.¡±


    Rowena finally lifted her head.


    ¡°Do you not trust me?¡±


    ¡°I do, but this may turn out to be very serious. Which is why I want to be sure his Majesty gets the proper information!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the problem? What is so serious?¡±


    ¡°The scrolls, they are too easy to decipher.¡±


    ¡°And that¡¯s a problem because ¡­¡±


    ¡°Because that is a clear indication we are meddling with something we know nothing about!¡±


    That made Rowena burst out laughing, but she restrained her emotions quickly.


    ¡°Hazelmere, if we knew what we¡¯re doing we wouldn¡¯t make it such a priority. We all know nobody has managed to summon a portal connecting two worlds in several thousand years. That¡¯s why you have all the best mages with you to help you understand the task better.¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I¡¯ve meant! I have talked with the other archmages, and we all agree that something worrying is going on! The scrolls you gave us, they were made by someone whose understanding of magic is greater than even what the ancient Sun elves had!¡±


    ¡°And that¡¯s a bad thing because ¡­¡±


    ¡°Because we have no idea who or what made them!¡±


    Rowena leaned into her chair, exhaling deeply: ¡°Whoever created them has died out a long time ago. The scrolls were found in the ruins which are teeming with all kinds of underworld filth! Whatever civilization it is that you¡¯re talking about, they don¡¯t exist anymore!¡±


    ¡°The thing is, we aren¡¯t sure if it was the mortals who have created those scrolls.¡±


    ¡°What? Are you serious?¡±


    Hazelmere averted her eyes shyly: ¡°We have to keep all possibilities open when dealing with so many unknowns.¡±


    ¡°What are you mages taking out there? Did you manage to smuggle an entire crate of funny mushrooms somehow?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m serious!¡±


    ¡°Well, I can¡¯t take you seriously! You¡¯re telling me, with a straight face, that there¡¯s a possibility that some immortals have created those scrolls!¡±


    ¡°That is just one possibility out of the many!¡±


    ¡°That makes no sense because, if they were truly immortal, the underworld filth wouldn¡¯t overrun them!¡±


    Hazelmere¡¯s eyes darted around the room for a few moments: ¡°I am not saying some immortals lived in those ruins. Those scrolls may have been taken from somewhere else and brought there. But, regardless of our speculation, it is a fact that we have never seen scrolls like these before! That is why I would like to ask his Majesty to send some adventurers to those ruins. Maybe they will find something which will give us a better understanding of the scrolls.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s out of the question! The adventuring party has already explored those ruins, that¡¯s how we got the scrolls in the first place! Besides, the adventurers can¡¯t explore the runs without the mages supporting them, and you¡¯re to focus all the mages on summoning the portal. That¡¯s the top priority!¡±


    ¡°But we may summon it faster and with fewer resources if we check out those ruins! We may find something those adventurers have missed, something that explains how this unknown magic binding works! That would greatly enhance the capabilities of our mages! It would give our Empire a huge advantage over our enemies!¡±


    ¡°Or, it would get the entire party killed, which is much more likely. Dungeon delving is an extremely dangerous job, the most dangerous job any adventuring party can take. No, we can¡¯t have you endangering the lives of our mages, they¡¯re too valuable! Once the portal is opened, and if it turns out there¡¯s no danger on the other side, then we will send a party to explore those ruins. Now is not the time.¡±


    Hazelmere straightened up, her face becoming dead serious.


    ¡°I demand to see his Majesty! I want to hear his opinion!¡±


    ¡°Your request has been denied,¡± Rowena¡¯s words carried no emotion what so ever.


    ¡°As the royal archmage, I have a right to an audience with the Emperor! It¡¯s an emergency!¡±


    ¡°And, as the royal advisor, I have the right to nullify your right to the audience with the Emperor. He¡¯s too busy, you¡¯re too busy, all of us have jobs to do, and none of us have the luxury of chasing wild dreams. It¡¯s my job to manage his highness¡¯s time properly, and this isn¡¯t something worthy of his time.¡±


    ¡°I am not leaving until I see his majesty!¡± Hazelmere raised her voice.


    ¡°If you won¡¯t leave then you¡¯ll be escorted out,¡± Rowena¡¯s words had an edge to them this time.


    ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡±


    Hearing that, Vukasin, the knight escorting Hazelmere, felt the hilt of his sword with his fingers as his eyes started examining the room around them in detail.


    Rowena sighed tiredly: ¡°Why are you so unreasonable?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re the unreasonable one! We know nothing about those scrolls, yet you want us to keep summoning whatever is written in them!¡±


    ¡°Do those scrolls have any demonic taint in them?¡±


    That made Hazelmere falter.


    ¡°No, they don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re worrying about nothing! Stop wasting everyone¡¯s time and go back to your camp!¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t! Not until I speak with his Majesty!¡±


    ¡°Guards!¡± Rowena yelled, her voice much louder and much more commanding than what one would expect from an approachable-looking female.


    The royal guards rushed through the door, perhaps too soon. Seeing that nobody was in immediate danger, the well-rounded guards-commander started approaching Hazelmere and her knight slowly.


    ¡°Easy on those fingers, pretty boy,¡± he spoke, his voice sounding a bit friendly, ¡°when two swords are unsheathed, one doesn¡¯t go back in.¡±


    ¡°Then how about you remove your hand from the pommel?¡± Vukasin responded.


    The guards- commander obliged, placing both of his hands on his waist,¡± it¡¯s your turn, boy.


    ¡°Oh yeah? What about the rest of you?¡± Vukasin eyed the guards carefully.


    ¡°I did what you asked me to do, you schmuck!¡± The commander raised his voice, ¡°My hand isn¡¯t on my pommel anymore! Now it¡¯s your turn!¡±


    ¡°Hazelmere, can you please leave without an incident? I don¡¯t want anyone to get hurt,¡± Rowena said in a reconciliatory voice, ¡°you really shouldn¡¯t be wasting your time like this.¡±


    ¡°Fine! I know when I¡¯m outmatched. Regardless of how good my knight may be, he has no chance against ten of your guards. But, if anything goes wrong with the portal, if it turns out that me and my archmages were right, then I want you to take full responsibility for what happens!¡±


    ¡°You have my word,¡± Rowena stood up and bowed as she said that.


    ¡°And one more thing!¡± Hazelmere continued, ¡°If we are forbidden from sending an expedition to the ruins, then I want to know the name of the person who appraised the scrolls. Who was the mage, or the mages, you took those scrolls to first? Who told you those scrolls are safe and what they do?¡±


    Rowena smiled creepily. That was the first time Hazelmere saw her do anything like it.


    ¡°That¡¯s something I can¡¯t reveal to you. Please understand, if I told you who the archmages are, then I¡¯d be putting them in danger.¡±


    ¡°Is it one archmage or more?¡± Hazelmere asked.


    Rowena shook her head: ¡°I¡¯m not allowed to say, it¡¯s not my decision. It may come as a shock to you, but I also have a lot of commands to follow. We only got their cooperation because we agreed not to reveal their identities.¡±


    Hazelmere nodded her head: ¡°I understand.¡±


    To which Rowena answered with a genuine smile.


    ¡°Now, if you¡¯d leave, that would be great,¡± saying that, Rowena got back into her seat as if everything that has just happened was some menial, bureaucratic nuisance.


    But, as everyone was about to leave the room, she spoke again.


    ¡°And guards! Please make sure our guests are escorted back to their camp. We don¡¯t want them loitering around the city.¡±

 Chapter 11

    Hazelmere got back to her camp, escorted by the royal guards. Regardless of her protests, they insisted on escorting her all the way.


    Disheartened with her first failure ever, Hazelmere summoned the other archmages to tell them the news. They said nothing against her, quite the contrary. Mizette was especially vocal, accentuating that there are many forces outside of her control, again and again.


    With that, everyone got back to business. Deciphering the scrolls took much less time than anyone has expected, so it was done in just a few moons. After that, the archmages took some extreme measures to ensure the incantations couldn¡¯t do anything besides summoning a portal, fearing there may be some hidden spells lurking in the scrolls.


    Sometimes, the scrolls can contain several spells in them, some of which can be concealed. This is the most common method of trapping or eliminating a mage. When casting a spell from a scroll, or scrolls, the mage would unwittingly cast the hidden spell on her. It¡¯s also not so uncommon to find such hidden spells in the dungeons, especially the crypts. Those who don¡¯t appreciate the idea of others taking their stuff, even when they¡¯re dead, would place a booby trap which usually contains a curse. Sometimes, such traps are hidden in the scrolls found in the dungeons.


    So, as the other mages spent two years feeding the crystals with their energy, Hazelmere had all the archmages work on figuring out if there was some hidden surprise lurking in the scrolls.


    Alas, it was in vain. Even though the archmages were extremely meticulous, to the point they started understanding the very logic contained in those scrolls, they found nothing that had even the slightest hint of danger or deceit.


    It was the exact opposite.


    As they started understanding the logic in the scrolls themselves, they realized those scrolls contained hundreds of safety mechanisms. Some of them ensured the spell never fails with a critical failure, dissipating the enormous amount of energy the spell contained if anything went wrong, thus delaying its sudden, violent outburst. Some of these mechanisms even gave the summoners the ability to ¡®pause¡¯ the spell indefinitely if they ran out of energy, with the minimal loss of accumulated energy over time.


    In time, among all these mechanisms, the archmages managed to identify a special group of them, solidifying their belief that mere mortals didn¡¯t make those scrolls. At first, some of these mechanisms looked useless, unbelievably complicated, and yet extremely stupid. But, that was exactly why they got Hazelmere¡¯s attention. While all the other mages have dismissed those mechanisms as unimportant and a complete waste of time after just one glance, their strange complexity drew her in.


    It took her half a year to understand them properly but, in the end, it gave her so much needed insight into the mind of whoever has created these scrolls. She shared her findings with her fellow archmages eagerly.


    ¡°Are you serious?¡± Cybil asked in a mocking tone.


    ¡°Look, it is obvious what it does!¡± Hazelmere continued explaining, ¡°It is calculating the trajectory of something huge, something we don¡¯t even have the numbers to represent!¡±


    ¡°And you think it is calculating the trajectory of the alien world? Like, you think it is moving?¡±


    ¡°It has to be! I mean ¡­ just look at it! Look at how much energy is supposed to be there! This is completely unlike anything we have ever seen! The only explanation I can come up with is that the amount represents the sum of all the energy in the world!¡±


    ¡°That is nonsense,¡± Cybil¡¯s voice was much more dismissive than confrontational.


    ¡°Ok but, if that is the case, then why is it constantly moving circularly?¡± Natle asked, ¡°What would be the point of it? I get what you are saying, the amount of energy is way too huge to be anything but the world itself, but what would be the point of a moving world? And what would be the point of a movement that always ends up in the same place?¡±


    ¡°How can there even be life in such a world?¡± Cybil continued, ¡°No creature can handle constant movement! Just imagine living your entire life in a chariot!¡±


    ¡°How would we even enter a moving world?¡± Peratha joined the conversation, ¡°For example, what if this alien world is constantly moving towards the portal? How will we ever cross the portal if the moment we step into the other world, its constant movement throws us back?¡±


    ¡°Well, that is what this part here does,¡± Hazelmere said as she traced a part of the scroll with her index finger, ¡°these runes right here are making sure the portal moves together with the world at all times!¡±


    ¡°So, both the portal and the alien world are moving at the same speed?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    Cybil waved her hand dismissively: ¡°That is insane! Do you guys hear what she is saying?¡±


    ¡°Do you want me to trace the logic one more time for you? Maybe once wasn¡¯t enough!¡± The irritation in Hazelmere¡¯s voice was slowly but surely increasing.


    ¡°Listen to yourself! A moving world? And at such a speed? Everything on it would die from dizziness!¡±


    ¡°But there is no denying it,¡± Natle asserted, ¡°the logic is clear. The portal is constantly moving on the other side, at enormous speed. And this spell is an integral part of the entire incantation, we can¡¯t summon the portal without it.¡±


    ¡°But that is not the only thing!¡± Hazelmere continued with her presentation, ¡°The portal isn¡¯t moving along just one axis on the other side. It is moving along several of them!¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, several of them?¡±


    ¡°It is not just one direction that is being calculated! I have shown you this one, semi-circular movement, but there is another one,¡± Hazelmere reached out and grabbed another scroll, ¡°here! Check this out!¡±


    She picked up a different scroll and started tracing the logic once again. It took her some time to do so.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    ¡°See? This one calculates mush shorter but perfectly round circular movement. The circle on the first one is stretched out a little bit, but not on this one.¡±


    ¡°Ok but, what is the point? The scrolls calculate two circular movements, so what?¡±


    ¡°And then, once the runes on these two scrolls have done their calculations, the third scroll takes their results and starts doing a new set of calculations with the results of two previous calculations as inputs!¡± Hazelmere took yet another scroll, ¡°This one combines the results of both, taking the smaller circle and putting it on top of the bigger one! The smaller movement calculates one aspect of the portal¡¯s position in the other world, and it can¡¯t work without a bigger one! But that is only the beginning!¡±


    She searched for the next scroll for a few moments, picking up and discarding some of them in the process.


    ¡°This one is also calculating something, but I have no idea what. However, the result is picked up by another scroll ¡­ this one here, and this one I can figure out. It is calculating the portal¡¯s altitude.¡±


    ¡°Is its altitude also constantly changing?¡± Natle asked.


    ¡°That appears to be the case. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have to be recalculated from time to time. This one is actually very easy to understand, it sends a small burst of mana, and then it tries to pick up a small portion of it that has bounced off the surface.¡±


    ¡°Mana can bounce back?¡±


    ¡°I had no idea, but it looks like a tiny portion of it does. Anyway, it sends a burst of mana, and if it hits something before its set point, that means it has hit the ground.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t get it.¡±


    ¡°It starts with a wild guess. It assumes the location of the surface and sends a burst towards it. It is just a blind shot, and it is certainly going to fail. But, it can fail in only two ways: either it will hit the surface sooner than it is supposed to, or it won¡¯t hit anything. If the burst hits the surface sooner, then the altitude is increased and another burst is sent. If it doesn¡¯t hit anything, that means the surface is too far away since no energy has managed to bounce back, so the altitude is lowered.¡±


    ¡°The mana has dissipated.¡±


    ¡°Exactly! So, if there is no mana bouncing back, the altitude is lowered, and another burst is sent. The altitude is adjusted until some mana bouncing back is detected. Then, depending on the strength of the bouncing mana, the altitude is adjusted.¡±


    ¡°That is a lot of wasted mana,¡± Peraha commented.


    ¡°Yes, but it is also a very robust way of determining the altitude correctly,¡± Natle countered.


    ¡°So, what are you trying to say is that this alien world isn¡¯t just moving left to right, but it is also moving up and down?¡± Cybil asked.


    ¡°Not only that. It is also rotating along two axes.¡±


    Cybil blinked a few times before answering: ¡°You must be kidding!¡±


    Hazelmere took a deep breath.


    ¡°I have tested the runes on the scrolls by giving them some random values. Then, I have accelerated the spells to see if there is some kind of a pattern in the results. And the result appears to be a ball.¡±


    ¡°A ball?¡±


    ¡°Not a perfect one, but it is very close. The portal is constantly moving along the surface of a ball. It was hard to figure it out since it was moving along several axes, but I am fairly certain it is trying to position itself on the top of the invisible ball, which is moving along both of its axes and is also moving through the unknown space in a kind of a circular movement.¡±


    ¡°Wait, wait, wait!¡± Peratha raised her voice, ¡°are you telling us the world we will be going to is round?¡±


    ¡°If it is round, then how are we going to stay on top of it? We will slide right off!¡±


    Worried murmurs filled the room.


    ¡°If you don¡¯t believe me, you are free to trace the logic yourselves. I don¡¯t know what else to say! Yes, it sounds crazy, but that is what the runes calculate!¡±


    ¡°I think you should request the audience with the emperor once again,¡± Peratha¡¯s voice was dead serious.


    ¡°I knew the world was supposed to be alien, but this is just crazy!¡±


    ¡°What I would like to know is: who would even think of going to such a world?¡± Mizette frowned deeply.


    ¡°I think it is safe to say that no mortal would ever come up with such an insane idea,¡± Peraha fixed Hazelmere with her gaze, ¡°if a mortal could ever come up with such intertwining spells, then you can nail me in the middle of the grand square! We had our doubts, we had our assumptions, but this is too much! No mortal is stupid enough to get on top of the giant, fast-spinning ball! Not even the dwarves are that crazy!¡±


    ¡°Now, putting aside just how crazy all of this is,¡± Cybil spoke slowly and calmly, ¡°perhaps the point of these scrolls is not to open a portal to another, lush world full of riches.¡±


    ¡°What are you getting at?¡±


    ¡°The ball ¡­ the place where the portal is supposed to form ¡­ we have seen something similar before. Actually, we see it every day.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Moon ¡­ is round. And so are Ganja, Amis, and Konren. All the celestial beings we can see are round. And they are constantly moving.¡±


    ¡°You think this portal leads to a certain divinity?¡±


    ¡°That is even crazier than the idea of a moving world!¡±


    ¡°Not if we consider this,¡± Cybil continued, ¡°some astrologists think that the celestials we see in the sky aren¡¯t the gods themselves, but their realms. If that is true, then that means the portal may lead not to a different world, but to a celestial plane.¡±


    ¡°This just keeps getting crazier!¡±


    ¡°The celestials may look like balls to us, at least those we can see, but they don¡¯t rotate,¡± Mizette said, ¡°otherwise we would see the moon spinning around.¡±


    ¡°Yes, that is true,¡± Hazelmere agreed.


    ¡°But that doesn¡¯t mean the other celestial planes don¡¯t spin,¡± Cybil retorted, ¡°Our mortal eyes can only see a few of them.¡±


    ¡°What about the stars? Maybe those are spinning? They are too small to see clearly.¡±


    ¡°So, what, are we talking about the dark celestials now?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps we should take this to the archpriestesses?¡± Mizette proposed, ¡°Or astrologists? They certainly know more about the celestials than we do.¡±


    ¡°I hate those gullible idiots, but I support the idea,¡± Peraha agreed.


    ¡°There are no astrologists in this camp. The ascendant priest didn¡¯t bring any with him,¡± there was some disappointment in Hazelmere¡¯s voice.


    ¡°We can certainly ask him to bring some.¡±


    ¡°Or maybe, it would be better if you would go to see the Emperor once again. And while you are there, you can also ask him to send some astrologists here,¡± Peraha proposed.


    ¡°What if the advisor turns me down once again?¡±


    ¡°Then the Emperor is a fool for letting an incompetent advisor run things for him!¡± Peratha¡¯s voice was seething with aggravation.


    That caused a short silence in the tent.


    ¡°The Emperors are known for being shortsighted when it comes to magic. It wouldn¡¯t the first time one of them has made a mistake,¡± Natle pointed out.


    ¡°That is why Hazelmere has to go and see the Emperor, no matter what!¡±


    ¡°But I don¡¯t have an army to fight the royal guards! What am I supposed to do, fight them all if they don¡¯t let me through?¡±


    ¡°She has no influence in the court. She was promoted only recently,¡± Mizette jumped to Hazelmere¡¯s defense.


    ¡°Well, isn¡¯t that convenient,¡± Cybil responded, her voice containing a hint of condescension.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°It is very convenient for the advisor to deal with someone who has no influence at the court instead of someone whose family has a huge historical significance.¡±


    ¡°She does have a point there,¡± Natle agreed.


    ¡°Yes, that is very convenient for the advisor. But, if you think the advisor had any say in determining whom the next royal archmage was going to be, then you are even more delusional than I thought,¡± Mizette was having none of it.


    ¡°Still, she is right! It is very strange for someone who lacks the considerable experience to become the royal archmage!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Peratha stepped in, ¡°Now is not the time, nor the place! If you have any doubts, take them elsewhere! Don¡¯t stray from the topic at hand!¡±


    Then she turned towards Hazelmere.


    ¡°You must go back to the palace and seek an audience with his highness, even if you don¡¯t get it. If that fails, we will have a chat with the transcendent priest and ask him for his astrologists. What is most important is that, if anything goes wrong, we have someone vouching for us, that we have tried raising our concerns. If you can¡¯t reach the Emperor, then the transcendent priest will do. The point is that we absolutely must have someone important know we tried reaching his majesty but weren¡¯t allowed to.¡±


    ¡°I agree,¡± Mizzete nodded her head.


    ¡°Everyone else agrees?¡± Peratha asked with a raised voice.


    Everyone in the tent nodded their heads.


    And that¡¯s how Hazelmere was sent back to the palace.

 Chapter 12

    Once again, Hazelmere and Vukasin went to the palace.


    Once again, they were led to see the royal advisor first.


    And once again, their request to see the Emperor was denied.


    Hazelmere tried persuading the guards-commander to help her and reveal if there¡¯s an alternative way of seeing his majesty, but he didn¡¯t budge one bit. At first, she considered bribing him but, seeing his unwavering resolve, she decided against it.


    So, once again, Hazelmere returned to her camp empty-handed. However, she had much more success with the transcendent priest. Even though no trace of demonic corruption was detected on the scrolls, he agreed to summon some of his astrologists.


    And he was willing to do it immediately.


    Of course, since a courier had to deliver his orders, it took some time for them to reach the camp.


    But, once they¡¯ve arrived, the transcendent priest organized a meeting right away, insisting he takes part in it. Wanting to show her gratitude for his eagerness to help, Hazelmere agreed.


    However, the meeting started on the wrong foot, and it only got progressively worse.


    At first, Hazelmere tried explaining the logic of the runes to the astrologists, but it was immediately obvious that they had no clue what she was talking about. As Hazelmere started getting into details, explaining how one scroll transfers its information to the other, the astrologists lost all interest in the presentation. Instead of her, they looked at each other with expressions of complete loss.


    After much time has passed, Hazelmere finally finished her presentation.


    ¡°Do you think this strange movement has anything to do with the celestials and celestial planes?¡± She asked.


    ¡°No,¡± an old male responded. His dull voice emphasized the shortness of his response.


    Hazelmere narrowed her eyes, mouth opening in agitation.


    ¡°Because ¡­¡±


    ¡°Because that¡¯s not how celestials or celestial planes work.¡±


    ¡°The celestials like Moon are the only round objects that fit the description,¡± Hazelmere retorted, ¡°the worlds aren¡¯t round. The fact that the people won¡¯t start falling off of it, no matter how far they travel, is proof of that. Also, if that were the case, there would be no water on it. All the water would slide right off. The only huge, round things we can come up with are the celestials.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what you have calculated and just how big of an error there is, but that¡¯s not how celestials work.¡±


    Hazelmere frowned, putting her hands on her hips as her tail started swishing left and right in agitation.


    ¡°Well then, can you please enlighten us on how it is that the celestials do work, mister?¡±


    ¡°You mages have been looking down on astrology since its inception. Not everything in life is logical, especially the divines.¡±


    ¡°Then, please, explain this illogical behavior to us! We would really like to know!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the point? Even when I do explain it, you won¡¯t believe me.¡±


    ¡°Can you please humor our royal archmage?¡± The transcendent priest politely involved himself. His gargantuan, dominating shape made it very easy for him to get the other people¡¯s attention with a single move of his hand.


    The astrologist sighed.


    ¡°Moon ¡­ she isn¡¯t moving in circles. Nor is any other celestial moving in such a manner. When Sun has to rest, he retreats to his stronghold, giving Moon a little bit of his light to shine in the darkness. Then, once our Lord and savior is energized once again, he ascends back to the skies.¡±


    ¡°But, if that is the case, then why does our Lord Sun retreats to the west in the evening but rises in the east? Shouldn¡¯t he rise and set down in the same place if he spends the nights at his stronghold?¡± Peratha asked.


    The astrologist lowered his head, grabbing the bridge of his nose with his fingers.


    ¡°That¡¯s what I meant you wouldn¡¯t believe. The logic of the mortal world doesn¡¯t apply to the celestials. That¡¯s why magic can¡¯t help us understand the celestials or celestial planes, it¡¯s limited by worldly logic! The heavenly logic has absolutely nothing to do with it!¡±


    Peratha opened her mouth to continue the debate, but the transcendent priest raised his big hand to stop her:


    ¡°So ¡­ what you¡¯re saying is that what our mages have described has nothing to do with the celestials or celestial planes?¡±


    ¡°Precisely! I don¡¯t know what they¡¯ve found, but it has nothing to do with the celestials! The celestials aren¡¯t chaotic like that!¡±


    The transcendent priest turned his head towards Hazelmere. He tried moving his body too but was unable to do so without putting more effort.


    ¡°You¡¯ve tried reaching his majesty about this, but you¡¯ve been denied an audience with him?¡±


    ¡°That is correct. That is why we had hoped your astrologists might provide us with some insight.¡±


    The priest stared at the ground for a few moments.


    ¡°I can try arguing with his majesty, to get you the audience, but I think that would be useless. We disagree on many things ¡­ he wants to have absolute power in the realm and the church is in his way. He¡¯ll only get more arguments against me if I question him once again. It¡¯s clear that he intends to tarnish the church¡¯s reputation, trying to present us as the power-hungry, selfish slobs to the people, and I don¡¯t want to give him a single excuse to do that. Perhaps it¡¯s for the best for him to reap what he has sown.¡±This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Hazelmere¡¯s ears twitched involuntarily: ¡°Your excellence?¡±


    The priest let out a huge sigh: ¡°I do share your concerns, but if our Emperor doesn¡¯t care then, perhaps, you should do as he commands. And, if the portal turns out to be a failure, if we can¡¯t board the world for the reasons you¡¯ve explained, then all of it will be his fault. If he tries blaming the mages for the failure, I¡¯ll make sure everyone knows your hands were tied.¡±


    ¡°My lord?¡± The old astrologist looked quite taken by surprise.


    The looks on mages¡¯ faces were no different.


    ¡°Are you telling us the church will side with the mages? I thought you saw us as competition,¡± Peratha said.


    Hazelmere turned towards her, looking ready to murder her on the spot.


    But the priest just laughed in a deep yet low voice.


    ¡°Heh, heh ¡­ not me. Yes, I have many disagreements with the mages, and I do think magic is incredibly dangerous. But, you have your purpose and we have ours. Both the mages and the church serve the divines, the only difference is that the mages have taken a more selfish approach. Which, I must admit, is sometimes more effective.¡±


    ¡°Well, that is strange. I have never heard anyone from the clergy say anything similar,¡± Peratha continued, unconcerned with Hazelmere¡¯s silent wrath.


    ¡°We all grow over time, someone of your age should know that. Weren¡¯t you much more zealous, na?ve, and close-minded when you were an inexperienced mage? It¡¯s the same with the people of faith. Understanding comes with wisdom, and wisdom comes with age.¡±


    The priest sighed once again: ¡°Sadly, it looks as if the age came alone in the case of our Emperor. But that¡¯s a different topic. The point is that, at the moment, we have the same goal, which is why I¡¯m willing to forget about our differences and offer you my full support. But, the question is ¡­ will you take it?¡±


    All the present mages looked at Hazelmere.


    ¡°Umm ¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not asking you to rebel against the Emperor, quite the contrary! I¡¯m asking you to do what he wishes despite your reservations. And, when the Emperor¡¯s plan fails due to his arrogance, when accusations start flying, we will watch each other¡¯s back.¡±


    Hazelmere hesitated some more before giving her answer.


    ---


    There was some intense arguing among the archmages after that, but they managed to agree after a week. They have decided to summon the portal and hope for the best. Just like the transcendent priest had said, their hands were tied.


    So, they got back to work. Since all the scrolls were deciphered way ahead of schedule, the archmages helped the other mages fill the crystals with magical energy.


    And a few moons later, everything was ready.


    There wasn¡¯t some grand opening ceremony as one would expect. After all, the Empire was engaged in a costly war, so most of the nobles were busy leading their armies. Only three noble houses were called to join his majesty, to lead the expedition into the other world. In total, some two thousand soldiers of all types were gathered near the portal.


    In front of the noble armies stood Heartwell¡¯s legion. As the most distinguished legion in the Empire, it had the honor of going through the portal first.


    The Emperor was nearby, sitting in his big, open carriage, accompanied by his favorite advisor and the trusted royal guards. Hazelmere and a few other archmages followed him closely.


    ¡°Are you well, Heartwell?¡± The Emperor asked, with a stupid grin on his face.


    ¡°I¡¯m fine, your grace.¡±


    ¡°Has the royal archmage given you any trouble for your unfortunate skin complexion?¡±


    ¡°She never got in the way of my duties.¡±


    The Emperor nodded, looking satisfied: ¡°That¡¯s good to hear! You¡¯ve endured too much to be bullied by some pesky nobles. Speaking of which, you still don¡¯t want your patch of land? How many battles has it been since we¡¯ve met the first time? I appreciate what you and your legion are doing, but eventually, your luck will run out.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m perfectly satisfied with how things are at the moment. Although, I¡¯d prefer fighting hosagians instead of babysitting the mages.¡±


    That earned him a scornful glare from Hazelmere.


    ¡°As you wish!¡± The Emperor paid no attention to offense Heartwell gave, ¡°But I need you here right now. Considering your legion is still operational, despite its combat record, I need you to ensure this excursion is a success. By the look of things, it¡¯s undeniable that your name is serving you well! So I hope you will do well in the other world too.¡±


    ¡°My parents just wanted one of their newborn babies to survive, after four of my older siblings died right after birth.¡±


    ¡°Hmm ¡­ makes sense. And it¡¯s a good thing it has actually worked! They say our names decide our destinies. I guess that¡¯s true in your case.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, your majesty!¡±


    ¡°What about you, miss Hazelmere? Your name is also quite descriptive.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that naming your child by the color of her eyes is very original.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t like your name?¡± The Emperor¡¯s voice betrayed his playfulness.


    ¡°It is not that I don¡¯t like it, it is just that I don¡¯t think it is something to be proud of.¡±


    ¡°Well then, let¡¯s give you something to be proud of! Since we¡¯re all here, you can start with the summoning! There¡¯s no need to wait any longer!¡±


    ¡°At once, your majesty!¡± Hazelmere exclaimed as she, and the other accompanying archmages, bowed.


    She left his majesty, joining the other archmages who have already arranged themselves in a circle around the huge plateau of the holy site, keeping a significant distance away from each other. The magical circle was already drawn on the ground, so all Hazalmere had to do was take her place in the middle of it. Each archmage was surrounded by several regular mages, also arranged in circles. Their purpose was to supply the archmages with the constant stream of mana so that the spell wouldn¡¯t fail due to energy exhaustion. The archmages had to focus on their incantations¡¯ timing and execution, so someone else had to drain the crystals for them.


    As soon as all the archmages took their places in the circle, they started feeding it mana. They would use the staves in their hands to channel the mana while directing it into the drawn circle on the ground with their other hand. Slowly but surely, the circle started glowing in bright, bluish light. All of this made a gorgeous pattern, where the bluish traces of magical energy flowed from the archmages towards the center of the plateau where Hazelmere stood, while smaller magical currents traveled between them, connecting all the archmages into the magical circle.


    However, after the circle was activated, nothing happened for a long time. The bright, blue, floating rivers of magical energy flowed along the circle as the archmages chanted the spells. All of them had tall stands in front of them, filled with the necessary scrolls. The spells had to be cast in a proper sequence to take effect, which is why each scroll received a number. As the spells were cast, Hazelmere would put the next number in sequence on display, so all the archmages would know when it was their turn to cast spells. Sometimes the summoning required several spells to be cast at once.


    And that was all. The summoning started at dawn, with nothing changing even after Sun has started setting.


    The Emperor got bored very quickly, retreating from the site for the time being. The assembled soldiers relaxed their posture, chatting with each other, and playing some games.


    The first sign of something changing was the strange humming in the air. That got the soldier¡¯s attention and made them get back on their feet, as if on command. The humming persisted, and after some time a small glow appeared high in the air. As the archmages¡¯ chanting continued, the glow kept growing in size but started losing some of its intensity. It slowly grew bigger and bigger with each moment.


    ¡°Ok, it looks like we¡¯re getting there,¡± the Emperor commanded loudly, ¡°get ready lads!¡±


    The soldiers reassembled quickly, but it took some time for the glow to grow enough to reach the ground. The archmages took no chances opting for slow but steady progress.


    At one point, the glow disappeared entirely and was replaced by the ever-increasing darkness.


    ¡°Is it supposed to be like that?¡± The Emperor asked his advisor.


    ¡°I trust our mages know what they¡¯re doing.¡±


    By the time the spell grew enough to reach the ground, it had become as dark as the void. It was as if all the light nearby was swallowed by it.


    And then, as it touched the ground, the portal opened.


    Chilling everyone instantly.

 Chapter 13

    Loud moaning coming from the bath interrupted Gezgan¡¯s preparations. He grabbed the towels and oils quickly, worried that his Mistress got tired of waiting for him and has decided to start on her own.


    Rushing back into the bath, he saw his Mistress was already in the pool. She was biting her lower lip as her eyes rolled upwards.


    ¡°But, mistress ¡­ I didn¡¯t even start yet ¡­¡± he said while grimacing in amused confusion.


    ¡°There¡¯s so much of it pouring through!¡± His Mistress moaned as her back arched upwards.


    ¡°Umm ¡­ excuse me?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s so much of it! I¡¯ve never felt this much before!¡±


    ¡°Umm ¡­ you got a new toy in there?¡±


    ¡°No, you dumbass! Ooohhhhhh! The chaos is finally pouring into this world! The balance is shifting once again!¡±


    ¡°Oh!¡± It finally dawned on him, what his Mistress actually is. Spending thousands of years with her made him forget her true nature.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    A few moments later, the water in the pool started evaporating from the heat rise, clouding the room with thick fog. Unable to see his Mistress anymore, Gezgan had no other choice but to come closer.


    ¡°Can I help you somehow, mistress?¡±


    ¡°No ¡­ I just need a few moments to vent the heat. I think you¡¯d want to stand back.¡±


    Knowing better than to doubt his Mistress, Gezgan did exactly as he was told.


    A scorching flame brushed against his face. His natural affinity for fire absorbed most of it, but it hurt nonetheless. Eventually, the fog started lifting, enabling him to see his Mistress¡¯s form once again.


    With all the water in the pool gone, her perfect, naked form was revealed to him once again.


    Even though it was something he saw thousands of times before, he couldn¡¯t help but glue his eyes to it. Besides, it wasn¡¯t like he was doing something wrong. His Mistress always saw such attention as the highest form of flattery.


    But, even if she did mind it, he would still be unable to avert his eyes. The ideal figure, her perfect, pale skin with not a single flaw on it, generous but not obscenely huge bosom and a face straight out of every male¡¯s dream, with exquisite lines and decorated with full red lips, deep blue eyes, the pitch- dark, long hair and a set of intimidating horns on top of her head.


    She stood up, not paying any attention to Gezgan¡¯s lecherous gaze.


    ¡°Now¡¯s not the time to be lazing around! I must go! They need me!¡±


    ¡°Who needs you, mistress?¡±


    ¡°I must help them! I must make sure those fuckers don¡¯t ruin it again! Not after it has finally been summoned!¡± She yelled as she started running out of the bath, completely naked.


    ¡°Mistress, wait! Your clothes!¡±


    But she was already out.


    ¡°Well ¡­ I guess the cold never bothered you anyway.¡±

 Act 2: Chapter 14

    As soon as the summoning was complete, Hazelmere¡¯s entire body got chilled to the bone. It felt as if her whole body got suddenly encased in ice.


    All of a sudden, she saw rows of giant trees in front of her. She never imagined trees could be so tall and thick. She couldn¡¯t even see their tops! For a moment, she wondered if, perhaps, the portal led to Sanddiac forest, the land of the wood elves.


    But none of it mattered because the energy was leaving her body at a dangerous pace. ¡°A curse, perhaps?¡± She wondered. ¡°Maybe we missed a trap in the scrolls?¡±


    ¡°Everyone, stand back!¡± She heard Heartwell yell, ¡°Flee! We¡¯ll buy you some time!¡±


    She looked in the direction of his voice and saw him struggling to get his sword out of its sheet.


    ¡°Nail it!¡± He cursed, ¡°I can¡¯t get my sword out! It¡¯s stuck!¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t get mine either!¡± Vukasin joined him in yelling.


    ¡°Everyone retreat, now! We¡¯ll return once we rally!¡±


    ¡°Commander, my body is getting stiff!¡± One of his soldiers said in a pleading voice, ¡°I can¡¯t move properly!¡±


    ¡°None of us can! Just pull back! And make sure all the mages are with us! Don¡¯t leave them behind!¡±


    As he said that, he took a spear away from one of his soldiers, saying: ¡°I¡¯m better at using this than you are!¡± Then, he shoved his sheathed sword in the same soldier¡¯s hands: ¡°In the meantime, try getting this nailed thing out!¡±


    The soldier nodded and started pulling the sword maniacally, but without success.


    ¡°Are you mages deaf!¡± Heartwell got back to his yelling, ¡°Pull back! Pull back while you still can! We don¡¯t know how much time we can buy!¡±


    Hazelmere felt her body fly up in the air as her vision started twisting around. She let out a sigh of relief once she realized she was in Vukasin¡¯s hands.


    ¡°We can¡¯t lose the royal archmage, can we?¡± He said, forcing a smile on his face. However, his eyes revealed the terror he felt.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± She asked.


    ¡°You¡¯ve successfully opened the portal.¡±


    ¡°To where?¡±


    ¡°¡­ only the gods know.¡±


    As Vukasin carried her away, she leaned over his shoulder to take a look at the portal.


    It didn¡¯t look like anything was emerging from it. There was nothing but enormous trees out there, nothing that looked dangerously.


    As she let out another involuntary sigh, she saw fog come out of her lips.


    ¡°Oh, gods! Oh, gods! Oh, gods!¡± She screamed, covering her mouth with both hands.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Vukasin asked, her panic transferring to his voice.


    ¡°Our souls are being sucked out! Don¡¯t open your mouth!¡± Her voice was muffled as her hands wrapped around her mouth as tight as possible.


    Hearing that, Vukasin yelled as loud as he could: ¡°The royal archmage orders everyone to close their mouth shut if they don¡¯t want their souls to be sucked out!¡±


    Then, he sealed his lips and started breathing through his nostrils.


    His movements got much more demanding as he started feeling thousands of small, invisible daggers prodding his skin. Not penetrating it, they were just toying with him.


    Still looking at the portal, Hazelmere finally noticed something ominous.


    The ground around the trees was white. Unbelievably so.


    There was no earth, there was no grass, nothing but whiteness on the other side, as far as her eyes could see.


    Which wasn¡¯t much, considering the enormous trees blocked her sight.


    She also noticed that the whiteness was slowly spilling into her world. It was slowly creeping forward, moving like some goo.


    As they started descending the hill, she heard the people screaming all around her. Looking around, she saw that most of the people weren¡¯t descending as much as they rolled down the hill. In their panic, and the rush to escape the terrorizing, chilling feeling as soon as possible, people lost their balance, falling face-first onto the ground as inertia took care of their descent for them.


    Vukasin, however, acted in a composed manner, even though his ragged breathing and rushed moves revealed his hidden concerns. Still, acting like a proper knight, he didn¡¯t let any of it get in the way of his mission.


    Somewhere half-way to the bottom of the hill, he stopped, putting Hazelmere back on her feet, looking directly into her eyes. He was breathing so hard, the soul was leaving him through his nose.


    ¡°I can¡¯t carry you anymore. I need to go back and help them! You should be safe now, just run and don¡¯t look back! May Sun be with you!¡±


    ¡°May he protect you all!¡± She responded.


    Vukasin turned around and started climbing back up, towards the portal. He struggled to move properly, appearing to be moving in slow motion. Feeling that the energy is still leaving her body, Hazelmere ran in the opposite direction.


    But Peratha¡¯s voice made her stop: ¡°Hazelmere!¡± She saw Peratha gesticulating towards her, realizing she wants her to act as support.


    After some hesitation, Hazelmere ran towards her.


    ¡°I think I know what we are dealing with, but I¡¯m out of mana,¡± Peratha said.


    ¡°I¡¯m drained too!¡±


    ¡°Still, we have better chances together!¡±


    Peratha started chanting an incantation, closing her eyes to focus better. Meanwhile, Hazelmere put both hands on her to increase energy absorption.


    In a few moments, the spell was ready. It formed between the palm of Peratha¡¯s left hand and her staff. Then, she started feeding more mana into it, increasing its size.


    As the spell grew, both of them got engulfed in it. Hazelmere felt immediate relief, feeling that the energy has finally stopped leaving her body.


    ¡°What did you do?¡± She asked, noticing that her soul wasn¡¯t leaving her body anymore either.


    ¡°I am heating the air around us. We are under a massive frost attack.¡±


    ¡°Frost?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Whatever is attacking is trying to freeze us. I will try to grow the spell as much as I can. Hopefully, we will last enough to make a difference. And, by the way, our souls aren¡¯t being sucked out. The fog you saw coming from your mouth is just a side effect of the frost attack.¡±


    Hazelmere tilted her head in confusion.


    ¡°I have seen something similar before. I went against some talented frost mages a few times. But I have never seen anything this massive.¡±


    Mizzete appeared right next to them: ¡°Need a han ¡­ whoa! It¡¯s so cozy in here!¡±Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    ¡°Just give me as much mana as you can!¡±


    As the spell grew, it became more noticeable, drawing nearby mages towards them. Each new mage gave Peratha more mana to grow the spell even further.¡±


    Eventually, Natle joined them, carrying a big bag with her:


    ¡°I have managed to grab a bag of crystals as I was running. Here, take them!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a literal lifesaver!¡±


    ¡°That is what my magic is all about!¡±


    With fully charged crystals, growing the spell was much easier. After letting out a loud, strained grunt, Peratha expanded the spell into a large bubble.


    ¡°Knights, quickly, get into the spell!¡± Hazelmere yelled as she waved at the retreating soldiers.


    ¡°We¡¯re no pansy-ass knights!¡± One of the soldiers grumbled.


    ¡°But we¡¯re no fools either! Move!¡±


    The soldiers retreated in an orderly manner towards the spell, forming a circle around its edges.


    ¡°Get the guy in charge!¡± Peratha commanded.


    ¡°I¡¯m already here. I take it you have a plan?¡±


    ¡°You will have to carry me! I can¡¯t maintain a spell this big while walking!¡±


    Heartwell looked around quickly.


    ¡°Kortan!¡± He pointed towards the largest guy he saw, ¡°Carry this mage! She can¡¯t walk while she¡¯s casting the spell.¡±


    ¡°Sure thing!¡±


    But once Kortan got near Peratha, he started getting red in the face, his tail and ears fluttering nervously.


    ¡°Umm ¡­ is there some specific way I¡¯m supposed to carry you?¡±


    ¡°Just pick me up already! I don¡¯t know how much longer I can hold it!¡± She responded with a shrieking scream.


    Kortan got serious, looking a bit offended: ¡°Well ... when you ask so nicely!¡±


    ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re touching, you stupid oaf!¡±


    ¡°Excuuse mee princess, but I¡¯ve only ever had to carry my fellow soldiers, and they never had anything bad to say about it! Complain all you want later!¡±


    -----


    A disorderly group made its way down the holy site of Treadmondo. A mix of soldiers and mages, clumsily nested together, rushed ahead chaotically. The only thing preventing them from scattering in all directions was a big bubble surrounding them. In the center of the bubble was a visibly irritated red-haired mage, carried by a big, burly soldier. They were tightly escorted by the several mages, each of them clinging to the red-haired mage¡¯s legs as they fed her with the necessary mana to keep the bubble intact.


    After a lot of screaming, yelling, and cursing, the procession made its way down the hill safely.


    ¡°Has everyone made it? Did we lose someone?¡± Hazelmere moved around frantically, looking around as if she¡¯d be able to recognize every mage that was with her. She saw that most of the soldiers and knights brought by the few summoned nobles were out of harm¡¯s way long before the mages managed to get out.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, everything was so chaotic,¡± Mizette responded.


    Heartwell got in front of Hazelmere, blocking her path:


    ¡°My soldiers made sure all the mages are safe. And thanks to your mage here, all of my soldiers are accounted for too.¡±


    ¡°You are welcome,¡± Peratha sounded playful, despite the dreadful situation they were in and the bad mood she had just a moment ago.


    ¡°So, what are we dealing with?¡± Heartwell asked.


    ¡°I ¡­ I don¡¯t know ¡­ I have no idea ¡­¡±


    ¡°We did everything like we were supposed to! We tried to raise our concerns about the spell, but nobody was listening!¡± Mizette sounded both apologetic and furious.


    ¡°You had concerns about the spell?¡± Heartwell¡¯s facial expression didn¡¯t change.


    ¡°Indeed, they did,¡± The transcendent priest joined them, escorted by his faithful retinue.


    ¡°Transcendent ¡­ I don¡¯t remember seeing you during the summoning,¡± Peratha¡¯s voice was perhaps too accusatory. So much, the other mages exchanged uneasy looks between themselves.


    ¡°No, I wasn¡¯t. I wasn¡¯t needed there. And, by the looks of things, I¡¯m still not needed.¡±


    ¡°Do you know anything?¡± Hazelmere raised her brow.


    ¡°My archpriestesses have assured me that there¡¯s no trace of any demonic corruption. So, at least it looks like you didn¡¯t open yet another portal to hell. In fact, they told me they can¡¯t sense anything near the portal.¡±


    He made a short, dramatic pause.


    ¡°And that¡¯s exactly what frightens them so much.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think about it while we were running for our lives, but he is right! I can¡¯t sense any magic near the portal! It¡¯s as if the energy doesn¡¯t flow there!¡± Natle¡¯s face was overtaken by dread.


    The other archmages got similar looks on their faces right after she said that.


    ¡°But wait, wait, what does that mean?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what my archpriestesses would like to know. They say that whatever is on the other side has no energy at all.¡±


    ¡°Not only that, but it¡¯s also affecting the energy near the portal! I can sense it pushing the energy away!¡± Cybil joined the conversation.


    Hazelmere thought hard for a few moments.


    ¡°But wait ¡­ that makes no sense!¡± She finally said.


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that exactly why we are concerned?¡±


    ¡°No, no, I didn¡¯t mean it like that! What I mean is: there were huge trees on the other side! Trees can¡¯t exist without energy!¡±


    ¡°You saw the trees on the other side?¡± The transcendent priest asked.


    ¡°Yes! There is an entire forest out there! Although ¡­¡± Hazelmere got lost in thought once again, ¡°there was no ground or grass anywhere near them. They were growing out of some strange, white, goo.¡±


    ¡°I also saw a lot of that goo on the trees, not just on the ground!¡± Natle added.


    Helzelmere continued: ¡°And if I remember correctly, I saw that goo crawling into our world ¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you saying it is alive?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know! I didn¡¯t really take a good look at it! But I am fairly certain I saw it moving! Very slowly, but it was moving.¡±


    ¡°Is it possible there is mana out there, but the goo is draining it from the trees? Maybe it is feeding off of it?¡± Cybil asked.


    Peratha nodded her head in satisfaction: ¡°If that is true, that would make it a great source of energy! Something that eats mana must have a lot of it!¡±


    ¡°Unless it devours all of the mana in our world!¡± Mizette didn¡¯t share Peratha¡¯s enthusiasm, ¡°Hazelmere said it was moving! We must find a way to stop it, right now!¡±


    ¡°How are we supposed to stop it when we can¡¯t even get near it?¡±


    ¡°That is exactly what terrifies me!¡±


    ¡°Miss royal archmage?¡± Someone grabbed Hazelmere¡¯s shoulder from behind.


    Turning around, she saw the royal guards, led by the now-familiar, well-rounded guards-commander.


    ¡°His imperial majesty would like to ask you a few things regarding your ¡­ pitiful failure.¡±


    ---


    Hazelmere wasn¡¯t restrained in any way, but the guards arranged themselves closely around her, too close for her liking. They moved like one, like a flowing river, almost drowning Hazelmere in the process.


    They arrived at the large tent, which was surrounded by the remaining royal guards on all sides. The Emperor¡¯s loud yelling could be heard, even from the outside.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think now is the right time,¡± one of the guards standing in front of the tent said, uneasiness on his face.


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t have a choice,¡± the guards-commander said matter-of-factly. Then, he motioned with his hand towards the tent, looking at Hazelmere.


    ¡°Good luck ¡­ you¡¯ll need it.¡±


    Hazelmere swallowed the lump in her throat and moved forward.


    She removed the curtain away, but everybody was too busy to notice her getting in.


    ¡°Look what your masterful plan did!¡± The Emperor roared at Rowena, his royal advisor, ¡°Look! We¡¯re ruined! We¡¯re all doomed! Maybe all of Greadinall is nailed because of your stupid plan! All those resources, all those mages pulled away from their duties! All for nothing! Worse than nothing! You¡¯ve opened a new portal to hell, you donkey! If the financial loss doesn¡¯t nail us, the demons pouring through the portal will!¡±


    He huffed and puffed deeply between the sentences, his eyes bulging out as much as possible, his face red to the point of suffocation while Rowena stood in front of him with her head low. Her ears lay flat on top of her head while her tail has curled into a ball.


    ¡°But ¡­ your grace,¡± she spoke softly, ¡°we know that the scrolls are reliable. We¡¯ve consulted the experts. It must be that our mages have failed somehow.¡±


    Hearing that caused a sudden, violent change in Hazelmere. All the stress, all the fear, finally came crashing down on her. And she finally had a valid target to vent all of her frustrations on.


    Her face twisted grotesquely in rage as she moved towards Rowena with murderous intent.


    ¡°How dare you, you cheap whore!¡± She let out a roar of her own.


    But the two royal guards stepped right in front of her, one of them barking: ¡°Back off!¡± They had their hands on their sheeted swords.


    That stopped Hazelmere from moving, but it didn¡¯t stop her from yelling: ¡°We did everything that was demanded from us, and we didn¡¯t fail! Had we failed, the portal wouldn¡¯t form in the first place!¡±


    Rowena continued in a low voice, without acknowledging Hazelmere¡¯s presence: ¡°They must¡¯ve made an error when they were setting the proper destination for the portal.¡±


    ¡°Listen, you back-stabbing whore ¡­¡±


    ¡°Silence!¡± The murderous rage on Hazelmere¡¯s face didn¡¯t even come close to the Emperor¡¯s madness, so she slowly backed down.


    ¡°Guards!¡± The Emperor yelled, even though there were already guards nearby. The guards-commander rushed inside immediately, followed by two more guards.


    ¡°Take this ¡­ whore, and throw her into the dungeon! I¡¯ll deal with her later! At least the mage is right about that one thing!¡±


    The guards handled Rowena roughly, dragging her out of the tent. She didn¡¯t protest or resist as they did so.


    With Rowena gone, the Emperor took some time to breathe it out. He fumed like crazy. As he did so, he looked at Hazelmere the same way a predator looks at the prey which has no chance of escaping.


    That made the lump form in Hazelmere¡¯s throat once more.


    ¡°What did you do?¡± He asked in a composed voice.


    ¡°We have cast the spell from the scrolls, with no error.¡±


    ¡°Then how in the heavens did you manage to summon a portal to hell!¡± His madness was back on, and in full force, ¡°We were assured the scrolls are perfectly safe! How did you manage to nail it that hard!¡±


    ¡°My lord ¡­ your majesty ¡­¡±


    ¡°Stop kissing my ass and give me a straight answer!¡±


    ¡°Your majesty, we didn¡¯t summon a portal to hell. The transcendent priest says so!¡±


    That only fueled the Emperor¡¯s rage even more. He wobbled towards Hazelmere, grabbing her throat. Then, he squeezed it tight, drawing panicked sounds out of her as she choked.


    ¡°Are you working with him? Did you sabotage me on his orders? Are you serving him instead of me!¡± He yelled in her face as he shook her throat, making her entire head shake.


    Hazelmere struggled to speak, but no words could leave her clenched throat.


    ¡°Your majesty, if I may,¡± a low and noticeably old voice spoke. Looking at the corner of her vision, Hazelmere saw the spymaster, landing his hand on the Emperor¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°This isn¡¯t a fitting display for your magnificence,¡± he continued, ¡°you have me for these things. I understand your anger, your righteous anger. After all, your servants have failed you miserably. But you can¡¯t sully your hands with this filth. It¡¯s my job to discipline your servants when they fail.¡±


    The Emperor held a tight grip on Hazelmere¡¯s throat for a few more moments, savoring her facial expression. But eventually, he let go. Hazelmere crumbled to the ground, coughing heavily while cradling her throat in panic.


    ¡°You¡¯re right ¡­ I shouldn¡¯t sully my noble hands with filth. You take care of it.¡±


    ¡°Of course, your majesty ¡­ with great pleasure.¡±

 Chapter 15

    There was no natural light at all. Torches illuminated dungeon walls, but were placed too far away from each other. The darkness between them left no other choice for those who traversed those halls but to carry an additional torch with them. The spymaster was ahead of the group, leading them towards a specific cell.


    Hazelmere followed a few steps behind him. She was cuffed and gagged this time. Four of spymaster¡¯s agents, dressed in black cloaks, surrounded her. They didn¡¯t carry her or push her forward, they just followed the spymaster along with her.


    The spymaster pushed a big key into a small door with his shaky hands, opening it.


    The cell was small, with only a simple, wooden table and two chairs in it. It was better illuminated than the halls though, there was a single torch in each corner. There was some parchment, a bottle of ink, and two quills on the table.


    ¡°Uncuff her,¡± the spymaster¡¯s words sounded more like a statement than an order.


    One cloaked figure took the cuffs off of Hazelmere¡¯s hands while the other removed the gag.


    ¡°You¡¯re free to go,¡± the spymaster said as he was slowly sitting on one of the chairs, holding the table for support.


    ¡°Are you sure, master? She¡¯s an archmage.¡±


    ¡°It takes time for the magic to work.¡±


    After a few moments, his agents nodded, leaving the room.


    Hazelmere heard the clack of the doors being locked.


    ¡°Please, take a seat,¡± the spymaster said in an almost friendly manner.


    As she obliged him, Hazelmere noticed some dry bloodstains on the table.


    ¡°Unfortunately, we can¡¯t keep this place spotlessly clean.¡±


    Since Hazelmere said nothing, he continued. His voice was still friendly and understanding.


    ¡°Are you feeling cold? You¡¯re shaking.¡±


    ¡°It is a bit chilly in here.¡±


    ¡°I apologize for that, but we are in a dungeon. The dungeons and caves are cold by their very nature. That does provide us with a few benefits though. I also apologize for the treatment, we couldn¡¯t take any risks. Mages are well known for being sneaky.¡±


    A few moments of awkward silence passed. Hazelmere avoided any eye contact.


    ¡°Anyway, let¡¯s get straight to the business. We¡¯re here to see what the punishment for your failure will be.¡±


    As soon as the spymaster said that, a loud, male scream was heard on the other side of the stone wall, startling Hazelmere.


    ¡°I apologize for that too. We have one of the adventurers who got us the scrolls in the next cell. We¡¯re quite full at the moment. There¡¯s a lot of work to do and too little time. So please, forgive me if I rush something.¡±


    Hazelmere was still quiet.


    ¡°Anyway, you claim the mages did their job well?¡±


    ¡°Yes! I am confident we didn¡¯t make a single mistake!¡±


    ¡°How confident are you?¡±


    Hazelmere hesitated for a few moments: ¡°Quite a lot.¡±


    ¡°You were casting new, unfamiliar spells, which weren¡¯t cast in several millennia. Making a mistake on such a demanding task is only natural.¡±


    ¡°Had we made a mistake, the portal would have failed.¡±


    Hazelmere jerked as the loud screaming interrupted the conversation again.


    ¡°I apologize. Please, try not to be fazed by it. Anyway, back to the topic. While some people agree with you on that matter, others tend to differ. Some people think it¡¯s possible to unintentionally, or even intentionally, modify the portal¡¯s destination.¡±


    ¡°Are those people skilled in magic?¡±


    ¡°Yes, they are.¡±


    Hazelmere lowered her gaze, keeping quiet.


    ¡°I told you, back in the palace, I¡¯m not a mage, but I do know something about the magic and how it works. For example, I know that tinkering with a spell¡¯s logic can produce vastly different results.¡±


    ¡°We couldn¡¯t tinker with these spells, they were too complicated! Tinkering with their logic would most certainly cause them to fail! It was unlike anything we have ever seen! All the archmages agree that the scrolls were most likely created by the immortals!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a very bold claim.¡±


    The screaming in the nearby cell interrupted them once again.


    For the first time, Hazelmere saw the annoyed look on the spymaster¡¯s face. He got up slowly.


    ¡°If you¡¯ll excuse me, I¡¯d like to take care of something.¡±


    ---


    After some much more intense, but shorter, screaming in the next room, the spymaster returned to Hazelmere¡¯s cell.


    ¡°That should take care of it. He won¡¯t interrupt us anymore. People have a much harder time screaming when their throat is burned,¡± the spymaster said as he was slowly sitting back on the chair.


    Once he has finally sat on it, he let out a sigh.


    ¡°The only issue is that they can¡¯t talk anymore either. But, as long as they have their hands and know how to write, it¡¯s not a problem.¡±Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    The way he looked at Hazelmere¡¯s hands after saying that made her hide them below the table. That drew a small smirk on his face, which quickly disappeared.


    ¡°But I digress. Where were we ¡­ ah, yes! You made a bold claim, saying there¡¯s a good chance the immortals wrote the scrolls.¡±


    Hazelmere nodded, looking like a problematic student that was being questioned by a stern teacher.


    ¡°What makes you say that?¡±


    ¡°The scrolls were too complicated, but not because those who have written them didn¡¯t have the skill to write them the right way. Usually, complicated scrolls are a clear sign of an unskilled mage. But, in this case, the scrolls were deliberately made more complicated than they were supposed to be just so the casters would have an easier time casting the spell.¡±


    ¡°You mean, the extra effort was made to ensure the spell is successful?¡±


    ¡°Yes! And that is something the mages would never consider doing! All the mages will do the bare effort needed to make the scroll work! This is the first time we saw a scroll-maker go through the extra effort to help the caster out!¡±


    ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t the mages do that? It sounds like a reasonable thing to do.¡±


    ¡°In most cases, the mages write the scrolls for others, so they don¡¯t really care. Not even when they are working for someone very important. Important people have skilled mages working for them, so casting the spells from the scroll is never an issue, no matter how complicated it may be. And the scrolls usually contain just a single or a few spells in them, so the chance of failure is minuscule. But this thing ¡­ it was something we have never imagined before! There were hundreds of spells in it, each with a different purpose! There was no way to modify any part of it without ruining the whole thing, it was just too complicated! A single modification would cause the summoning to fail!¡±


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you raise any concerns?¡±


    ¡°I did! Several times! But every time, I was denied the audience with the Emperor! I wanted to let him know what we are messing with, but the royal advisor sent me back to Treadmondo each and every time!¡±


    ¡°The royal advisor sent you back?¡±


    ¡°Yes! Rowena!¡±


    ¡°And what if her story is different? Do you have any witnesses to back up your claim?¡±


    ¡°All the archmages know! They will confirm we tried to contact the Emperor!¡±


    ¡°Given the situation we¡¯re in, I don¡¯t consider the archmages to be a reliable source of information. Everyone is trying to cover up their failures at the moment, so of course, the archmages will be on your side. Besides, even if they have agreed with you to seek an audience with the Emperor, it¡¯s possible you left the camp but didn¡¯t go to see the Emperor at all. Do you have anyone else?¡±


    Hazelmere thought hard.


    ¡°The transcendent priest! We told him we couldn¡¯t reach his majesty, so we wanted to consult his astrologists about a few odd things we found in the scrolls!¡±


    The spymaster shook his head in disappointment, making Hazelmere remember what got her in trouble in the first place.


    ¡°The church, and everyone involved with it, is definitely not a good source of information. Especially the transcendent priest. He¡¯s been trying very hard to strip the Emperor of his powers. There¡¯s a good chance he¡¯s colluding with our enemies. After all, the high elves have a monopoly on religion. Do you have anyone else?¡±


    The frightened look on Hazelmere¡¯s face got stronger with each passing moment.


    The spymaster didn¡¯t interrupt her. He just stared at her, trying to decipher her mannerisms.


    ¡°The royal guards!¡± Hazelmere almost gasped as she said it, fixing her eyes on the spymaster in an instant, ¡°the royal guards were there! Every time I was denied an audience with the Emperor, they were there! Once, Rowena even called them to kick me out because I was stubborn about it! The guards-commander who led me to his majesty¡¯s tent was the one who saw me visit the palace! He¡¯ll testify I demanded to see his majesty several times!¡±


    The spymaster nodded, finally looking satisfied.


    ¡°The royal guards are a good bunch. They aren¡¯t the best fighters, but they¡¯re the most honorable and loyal people out there. The moment they start telling lies is the moment the Empire stops being worth saving.¡±


    He wrote something on the parchment in front of him.


    ¡°Well ¡­ miss Hazelmere ¡­ I don¡¯t have any proof that you¡¯re guilty, and I also don¡¯t have any proof which says you¡¯re not. And you¡¯re too valuable to be processed the proper way.¡±


    Then, after making a dramatic pause, he leaned in.


    ¡°Well ¡­ actually ¡­ I can¡¯t help but wonder ¡­ if that¡¯s the case?¡±


    Hazelmere¡¯s ears rose in surprise.


    ¡°I mean ¡­ how useful are you, considering your incompetence may be the cause of all of this? I¡¯m not directly accusing you of anything, not until my investigation is complete, but I¡¯m also not dismissing the possibility that you had your hand in it, willingly or not. How will you prove to me, and everyone else, that you¡¯re worth keeping?¡±


    ¡°I ¡­ I ¡­ I¡¯ll do everything to keep the portal under control! I¡¯ll ¡­ I¡¯ll stay near the portal and fight anything that comes out of it!¡±


    ¡°Even if the demons come pouring out of it?¡±


    ¡°Even if it¡¯s the frozen hell we¡¯re facing!¡±


    ¡°What about the void? Would you stand against the void itself?¡±


    Hazelmere looked surprised to hear that.


    ¡°I know much more than you think, miss Hazelmere. I know that there¡¯s no energy on the other side. There¡¯s nothing but emptiness out there.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll fight the void itself if needed be! I¡¯ll give my soul if that¡¯s what it takes to stop it!¡±


    The spymaster nodded once again.


    ¡°Good ¡­ good ¡­ so, you¡¯re ready to set out and close the portal?¡±


    Hazelmere became disheartened in an instant: ¡°That¡¯s ¡­ impossible. We can¡¯t close it.¡±


    ¡°And why is that?¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t drain the energy out of it. We will have to wait for it to deplete itself.¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°The mana, the energy, has changed its form. It is like asking a carpenter to turn the table back into the tree.¡±


    ¡°How long will it take?¡±


    Hazelmere shrugged: ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t know. I can only guess.¡±


    ¡°Then, guess.¡±


    ¡°Perhaps, a few decades? Centuries maybe?¡±


    The spymaster sunk into the chair, throwing his head over it: ¡°Oh, nail me now.¡±


    He quickly got back to his original position though.


    ¡°Are you telling me we¡¯ll have to defend the portal for several decades?¡±


    ¡°I am afraid that is the only option.¡±


    ¡°What about casting a barrier over it?¡±


    Hazelmere shook her head: ¡°It won¡¯t work. We can¡¯t approach the portal. It drains the life force of everyone who dares to approach it. We would have to cast a barrier from far away, which means the barrier would be huge. That would take way too much energy to pull off. And then, we would have to feed it with more mana constantly.¡±


    ¡°But the portal is self-sufficient. Can¡¯t you do something similar with the barrier?¡±


    ¡°It is a different kind of magic. And the portal-summoning spells were designed by someone whose understanding of magic is infinitely better than ours.¡±


    The spymaster got lost in thought for quite some time. Hazelmere didn¡¯t dare interrupt him.


    ¡°Ok, miss Hazelmere, this is what¡¯s going to happen. I¡¯m letting you go, but I¡¯ll always have my eyes on you. I¡¯m letting you go because we need every resource we can get and because, if you have any shred of honor, you¡¯d want to redeem yourself for your role in this.¡±


    ¡°I had no idea what the destination of the portal was, but I am more than willing to fix this!¡±


    ¡°Good. But there¡¯s one more reason, one much more important reason why I¡¯m letting you go.¡±


    He made a short pause.


    ¡°There¡¯s a good chance you¡¯ve been set up.¡±


    Hazelmere¡¯s facial expression didn¡¯t change. She just blinked a few times.


    ¡°I can¡¯t help but wonder, how did someone like you become the royal archmage? Please, don¡¯t get me wrong, I¡¯m not saying you¡¯re a bad archmage. However, I have no choice but to realize that miss Cybil is far more fitting for that role. She was a safe bet.¡±


    ¡°Nobody asked me if I wanted to be the royal archmage! That was decided without my consent!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s the council of the archmages that decides it, right. Along with the trusted members of the court.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    ¡°And, being an archmage yourself, you¡¯re in the council too, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes ¡­¡± Hazelmere said, with a hint of uncertainty in her voice.


    ¡°So, you were there when the decision was made. And you didn¡¯t complain.¡±


    ¡°¡­ being the royal archmage is a very prestigious role. It is a recognition of one¡¯s skill.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s understandable. I bet every other mage would accept it. But it may be that those who have decided to put you in a position of such enormous responsibility were fully aware of what¡¯s about to happen. And I bet they were certain my verdict would be different.¡±


    The spymaster gave her some time so that would sink in.


    ¡°Go, and trust no one, miss Hazelmere. Those who have made you the royal archmage didn¡¯t do so for your benefit. Go, and show them that putting you in such an influential position was their greatest mistake.¡±


    ¡°I will!¡±

 Chapter 16

    ¡°Hazelmereee!¡± Mizette screamed in joy as soon as she saw her, smashing right into her and hugging Hazelmere as tightly as she could, ¡°Are you ok? Did they hurt you?¡±


    ¡°I am fine.¡±


    ¡°What have they done to you?¡±


    ¡°Nothing, the spymaster just wanted some answers. I guess he wanted to hear my side of the story.¡±


    ¡°The spymaster?¡± Mizette broke her hug to look at Hazelmere, tilting her head slightly as her ears twitched questionably.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. More importantly, what is going on? What is with the camp? Why is it so small now? Where did everyone go?¡±


    ¡°Oh, well, all the nobles have left, taking their armies with them. Then, most of the mages ran away. They argued that, since the portal is summoned, the mages aren¡¯t necessary anymore. There are only a few of us left here, most of the archmages, along with the peasant legion.¡±


    ¡°The peasant legion?¡± Hazelmere¡¯s face twisted in disgust.


    ¡°It turns out, that is how the Heartwell¡¯s legion is known. And it is not the name the others gave them out of spite. They chose that name themselves.¡±


    Hazelmere facepalmed herself: ¡°Oh, great! How are we supposed to defend against the demons and the monsters now? Does his majesty know of this? He has to know!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the thing, the nobles argued that their armies aren¡¯t necessary here, since nothing came out of the portal. They said their armies are more useful elsewhere. And The Emperor agreed.¡±


    ¡°So, everything is ok? You aren¡¯t fighting anything?¡±


    ¡°Nope.¡±


    ¡°What about that white goo on the ground? Is it trying to cross into our world?¡±


    ¡°There is no sign of it whatsoever.¡±


    ¡°So, everything is exactly how it was before I was taken away? If we disregard everyone running away, of course.¡±


    ¡°Umm, about that ¡­ not exactly ¡­¡± Mizette started fidgeting.


    ¡°What is going on?¡±


    ¡°We do have an unexpected guest.¡±


    ¡°A guest?¡± Hazelmere raised a brow.


    ¡°A special guest. We allowed him to stay in your personal tent.¡±


    ¡°You better have a good reason for it.¡±


    ---


    The first thing Hazelmere saw when she walked into her tent was that some big, blinding-white thing was inside of it. It was so bright, her eyes needed some time to adjust. And it was so big, it took most of the tent.


    She quickly realized it was a huge set of white wings. They were moving, stretching actually. A short time later, those wings returned to their natural position, revealing a person¡¯s outline. Between the wings stood a long, golden, gleaming hair.


    ¡°Umm ¡­ excuse me ¡­¡± Hazelmere said, with much uncertainty.


    The person turned around, revealing a set of beautiful, sky-blue eyes. Even at first glance, Hazelmere saw those eyes reflecting the warm compassion.


    Looking at the person¡¯s face, Hazelmere had no idea if it was a male or a female, but one thing was for sure: whatever it was, it was the prettiest creature she ever saw. Lowering her gaze a bit, she noticed that the guest was dressed bizarrely: it wasn¡¯t really a set of clothing as much as it was a single, big piece of silk, wrapped tightly around him ¡­ her?


    Looking at the chest, Hazelmere realized there were no breasts there.


    ¡°Considering that tight clothing, I guess it¡¯s a male,¡± she thought.


    ¡°Ah, you must be the royal archmage!¡± The stranger¡¯s voice was mellow and soothing, ¡°Nice to finally meet you,¡± he placed his left hand on his right chest, lowering his head.


    ¡°Umm, yes, that¡¯s me,¡± Hazelmere awkwardly tried to return the gesture.


    ¡°First of all, I want to congratulate you!¡±


    That took Hazelmere by surprise: ¡°On what?¡±


    ¡°You are the first person, in the entire history, that has managed to summon a portal to the void itself!¡±


    That soured Hazelmere¡¯s mood significantly: ¡°Uhh ¡­ that¡¯s what I was afraid of ¡­¡±


    ¡°We never thought it was possible! We thought that our world would be ruined the moment it connects with the void. And yet, we still exist!¡±


    ¡°So, it isn¡¯t hell?¡±


    The guest supported his chin with his hand: ¡°It could be. There may be different kinds of hells. Before the first portal to hell opened, we had no idea it existed. It is entirely possible there are different kinds of hell, and we were just ignorant of their existence. However, in this instance, there is no demonic corruption on the other side. But, then again, it could be that we are just incapable of detecting it, just how we were ignorant of it when the original demons came. But we are still debating all of that.¡±


    ¡°Who are we?¡±


    ¡°Well, the heavens, of course! What, you couldn¡¯t you tell by my impressive wingspan?¡±


    Saying that, the angel stretched out his wings once again, smiling playfully.


    ¡°I came here to assess the situation, and it looks like it is not as desperate as everyone thought.¡±


    ¡°You think the portal is harmless?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t say that. There is life on the other side, even if we can¡¯t sense it. As I flew around the portal, I saw the trees there. And the trees always indicate life. It is just that we don¡¯t have to rush our response since nothing is trying to invade at the moment. But we must stay vigilant.¡±


    ¡°There is some white goo on those trees.¡±


    ¡°Ah yes, that is a form of ice.¡±


    ¡°Ice?¡±


    ¡°There is a lesser form of ice, called snow. It is halfway between the solid ice and water. You mortals don¡¯t know of it because it is not as useful as ice, so you have never bothered trying to create it with magic. Although a failing ice spell can create snow instead.¡±


    ¡°One of our fire mages did say we were under a massive frost attack.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, you were. The world on the other side is completely frozen. Which begs the question, how can anything live there? But, then again, we wondered the same thing about the original, flaming hell. So, you may have succeeded in summoning a portal to some kind of frozen hell. However, the lack of energy makes us think that is the void although, once I tell my kin about the trees on the other side, we will probably have to reexamine our findings.¡±The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°To be perfectly honest, I don¡¯t really care what is on the other side. I just wish we had some way of closing the portal,¡± there was a bit of hope in Hazelmere¡¯s voice.


    ¡°In that case, rejoice! I was sent here to investigate what we are dealing with and, considering what I have discovered, closing the portal is possible!¡±


    Hazelmere¡¯s eyes went wide: ¡°You think so?¡±


    The angel smiled: ¡°You mortals have barely scratched the surface when it comes to magic. The heavens have much more knowledge at their disposal. The immortals aren¡¯t bound by your limitations. In a few days, the rest of us will come here to close the portal.¡±


    Hazelmere almost jumped up, ecstatic with joy, but Mizette¡¯s words dragged her back to reality.


    ¡°That is great, but how many of you will come? Most of our camp is gone. I don¡¯t know if we can accommodate you all.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you need not worry. They won¡¯t be coming in their physical forms.¡±


    ¡°Umm, excuse me?¡±


    ¡°They won¡¯t need their bodies to close the portal. I had to come here in person, to see it with my own eyes and talk with the people here. But the others will come in their astral forms.¡±


    ¡°Astral in like, their souls will leave their bodies?¡± Hazelmere asked.


    ¡°Most immortals don¡¯t have a body at all. Some very important beings will be coming here, and you won¡¯t perceive most of them. So, you don¡¯t have to worry about making any arrangements.¡±


    ¡°Is there anything we should do? Is there any way we can help?¡± Hazelmere asked.


    ¡°Unfortunately, no. But, there is one thing you should take care of. You see, it won¡¯t be just the good immortals coming here. The evil ones will probably try to stop us. We may have a fierce astral battle on our hands, so you should make sure you have some proper shelter before it happens. Who knows what kinds of immortals will come uninvited.¡±


    ¡°Are we in any danger though? Will they be coming in their astral forms, as you will?¡±


    ¡°Certainly, but that doesn¡¯t mean you will be safe. Huge, important events in the astral plain affect the mortal realm and vice versa. That is why it is not so uncommon to have some mortal decide the fate of the world. All the planes are connected. That is why you should be cautious. It never hurts to be prepared for the worst possible scenario.¡±


    ¡°We need shelter, shelter from what?¡± Mizette asked.


    ¡°Anything you can imagine, really. Many immortals will be coming here, and they all have different powers. Also, we have no idea who will be coming uninvited. You have a lot of idle soldiers here, use them. But, keep in mind that you won¡¯t have the time to make some proper fortifications. You only have a few days to prepare. Oh, and one more thing: I will be sleeping with you in this tent. I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡±


    ¡°Eh?¡±


    ¡°The soldiers were kind enough to bring in the second bed because I thought you wouldn¡¯t appreciate me sleeping in yours. It is right over there! Oh, and, by the way, my name is Galizur. Nice to meet you, Hazelmere,¡± he said with the sweetest smile on his face.


    ¡°N-n-nice to meet y-you too.¡±


    ---


    Hazelmere spent most of the day bothering the angel about the most trivial things. What do the angels eat, do they even have to sleep, what they like to do in their free time, if they have it at all, that sort of things.


    At one point, an archpriestess who was left by the transcendent priest to help Hazelmere came to introduce herself, but Hazelmere paid no attention to her. She was dismissed in a moment.


    It was already dusk when Hazelmere realized she should look around the camp and see who and what she has to work with. Most of the soldiers and regular mages were gone, but luckily, many archmages stayed in the camp. As much as the situation was dangerous, it was also exciting to be at the forefront of the new discoveries, and that¡¯s something the archmages live for. Therefore, most of them stayed.


    From them, Hazelmere learned that Galizur came three days after she was taken away. Apparently, he came to access the situation for the heavens, which immediately inspired Peratha to ask all kinds of unpleasant questions like: can¡¯t the heavens see everything from above? That surprised Galizur, but he quickly proved to be much better at debate than Peratha.


    The most important thing Galizur did was to ensure the archmages there was no immediate danger. He encouraged them to stay in the camp, pointing out that many groundbreaking discoveries can be made once the portal closes. ¡°It¡¯s a unique chance to have your name forever remembered in the hall of the paragons!¡± He said.


    By the time the archmages got Hazelmere up to speed with the developments, the chilly night has already fallen.


    ¡°So, has the angel moved somewhere else?¡± Peratha asked in a playful voice.


    ¡°Why would he do that? We need him!¡± Hazelmere pointed out. Some archmages started chuckling.


    ¡°From your tent, I mean?¡±


    Hazelmere¡¯s fluffy tail started dancing vigorously: ¡°No ¡­ he said he will stay in it.¡±


    ¡°Will you be moving someplace else?¡± Peratha raised an eyebrow, clearly teasing her.


    ¡°No, why would I? He may be an angel, but it is my tent! He is the guest, not me!¡±


    ¡°So ¡­ you will be sleeping with him, in the same tent ¡­¡±


    Hazelmere opened her mouth, but words didn¡¯t come out.


    ¡°Maybe you should tell him you are feeling chilly. After all, you did suffer in the dungeon not so long ago. I bet those large wings feel like a nice blanket when they are wrapped around you. After all, the angels are famous for their selflessness.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s an angel, you ¡­ harlot!¡± Hazelmere yelled, her face deep red, ¡°Don¡¯t you have any shame!¡±


    ¡°She is just toying with you,¡± Mizette started patting Hazelmere¡¯s head, ¡°you know how she is.¡±


    ¡°How come everyone is like that only towards me?¡± Hazelmere threw her hands in the air.


    Peratha shook her head left and right, a deep smile on her face: ¡°Tsk, tsk, you youngsters ¡­ you have a unique opportunity, and you are just going to waste it ¡­¡±


    ¡°Is something wrong with you?¡± Hazelmere shook her hand next to her face, ¡°How can you speak of an angel like that? What are you, some kind of a ¡­ wait ¡­ you are always disrespectful towards the clergy! And now you¡¯re disrespecting an angel!¡±


    ¡°The fire is a chaotic, demonic element, you know. You can¡¯t master it unless you are rebellious and unorthodox. My blood commands me to question everything. Like, for example, are angels attracted to mortal females? Stuff like that.¡±


    Hazelmere dismissed her with a wave of the hand: ¡°I¡¯m going before your lunacy starts making sense!¡±


    As she exited the tent, Hazelmere heard loud chuckles behind her.


    ---


    Upon returning to her tent, Hazelmere saw that Galizur was already in his bed. She had no idea if he was asleep or not because he didn¡¯t cover himself with anything. Instead, he got himself into a fetal position, covering his entire body with his huge wings while snuggling his head deep into them. He didn¡¯t even change his clothes.


    Speaking of clothes, Hazelmere felt uncertain about changing into her nightgown inside the tent, worried that Galizur may see something. She quickly reprimanded herself thinking: ¡°There¡¯s no way an angel would be interested in any of it!¡±


    Hurried up by the nightly chill, she changed her clothes quickly, extinguished the hanging lantern, and jumped into her bed, burrowing herself deep into the sheets.


    But no sleep came to her.


    For a long time.


    ¡°Are you still awake?¡± Galizur¡¯s voice startled her, making her squeak, ¡°Sorry, I wasn¡¯t trying to scare you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s ok. It¡¯s just that ¡­ I am lately on edge.¡±


    ¡°Your people need you at your best, which means you should always get a good night¡¯s sleep. I am not an expert, but I have heard there are a few things the mortals can do to reduce their stress and fall asleep quickly.¡±


    ¡°Oh, like what?¡±


    ¡°Masturbation, for example.¡±


    It was a good thing they were surrounded by darkness because Hazelmere¡¯s face turned red like a ripe, sweet apple.


    Galizur continued talking to break the awkward silence: ¡°It is also ok if you want to masturbate while thinking about me, I don¡¯t mind. I will take it as a compliment. We angels aren¡¯t burdened by lust, but we understand the mortals have certain needs. And lust also has a few benefits if enjoyed in a healthy, reasonable manner. After all, the gods didn¡¯t gift it to you to make you suffer.¡±


    Hazelmere remained silent, so he continued after a short pause.


    ¡°Likewise, the gods didn¡¯t make all the angels beautiful just to tease the mortals. Gods always know what they are doing. They know that seeing a pretty face is comforting to mortals. They were the ones who have created you, after all. And yet, from what I have heard, many mortals think that having lustful thoughts about the angels is a sin. That would imply that gods made the angels beautiful to make the mortals sin more, which would completely defeat the angels¡¯ purpose.¡±


    ¡°The church says that the gods are testing our faith in such ways,¡± Hazelmere finally responded, ¡°to see what is more important to us, our lust or our faith. To see if we can keep our emotions under control or if we will submit to them. Falling prey to your emotions is how the demons get you.¡±


    ¡°There is some truth in that, but it is still wrong. Your priests are far away from the heavens, so I don¡¯t blame them for misinterpreting a few things. But, what would be the purpose of giving you something nice and then forbidding you to enjoy it? That sounds like something the evil gods would do, put an unnecessary burden on their creation and then blame it for its flaws. The flaws they themselves have created. Good gods don¡¯t act like that.¡±


    ¡°There is a time and place for such things. And there are some things you are never supposed to lust for.¡±


    ¡°I agree with that. For example, children are definitely out of the question. They are innocent and pure.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t the angels pure too?¡±


    ¡°What, you think we are like the children?¡±


    ¡°No, not in that way! I mean, you said it yourself ¡­ you aren¡¯t burdened by lust.¡±


    ¡°Yes, that is true. We don¡¯t have sexual needs, and we don¡¯t feel sexual attraction. Although we can get attracted to people in some other ways. And while we are pure, we aren¡¯t innocent. Unlike children, we are mature enough not to be manipulated into doing something we don¡¯t want. And, most importantly, we can¡¯t be harmed by being subjected to lust. Even during the fall, the angels have never succumbed to it. Some did succumb to some other things but never to lust. This is why there is no harm in mortals fantasizing about us. I would never even think about having sex with a mortal female, but that doesn¡¯t mean I find it disgusting to be a part of her fantasies. In fact, I am honored to be a part of it! So, don¡¯t ever feel bad if you feel like fantasizing about me, ok?¡±


    After that conversation, Hazelmere found it even harder to fall asleep.

 Chapter 17

    Two days have passed without anything noticeable going on, besides the soldiers building the shelters.


    At first, they started chopping the nearby woods to make a proper palisade, even before Hazelmere has arrived. However, Galizur quickly pointed out they won¡¯t have enough time to build it and should focus on constructing several smaller shelters that would mainly protect against the elemental effects instead. So, they started digging deep holes in the ground and reinforcing them with overhead wooden structures. That turned the camp into a strange mix of tents and burrows.


    On the third day, Galizur approached Hazelmere:


    ¡°The others will arrive soon. Everything will be fine, but you mortals should go to your shelters, just in case. I will let you know when it is over.¡±


    Hazelmere nodded, looking a bit uncertain: ¡°I understand. Best of luck to you!¡±


    Galizur just smiled and walked away.


    As everyone in the camp ran for their shelters, Galizur took several dozen steps away from the camp, kneeling on the ground. He sat on his feet, straightening his back and closing his eyes. His wings relaxed, arranging themselves around the back and the sides of his body. From far away, he looked like an oversized, bright-white pigeon with golden hair. Only the tail was missing.


    The slight smile on his face left the impression of utmost peace.


    ---


    Hazelmere¡¯s shelter was close to her main tent so that, in the case of an emergency, she could quickly jump into it. It was big enough to accommodate five people, which it did.


    ¡°Ugh, the earth is making my dress dirty!¡± She complained.


    ¡°This is certainly ¡­ disgraceful, but it is better than nothing,¡± Mizette said, ¡°gods only know how bad the astral battles can get.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but it is too cramped in here! I can¡¯t even sit properly! And it is uncomfortable as hell!¡±


    The large soldier, Kortan, who was assigned as Hazelmere¡¯s bodyguard, looked at Vukasin in the most unamused way.


    ¡°Why are you giving him that look?¡± Peratha¡¯s voice carried a lot of open hostility with it, ¡°You are taking most of the space!¡±


    ¡°Still mad about it?¡± He asked.


    ¡°Of course I am! And on top of that, I am forced to share a hole in the ground with someone I can¡¯t trust!¡± As Peratha said that, she turned her head Towards Hazelmere, giving her a judgmental look. Hazelmere just looked in the other direction.


    ¡°But it is the logical choice,¡± an uneasy smile showed on Mizette¡¯s face, ¡°it only makes sense that our best offensive mage is in the same shelter as the royal archmage. Hazelmere got you here to act as yet another bodyguard.¡±


    ¡°Tsk!¡± Peratha jerked her head away from Hazelmere, ¡°But why bring him in here?¡±


    That got Vukasin talking: ¡°It¡¯s only natural to have someone guarding miss Hazelmere so, Heartwell sent the two people he considers to be the most capable. I¡¯m here to defend you if someone attacks, and he is here to carry you if we must run. Heartwell is concerned that the same thing that has happened near the portal could happen again. This guy¡¯s name is Kortan, by the way,¡± he said while patting the broad soldier¡¯s shoulder, ¡°that¡¯s the name you will need to yell if you want him to pick you up.¡±


    ¡°Nail that! I am not being carried by that oaf again!¡± Peratha protested.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t carry you if my life depended on it, you ungrateful harpy!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry miss, he¡¯s here for miss Hazelmere¡¯s sake,¡± Vukasin tried reassuring her.


    Which made Hazelmere worried in turn, making her eye Kortan up and down.


    ¡°Hush!¡± Mizette lifted her hand, ¡°Can you sense it?¡±


    Peratha¡¯s ears perked up: ¡°Oh, yes. Something is definitely in the air.¡±


    A few long, unpleasant moments passed.


    ¡°Oww ¡­ nail this! I can¡¯t take it anymore!¡± Hazelmere yelled as she grabbed a part of the wooden cover on the edge of the shelter, moving it aside. Then, she stood up through the hole in the cover, exposing her torso over it.


    ¡°Miss Hazelmere, you shouldn¡¯t do that!¡± Vukasin reacted.


    ¡°Oh, shut up! How am I supposed to lead if I have no idea what is going on?¡±


    That silenced Vukasin for good. It sounded like something his commander would say, making him instinctively back away.


    Looking around the camp, Hazelmere saw no difference. Everything looked exactly like before.


    But there was something out there. She could feel it. She was as sure of it as she was sure her hands rested on the ground in front of her.


    ¡°Do you see anything?¡± Peratha asked.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°There is nothing my mortal eyes can see.¡±


    And yet, something was gathering out there, growing slowly. It grew in intensity with each passing moment.


    Another part of the wooden cover was removed from the shelter as Peratha stood up next to Hazelmere.


    ¡°Is this what the divine presence feels like?¡± She asked, ¡°Perhaps, we should have had that archpriestess with us instead of that idiot!¡±


    ¡°Archpriestess?¡± Hazelmere asked.


    ¡°The one the transcendent priest left here.¡±


    ¡°Oh, her ¡­¡±


    ¡°What, you forgot about her?¡±


    Hazelmere responded with silence.


    Nothing appeared for quite some time. Only the experienced mages could feel something gathering out there. But, while their magical senses were well-honed, their mortal shells were inadequate to make anything out of it.


    Then, all the mages sensed the shift in the air. It was so strong, both the experienced and the novice mages could sense it.


    ¡°The portal ¡­ it feels as if its energy is waning ¡­¡± Peratha spoke.


    ¡°It really does ¡­¡± Hazelmere stared towards the portal in disbelief. Even though she couldn¡¯t see it with her eyes, since it sat on top of the hill, she was able to sense it ever since the mages have summoned it. And, since the air around the portal was devoid of any energy, the enormous amount of mana it held stood out from the surroundings.


    ¡°I guess this really will be over soon. What are we going to do once it is gone?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Hazelmere looked at Peratha, looking surprised to hear that.


    ¡°Well ¡­ even if the immortals close the portal to hell, there will still be hell to pay.¡±


    ¡°We did everything we could! We did nothing wrong!¡±


    Peratha started twisting her neck: ¡°I think I will be out of the Empire for a few years at least. Just in case. I don¡¯t have much faith in our justice system.¡±


    ¡°You are just paranoid ¡­¡± Hazelmere started laughing, but her face turned pale in the middle of the sentence.


    There was the first visible change in the landscape. Massive, dark clouds started forming in the distance, far away.


    And Hazelmere quickly noticed they were approaching quite fast.


    ¡°What is it?¡± Peratha asked. Hazelmere just pointed in the direction.


    ¡°Oh, nail me! You think it¡¯s them?¡±


    Hazelmere didn¡¯t respond. So, Peratha grabbed her by the collar and started shaking.


    ¡°What are we going to do!¡±


    ¡°I ¡­ how would I know?¡±


    ¡°Those aren¡¯t the natural clouds! It could be Yesis!¡±


    ¡°But ¡­ why would he care about the portal? I mean, he didn¡¯t show any interest in it so far! Why would he care about it now?¡±


    ¡°It looks like we¡¯ll see for ourselves soon enough,¡± Peratha still held Hazelmere¡¯s collar tightly while staring at the approaching clouds.


    ¡°What are you ¡­ oh, nail me!¡± As soon as Mizette lifted herself above the cover, she regretted it.


    As if on cue, the strong winds started blowing, chilly as the night itself, as the thunder started rumbling in the distance.


    ¡°All right, time to hit the shelter!¡± Peratha yelled as loud as she could while ducking down and returning the wooden cover over her head.


    Hazelmere and Mizette did the same.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Vukasin asked.


    ¡°It¡¯s damn Yesis! For some reason, he¡¯s interested in the portal now! And he¡¯s not alone!¡±


    ¡°The god of wrath?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that nailer!¡±


    ¡°But ¡­ I thought he doesn¡¯t care about the other gods and the mortals!¡±


    ¡°I thought the same too!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not necessarily the case,¡± Kortan spoke like a scholar, ¡°Yesis doesn¡¯t care about the mortals, he does as he pleases. But, while he¡¯s indifferent towards us, the mortals, he loves toying with the plans of the other gods. He¡¯s vengeful towards the other gods for some reason, both the good and the evil ones.¡±


    ¡°What could you know about the gods, peasant?¡± Peratha¡¯s face twisted in disgust as she looked at him.


    ¡°Much more than your arrogant tail thinks! My grandmother is a sage!¡±


    ¡°A peasant sa ¡­¡±


    Thunder ended quarrel abruptly, making all the archmages squeal in terror. The winds got even more intense.


    Soon after, an incredibly intense downpour started falling. It was so fierce, the top cover got drenched quickly, making streams fall into the shelter, forming small puddles at the bottom of it. At that point, the thundering became constant.


    ¡°Great, just what we needed!¡± Peratha grumbled.


    The storm wouldn¡¯t stop, it rained, and it poured. It appeared as if the storm had no intention of ever stopping. It lasted so long, the ground beneath their feet turned into thick mud. The thundering got so loud and intense, it almost made any conversation impossible.


    Then, an especially powerful gust of wind blew all of the wooden covers above them.


    ¡°Oh, come on!¡± Peratha protested to the heavens.


    ¡°Barrier, now!¡± Mizette yelled as she immediately started casting the spell. Hazelmere and Peratha quickly got the idea and started feeding her mana.


    In a few moments, a half-circle barrier formed over their shelter.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think it will last for long, not at this intensity!¡± Mizette complained as she visibly struggled to maintain the spell.


    ¡°Focus, nail it!¡±


    The barrier lasted for some time but, even with Hazelmere and Peratha helping out, it collapsed eventually, leaving them thoroughly drenched. Their ears and tails came crashing down under the sheer weight of the water falling onto them.


    As they lifted their heads to take a look at the collapsed barrier instinctively, they saw an extraordinary, awesome sight. Twisted, concentrated winds formed a huge, sky-high whirlwind which bent in all possible ways, as if it was constantly trying to dodge something. Out of it came dozens, if not hundreds of lightings. And, although the whirlwind was too close for comfort, not a single lightning came close to the bunkered-down mortals. All the bolts of lightning were shooting up in the sky.


    The heavy rain made it almost impossible to see any details but, to Hazelmere, it looked as if some shiny threads were trying to restrain the whirlwind as it bashed around.


    All the tents in the camp were gone, there was nothing but empty space out there. Nothing but a huge patch of mud, as far as Hazelmere¡¯s eyes could see.


    Which wasn¡¯t very far, considering she was in the middle of the storm.


    ¡°We must protect the mages Vukasin, come on!¡± Kortan¡¯s deep voice managed to travel through the thunder somehow. He rose up and bent in such a way that his hands were resting on the muddy ground above the dug-out shelter.


    ¡°Get under!¡±


    Hazelmere quickly realized what he was doing. By bending like that, he turned his large frame into the roof, towering over half of the shelter, shielding the others from the rain with his body.


    Not hesitating for a single moment, Hazelmere shoved Peratha under the large soldier. Peratha was in the way, so Hazelmere had no other choice but to shove her so she could get under the living cover herself.


    ¡°You whore!¡± Peratha screamed as she spat into the ground, ¡°You threw me face-first into the mud!¡±


    Seeing Peratha¡¯s mud-covered face, Hazelmere started laughing maniacally. She knew it wasn¡¯t the time, nor the place for it. She knew it was the wrong thing to do. But she didn¡¯t care.


    For some reason, seeing Peratha like that made the horrifying situation they were in just a bit more bearable.


    ¡°Get nailed, whore!¡± Peratha cursed as she continued repeatedly spitting on the ground, trying to clean her mouth. Nevertheless, Hazelmere didn¡¯t stop laughing.


    Seeing Kortan¡¯s example, Vukasin did the same, trying to cover Mizette.


    ¡°Umm, sir knight?¡± She said.


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Maybe you should take off your metal armor. Yesis hates shiny things, quite a lot.¡±


    ¡°I think he has much more pressing concerns right now.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a good idea, Mizette,¡± Peratha said, ¡°I also need something to wipe my face with.¡±


    ¡°W-w-what do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± Kortan started panicking as Peratha reached for his trousers.


    ¡°I¡¯m taking my just revenge!¡±

 Chapter 18

    After what felt like an eternity, the torrent finally ended. Heavens returned to normal, looking as if nothing has ever happened. But the ground took the brunt of it. There was mud everywhere, torn tents and broken pieces of wood littered the area that used to be Hazelmere¡¯s camp. So much water fell on it, the dug-out shelters have turned into large, deep puddles.


    Everyone looked miserable, especially the mages. Soldier¡¯s armor proved durable, and while it was soaking wet, it still had its original shape. However, the mages¡¯ garments were a completely different story. Most of them wore enchanted, fancy dresses. The more prestigious a mage is, the more fancy her dress has to be.


    Because the mages care about their appearance way too much and is the first thing they¡¯ll spend their coin on.


    While enchanted with all kinds of practical magic, most of their garments are very delicate and fragile. After all, there¡¯s no need to have durable clothing if you know how to use a barrier spell. And simple barrier spell is always among the first spells every mage learns. Due to their rarity, the mages are extremely valuable to their houses, so their safety is always a priority.


    However, a barrier spells can¡¯t hold out against repeated attacks, and there¡¯s very little distinction between an arrow and a water jet strike. The barrier doesn¡¯t care about the mass as much as it cares about the speed and intensity.


    Still, it¡¯s not recommended to use a barrier to defend against a slow-moving boulder since a momentary loss of concentration will turn a mage into a red pile of mush.


    So, after the whirlwind has stopped, the walking mages resembled the living specters more than the people. Their fancy clothes were soaking wet, ripped in several places. Their scattered, long hairs clung tightly to their form, sandals came undone, their bodies turned completely pale. Some of them tried using their staff as support but gave up quickly after realizing it gets stuck easily in the deep mud.


    A lot of them gathered around Peratha, hoping to warm themselves. As a capable and experienced fire mage, she knew how to manipulate the fire¡¯s intensity, making her a perfect, although expensive, hair drier. And she would also dry their clothes at the same time. So, they clustered around Peratha, sharing their magic with her.


    ¡°Is everyone ok?¡± Hazelmere asked.


    ¡°Not really ok, but it looks like we are all here,¡± Mizette responded.


    ¡°All my soldiers are also accounted for.¡±


    Hazelmere turned around and saw Heartwell standing behind her.


    ¡°Oh ¡­ that is good ¡­ and good work on those shelters ¡­¡±


    Heartwell¡¯s eyes widened a bit, his wet ears rising up slowly and moving away from each other.


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome. Unfortunately, those didn¡¯t help much.¡±


    ¡°It did protect us from all that smashed wood flying around,¡± Peratha¡¯s eyes were closed as she concentrated on the spell.


    ¡°That was the angel¡¯s idea. Speaking of him, has anyone seen him? Is he ok?¡±


    Hazelmere jerked as soon as she realized what Heartwell was alluding to.


    ¡°Oh my gods, we must find him!¡± She started running immediately, her feet sliding clumsily across the mud.


    ¡°You aren¡¯t dry yet!¡± Peratha let out an annoyed moan as she said that. But Hazelmere pretended she didn¡¯t hear her.


    Heartwell, Vukasin, and a few of the soldiers followed her and, after a short while, they found Galizur near what used to be the camp entrance. He was at the exact place where he was before the storm, still kneeling on the ground. However, his back wasn¡¯t straight anymore, he was hunched over. His wings, now completely drenched, looked much smaller than before.


    As they approached him from behind, Vukasin noticed something: ¡°It looks like he¡¯s shaking. Maybe the chill is getting to him?¡±


    ¡°No, he isn¡¯t shaking,¡± Heartwell responded.


    ¡°Look at him, his upper body is going up and down repeatedly!¡±


    ¡°No, we¡¯ve seen this countless times before.¡±


    ¡°It really looks like he is shaking,¡± Hazelmere said, increasing her speed as she waded through the mud.Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    But, Heartwell grabbed her shoulder to slow her down, making Hazelmere turn around to give him a look of disgusted disapproval.


    ¡°He isn¡¯t shaking. He¡¯s sobbing.¡±


    ¡°Heh?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll see soon enough.¡±


    For some reason, that made Hazelmere go back in line.


    And indeed, when they¡¯ve approached him, they heard the angel sobbing.


    Heartwell stood next to Galizur, crossing his arms: ¡°So ¡­ I take it our side lost ¡­¡±


    As soon as he said that, Hazelmere hit him in the chest with her staff, looking scornfully at him.


    The angel didn¡¯t respond though.


    ¡°Are you ok?¡± Hazelmere asked, ¡°Can we help you somehow?¡±


    ¡°No, we ¡­ you are right, we have failed ¡­ w-we didn¡¯t expect ¡­¡± Galizur mumbled.


    ¡°It¡¯s alright. Yes, you may have lost the battle, but don¡¯t you still have a war to wage?¡± Heartwell continued, ¡°I admit, I¡¯m ignorant when it comes to the spiritual world, but I bet you¡¯ll fight them again. Whoever or whatever that was. The fact that you¡¯re still alive tells me that not everything is lost yet.¡±


    That made Galizur stand up: ¡°Yes, you are right. I ¡­ I have to go ¡­ join the others ¡­ see what our next move is.¡±


    Saying that, he started shaking his wings violently, spraying everyone near him with water. Then, he spread out his big wings and flapped them with enough force to stagger everyone behind him, launching himself up in the air while spraying the others with the big chunks of mud. Hazelmere also sensed an intense burst of magic for a brief moment.


    Realizing what¡¯s going on, she started screaming: ¡°Wait!¡±


    But the angel didn¡¯t respond in any way. He just kept ascending away from her.


    ¡°Wait! What are we supposed to do?¡±


    ---


    ¡°What is wrong? Why the long face? Is the angel alright?¡± Mizette asked as soon as she noticed Hazelmere approach.


    ¡°Well, he appears to be alright. It is just that he flew away without explaining anything.¡±


    ¡°It looks like our side lost,¡± Heartwell added.


    ¡°I sensed the portal waning before, but it looks like it is back to its full strength now.¡±


    Hearing the familiar voice, Hazelmere turned to give Cybil a surprised look.


    ¡°Oh, you are still here ¡­¡±


    ¡°Had you done your job properly, instead of fawning over the angel, you would notice that sooner,¡± Cybil lifted her nose as she spoke.


    Getting tired of their arguing before it has even begun, Mizette interrupted them: ¡°Anyway, she is right. I can still sense the portal out there, and I bet all of you can sense it too.¡±


    ¡°But if it was losing its energy, then how is it back to full strength now?¡± Hazelmere wondered out loud.


    Peratha shrugged: ¡°We are completely ignorant of immortal¡¯s magic, so there¡¯s no point in trying to figure that out.¡±


    ¡°Maybe the portal did lose some of its energy, but then that storm has recharged it once again? Just like Peratha said, we have no idea what we are dealing with, so we should consider everything, including things we think to be impossible.¡±


    ¡°Miss Cybil ¡­ if I may add ¡­ something ¡­¡±


    Hazelmere turned towards the unfamiliar voice and saw a nun she never saw before. Her clothing was in stark contrast to that of mages, completely covering everything but her face.


    ¡°And who are you?¡± Hazelmere asked her.


    The nun lowered her gaze shyly: ¡°Umm ¡­ I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t ¡­ remember ¡­ since you were busy ¡­ with everything ¡­¡±


    Hazelmere¡¯s eyebrow twitched in annoyance with every pause in the nun¡¯s speech.


    ¡°¡­ I am ¡­ Moana ¡­ the archpriestess.¡±


    A very unladylike snort escaped through Hazelmere¡¯s nose as she almost burst out laughing.


    ¡°Ppfff ¡­ Moana ¡­ ppfff ¡­ are you serious?¡±


    Nun¡¯s face turned red as she lowered her head even more, her ears landing flat on top of her head.


    ¡°It¡¯s ¡­ not the most ¡­ noble of names ¡­ I know ¡­¡±


    Hazelmere looked around, searching for the faces of her fellow archmages. All of them smiled slightly, while some of them had compassionate expressions.


    ¡°Yes, we have already been through that while you were in the dungeon,¡± Peratha said, ¡°poor girl must have been bullied her whole life.¡±


    ¡°I thought my name was unoriginal, but what were your parents thinking?¡± Hazelmere asked.


    ¡°I ¡­ I wasn¡¯t named by ¡­ my parents ¡­ ¡°


    ¡°Well, that makes no sense. Why wouldn¡¯t they be the ones to give you your name?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m an ¡­ orphan ¡­¡±


    Hazelmere looked around, looking confused.


    ¡°Yes, an orphan like in: she was abandoned by her parents,¡± Peratha helped her out.


    ¡°So, you are a peasant? Or worse, a slum dweller? I have never heard of any noble family abandoning its child.¡±


    The nun remained quiet while starring at her own feet as she twiddled with her thumbs.


    Hazelmere sized the nun up and down for a few moments, her facial expression changing as different ideas went through her mind.


    In the end, she landed her hand on the nun¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Well, usually I would get pissed off by it, but I can¡¯t really be picky about my companions right now. Since almost everyone else has fled, even the angel from the heavens, I will need all the help I can get. Besides, I already have the peasants responsible for my security, so letting a slum dweller in won¡¯t make much of a difference. In fact, as much as I hate to admit it, you will fit here just fine.¡±


    For a short moment, the nun lifted her head to look at Hazelmere, but she quickly turned her gaze back to the ground.


    ¡°Anyway, you wanted to say something?¡± Cybil reminded her why she got the attention in the first place.


    ¡°Umm ¡­ yes ¡­¡±


    Hazelmere¡¯s brow continued twitching with each pause, but she said nothing.


    ¡°¡­ that storm ¡­ it didn¡¯t come alone ¡­ a lot of demonic corruption ¡­ came along with it ¡­¡±


    ¡°I sensed something else out there, but I had no idea what it was,¡± Peratha nodded her head.


    ¡°So basically, it was heavens against the demons? But, how would they even get here in the first place? Even if they used their astral forms. I thought they were bound to their own continent,¡± Cybil pointed out.


    ¡°They came together ¡­ with the storm ¡­ it carried them here ¡­¡±


    ¡°Are you saying that Yesis has joined the demons? That¡¯s absurd!¡±


    Seeing Moana¡¯s meek reaction to her raised voice, Cybil became gentler instantly.


    ¡°I mean, he never took any sides, didn¡¯t he?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but ¡­ Yesis is chaotic ¡­ and unpredictable ¡­ his vengefulness has no bounds ¡­ he would join any side ¡­ as long as it suits his goal ¡­¡±


    ¡°All right, this isn¡¯t the time nor the place for such discussions. Let us go back to our main tent and ¡­¡±


    Hazelmere turned around and started walking, only to stop after two steps.


    ¡°Ah, yes ¡­ we don¡¯t have a camp anymore ¡­¡±

 Chapter 19

    Hazelmere observed the muddy, smashed landscape, trying to figure out what to do next. She quickly noticed that, while the mages were too busy drying themselves and postulating all kinds of useless ideas, the soldiers were already acting. Even without any specific orders, they¡¯ve started rebuilding the camp. The ground wasn¡¯t dry yet, but they didn¡¯t seem to care.


    Unlike the mages, not a single soldier looked lost. Not a single one of them asked questions. All of them knew exactly what they had to do in this desperate moment.


    Act.


    ¡°Huh, what a wondrous lesson to be taught by such primitives,¡± she thought.


    ¡°Maybe, we should just leave?¡±


    Hearing Peratha¡¯s words stopped Hazelmere¡¯s thoughts.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Maybe, we should just go. If the immortals can¡¯t close it, what can we achieve? What difference can we make here?¡±


    Peratha was completely covered in mud, a result of the dive Hazelmere threw her into. That only accentuated her fatigued looks. The usually energetic fire mage had a very limp and impotent air around her.


    ¡°What are you talking about? How can we leave? It is our duty to stay here!¡±


    ¡°And do what exactly! What can we do that an army of immortals can¡¯t?¡±


    Hazelmere noticed the other mages silently agreeing with Peratha.


    So, she fixed Peratha with a stern look, which looked very strange on her untrained face.


    ¡°And what would you have us do? Roll over and die?¡±


    ¡°What do you want us to do, miss royal archmage? How is us being here helping anything? Shouldn¡¯t we go back to help organize defenses of our cities?¡±


    ¡°Defenses from what? Nothing came through yet!¡±


    ¡°Do you honestly think that Yesis and the demons came here because that portal is harmless? Do you honestly think they would try to stop the divines from closing it if it didn¡¯t benefit them somehow?¡±


    Hazelmere¡¯s look wasn¡¯t so stern anymore. Looking around, Hazelmere saw the other mages nodding their heads.


    ¡°We should just pack up and leave. We don¡¯t even have a camp anymore!¡± Peratha waved her open palm around as if trying to show Hazelmere the landscape.


    ¡°I have to agree with Peratha,¡± Natle said, ¡°there is nothing we can do here. We can¡¯t fight here, there is nothing we can use. We have no fortifications. Whatever spawns out of the portal can go in whichever direction it wants.¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t even see the damn thing since it is sitting on the top of the hill!¡± Peratha pointed out.


    That gave Hazelmere a surge of inspiration.


    ¡°Wait, wait, let me think,¡± she said with her hand stretched out towards Peratha, as if she was trying to stop her from getting closer.


    ¡°What if ¡­ hmm ¡­ yes ¡­ that ¡­ I guess we could do that ¡­ yes, that would definitely stop him from ¡­¡±


    ¡°What are you mumbling about?¡± Peratha said in a tired voice.


    The other mages looked at Hazelmere as if she was mad, but none of them had enough willpower for any further arguing, so nobody interrupted her. After some more mumbling, she raised her right hand, pointing the index finger up in the air.


    ¡°I know! I know what we can do!¡± She said excitedly, her tail moving with a lot of vigor.


    Peratha let out a labored sigh in response.


    ¡°We can¡¯t close the portal, that much is obvious, but we can¡¯t just go empty-handed either! First of all, we must get our eyes on the portal! We must know what is happening out there and if anything is trying to cross it!¡±


    ¡°And how are we supposed to do that? We can¡¯t get anywhere near it!¡±


    ¡°We will use a magescope! We will bind a chunky crystal to it, filled with mana, and once we put it out there we will see what is going on!¡±


    ¡°But the portal is draining magic! It won¡¯t last a few days near it!¡±


    ¡°Your spell worked! You were able to cast it near the portal.¡±


    ¡°I had to move away from it, quite a lot. And even then, it took much more mana than necessary to maintain the spell.¡±


    ¡°Well, it doesn¡¯t have to be near the portal! We just need to put it somewhere where it will have an unobstructed view of it! We just need to see if something is trying to get across. And, you can use the same spell you used before to place it there! Once we recover our mana, we will all go together and place the magescope at a suitable location!¡±


    ¡°And what would be the point of that?¡±


    ¡°The point would be that, at the first hint of danger, we can run away! I am not asking any of you to die here, fighting the monsters coming from the other side. We will run at first sight of danger. We will always have someone watching through the magescope, day and night.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s better to have at least two people, preferably more, so they can keep each other awake,¡± Heartwell added.


    ¡°Two people! Great!¡±Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    ¡°But even then, what would be the point of it?¡± Peratha was insistent, ¡°What are we doing here if we will be running at the first sign of danger?¡±


    ¡°We will be gathering information.¡±


    There was a short pause. As if Hazelmere expected them to challenge her on it.


    ¡°I agree with you, Peratha,¡± Hazelmere continued, ¡°we can¡¯t win any battles here. But we won¡¯t win any battles anywhere unless we know what we are dealing with. So far, we saw nothing but trees and ice on the other side. We must gather some information on what we are facing so that our cities would know what kind of defenses to prepare! To know what kind of magic will be the most effective!¡±


    ¡°If the world on the other side is frozen, then it is only natural for the fire magic to be the most effective,¡± Cybil pointed out.


    ¡°Hazelmere may actually have a point here,¡± Natle said, while stroking her chin, ¡°the other side isn¡¯t just frozen. It is also draining any magic that comes near it! So, imagine if we would leave to prepare our defenses somewhere else. We would go and prepare our magical defenses, huge barriers for our walls, and many fireballs at the ready. And then, the enemies just walk through our barriers, because anything magical is drained instantly as soon as they come near it. At the same time, our fireballs would dissipate before hitting anything for the same reason! We would lose dozens of cities like that because we have based our defenses on unsubstantiated reasoning!¡±


    ¡°Oh, come on! Draining magic? Really?¡±


    Hazelmere pointed dramatically at Peratha: ¡°You just said your magic was being drained rapidly! Someone here said that we should keep all the options open since we have no idea what we are up against, and I agree! This is why the best thing we can do right now is to gather as much information as possible!¡±


    ¡°And how are we going to do that, genius? Ok, we set up a magescope to observe the other side, and then what? What if we see nothing? Will you absolve us of our duty then?¡±


    Hazelmere eyed Peratha for a while before answering.


    ¡°If we see nothing but those trees in one moon, I will. No, two moons! If we find nothing in three moons, I will go back to the palace and ask his majesty to leave a few regular mages here as observers, just in case.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of which, can¡¯t we ask his majesty to send a bigger force to guard the portal?¡± Mizette asked nobody in particular, ¡°Considering the angels have failed to close it, and all of that. If we are to get any help, it will have to come from the Emperor.¡±


    ¡°The soldiers are much more useful elsewhere,¡± Heartwell responded, ¡°we¡¯re still at war with the hosagians, and the soldiers are much more useful fighting it than guarding a portal that isn¡¯t spawning anything.¡±


    ¡°At the moment,¡± Mizette pointed out.


    ¡°And that¡¯s why we¡¯re here.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Hazelmere agreed with Heartwell, perhaps too eagerly, ¡°we are here to learn as much as we can, but there is no point in keeping us here for long. Just like the soldiers, we are much more useful elsewhere. So, let us get to it, let us do everything we can so we can leave this place as soon as possible! For starters, let us get a sight on that thing and, while we are at it, we can also scoop some of that gooey ice and run some tests on it. Maybe its composition will tell us something.¡±


    Peratha let out yet another sigh: ¡°At least that sounds like a plan. I am still against it though, it is probably nothing but a waste of our time, but I am ok with us being here as long as we can contribute somehow.¡±


    ¡°I am glad to hear that because we can¡¯t do it without you,¡± Hazelmere did her best to sound appreciative, ¡°only your magic can get us anywhere near the portal.¡±


    ¡°I will escort you personally, with a few of my soldiers. Who knows, maybe something did spawn out of the portal but didn¡¯t go very far.¡±


    ¡°It would make sense for the creatures on the other side to be ice-bound.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, Natle?¡± Mizette asked.


    ¡°It is nothing but a wild hypothesis, but it may be possible that we are dealing with a world which has some kind of anti-magic. There is no life without energy, and considering that we saw the trees on the other side, there has to be some energy out there. But its form may be so alien, to the point it is the exact opposite of all the energy forms we are aware of. That would explain why we can¡¯t detect any energy. The energy on the other side and the energy of our world are perhaps canceling each other as soon as they make contact. So, just how we can¡¯t survive near the portal, maybe the creatures beyond it can¡¯t survive in our world? It is possible they experience the same energy drain we do as soon as they approach the portal. To summarize, just because we can¡¯t detect any energy on the other side, that doesn¡¯t mean it doesn¡¯t exist. We just don¡¯t know what to look for.¡±


    All the present mages nodded their heads in unison.


    ¡°So ¡­ if that is true, then we have nothing to be afraid of? If that is true, then the creatures on the other side can¡¯t move deeper into our world since there is no ice,¡± Mizette pondered.


    ¡°But why would the demons come all the way here to fight the immortals if the other side is harmless?¡± Cybil pointed out.


    ¡°Umm ¡­¡± Moana spoke softly, ¡°¡­ wouldn¡¯t that imply that ¡­ the ice ¡­ it may be how the corruption of the other world is spreading ¡­ maybe it will ¡­ keep growing ¡­¡±


    ¡°That is true. Just because it hasn¡¯t reached us yet, that doesn¡¯t mean it has stopped spreading,¡± Natle agreed.


    ¡°And ¡­ the demons always strive to spread their ¡­ corruption ¡­ maybe ¡­ if there are demons ¡­ on the other side ¡­ they will start spreading their ¡­ corrupted ice ¡­ as soon as they notice the portal ¡­ maybe you have indeed opened a portal to ¡­ hell ¡­ a new, frozen kind of hell ¡­¡±


    The mood worsened immediately.


    ¡°We can¡¯t detect the energy on the other side, right?¡± Cybil said, ¡°If what you said is true, about the different kinds of energy canceling each other, then it would make sense for the demons on the other side to be completely unaware of the portal¡¯s existence.¡±


    ¡°But we can detect the portal!¡± Mizette pointed out.


    ¡°Because we made it with our energy! It is using our magic to work, not theirs!¡±


    ¡°Speaking of which, if your hypothesis is true Natle, then how come the portal didn¡¯t collapse upon itself?¡± Hazelmere asked, ¡°I mean, shouldn¡¯t this so-called anti-energy cancel it out?¡±


    ¡°That is a good point,¡± Cybil agreed, ¡°and, perhaps, the answer lies in the scrolls. All those circular movements you have discovered and yet the portal is stationary. The landscape wasn¡¯t moving at all! Maybe, under certain conditions, those conflicting types of magic can coexist? Maybe all those complications in the scrolls we thought were unnecessary serve that purpose? Who knows, I am just throwing ideas over here.¡±


    ¡°And that is exactly what we should do! This is exactly what I mean by trying to get more information! We can¡¯t go our ways yet, because there are so many things we haven¡¯t even considered!¡±


    ¡°Excuse me, but are the two of you agreeing with one another?¡± Peratha looked judgingly at both Hazelmere and Cybil.


    They exchanged a confused look between them and, after a few moments, became grumpy once again.


    ¡°Even a culiar has its day,¡± Cybil turned her head away in an irritated manner.


    ¡°She may not be good enough to be the royal archmage, but she is still an archmage nonetheless,¡± Hazelmere retorted.


    ¡°Considering you stooped so low, to the point you will gladly take help from a slum-dweller, I guess you don¡¯t find Cybil to be such a nuisance right now,¡± Peratha teased.


    ¡°By the way, why are you still here, Cybil?¡± Hazelmere asked, ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong, I appreciate the help. I just thought you would love to see me fail. I admit I am reluctant to take any advice from you for that same reason, but what you have just said was very reasonable and constructive.¡±


    ¡°Hmpf,¡± Cybil raised her nose up in yet another exaggerated display of annoyance, ¡°I am not so petty as to dodge responsibility just to see you fail! Besides, I don¡¯t have to do anything. You are more than capable of failing on your own! And, as much as I want to be wrong on this one, I know, and we all know, that what has happened with the portal wasn¡¯t your fault. You did everything right. And, since we can¡¯t put the blame on you, all the mages will be collectively held responsible for what has happened here. That is why I am willing to help you fix this mess, so the rest of us wouldn¡¯t have our reputations tarnished. And knowing you, you will somehow manage to make the situation even worse! I am staying here to stop you from doing anything stupid!¡±


    Hearing that, Heartwell started laughing wholeheartedly.


    ¡°What is so funny?¡± Cybil asked, still sounding irritated.


    ¡°Nothing,¡± he waved his hand dismissively, ¡°pay no mind to this peasant.¡±

 Chapter 20

    ¡°All right! Peratha, start casting your magic! The cold is becoming unbearable,¡± The words coming out of Hazelmere¡¯s mouth sounded much more like a statement than an order.


    Peratha moved her hand around her staff as she chanted the incantation. The spell manifested itself after just a few moments. As soon as it did, Hazelmere and Mizette landed their hands on Peratha¡¯s shoulders, pouring their mana in, which made the spell grow rapidly.


    It engulfed the group of some two dozen people very quickly. There were five archmages in total, with Cybil and one more archmage serving as a back-up in case Peratha needed more magic to sustain her spell. The reasoning was that having the mages spend their personal, renewable mana is preferable to wasting crystals, even though they carried a whole bag of them.


    A small group of soldiers surrounded them, led by Heartwell who had Vukasin right at his side. Kortan, the large soldier, went in front of the group, limiting everyone¡¯s frontal sight. Heartwell insisted that the limited sight is a small price to pay for having a living shield up front, just in case. Moana was also with them, acting as a portable corruption detector.


    ¡°Why did you even learn this spell in the first place?¡± Hazelmere asked, ¡°It is not like it is particularly useful. There is usually no need to warm yourself.¡±


    ¡°That was one of the first spells I have learned, once I became an archmage. It made sneaking out at night much, much easier. I didn¡¯t have any other choice since my family is very rigorous, and you know how cold the nights can get.¡±


    ¡°What about the glow? Isn¡¯t it quite easy to notice?¡±


    ¡°There is another spell which hides it, but I am not using it right now since it drains mana very fast.¡±


    As they moved along, Heartwell realized something.


    ¡°Have you noticed that the ground is becoming harder and harder as we go? Our camp is swimming in the mud and yet, even though we¡¯re just a few paces away from it, there¡¯s no mud here at all. Sure, the ground is soft, but it isn¡¯t muddy.¡±


    ¡°That certainly is strange,¡± Cybil agreed.


    ¡°Are you detecting any corruption in the ground, Moana?¡± Hazelmere asked.


    ¡°No ¡­ no corruption ¡­ but ¡­ like we agreed before ¡­ maybe I just don¡¯t know ¡­ what I should look for ¡­¡±


    As they moved even further, they noticed the ground in front of them is getting progressively whiter.


    ¡°I guess this whiteness on the ground is the strange ice the angel mentioned. Still no corruption, Moana?¡±


    ¡°¡­ no ¡­¡±


    ¡°All right. A little bit further, and we will put some of that ice in the bottle, just like we agreed.¡±


    ¡°Who is going to touch it?¡± Peratha asked, ¡°I certainly won¡¯t!¡±


    ¡°Umm, any volunteers?¡±


    After some time spent in silence, Heartwell barked: ¡°Kabocha, you¡¯re the volunteer!¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± the soldier¡¯s response was completely flat.


    ¡°Wouldn¡¯t ¡®yes sir¡¯ be the proper response?¡± Hazelmere asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m no sir,¡± Heartwell was very dismissive about it.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you knighted, for your service and all?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a knight in title only, and there¡¯s much more to being a knight besides the title.¡±


    ¡°Heartwell, I¡¯m having some trouble getting this white stuff!¡± Kabocha complained.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°It turns into water as soon as I pick it up! It¡¯s all mushy,¡± Kabocha said while shaking the water off his hands.


    Soon, the others realized the same thing.


    ¡°What the ¡­ what is wrong with it? It is turning into the water as soon as we get anywhere near it!¡±


    ¡°Ok, ok, I have an idea. Everyone, stop moving!¡± Peratha commanded.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    ¡°What for?¡±


    ¡°Just stop, and you will see!¡±


    Shortly after, she pointed at the edge of the spell surrounding them.


    ¡°See there, at the edge? It starts melting as soon as it gets inside the spell.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not how ice is supposed to act!¡± Mizette protested, ¡°It¡¯s supposed to be more durable than that, not melt at the first sign of warmth!¡±


    ¡°Umm ¡­ Galizur did mention that ¡­ this isn¡¯t the ¡­ regular ice ¡­ it¡¯s something between the ice ¡­ and the water ¡­¡±


    ¡°Great! How are we supposed to collect a sample then?¡±


    ¡°We could get some water, just in case. Maybe it is different somehow?¡±


    ¡°Kabocha, as soon as we move forward, I want you to rush towards the edge and put as much of that white stuff in the bottle,¡± came another Heartwell¡¯s order.


    ¡°Understood,¡± accompanied with yet another flat response.


    As soon as they¡¯ve started moving, Kabocha ran forward, grabbing two fistfuls of the strange white stuff.


    He turned around, looking very surprised: ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s not that cold at all! It¡¯s strangely ¡­ pleasant even ¡­ somehow refreshing.¡±


    ¡°Just put it in the bottle!¡±


    ¡°Oh, look at this! It¡¯s changing shape in my hands! Huh, look! I can mold it like clay!¡± He combined the white stuff in his hands, making a hand-sized ball out of it.


    ¡°Oh, I see what the angel meant when he said it is between the ice and the water!¡± Mizette exclaimed, rather proudly, ¡°It isn¡¯t solid like the ice, but it still has a somewhat solid shape!¡±


    ¡°Stop playing with the damn thing and put it in the bottle!¡± Heartwell¡¯s patience was slowly running thin.


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that is going to work,¡± Peratha complained.


    ¡°What won¡¯t work?¡±


    ¡°It will melt in the bottle. We didn¡¯t isolate the bottle away from the spell so, since the ice inside the spell is melting, it will melt inside the bottle too.¡±


    Hazelmere stared at the empty space for a while before cursing: ¡°Nail it! How will we gather any of it then?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think we can. And even if we gather some ice without the spell, it will melt as soon as we move it somewhere warmer. And there is no way we can run any tests in this cold.¡±


    ¡°I guess we will have to settle for the water then,¡± Mizette said, ¡°who knows, maybe it is different from the water in our world somehow?¡±


    Kabocha stuffed the bottle with melting ice as the group got moving again.


    They continued like that for a while, until Kortan¡¯s legs flew up in the air, making his body come crashing down onto the ground with a loud thud.


    ¡°Ambush!¡± Heartwell roared. The soldiers tightened the perimeter around the mages, their weapons at the ready.


    They looked around but saw nothing.


    ¡°I heard nothing before he fell,¡± Vukasin whispered to Heartwell.


    ¡°Keep your eyes open,¡± after his bad experience with the portal, Heartwell had his sword drawn as soon as they¡¯ve left the camp.


    Still, there was nothing out there but silence and ice.


    Which was eventually interrupted by Kortan¡¯s grumpy voice.


    ¡°It looks like I¡¯m ok. I guess I¡¯ve just lost my balance.¡±


    ¡°Are you bleeding?¡± Vukasin asked.


    ¡°No, I have no wounds ¡­ it looks like I¡¯m fine. Let me get up.¡±


    Kortan rose up and made a few steps forward before his legs ended up in the air once again, making him curse.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Kortan?¡± Heartwell asked sternly.


    ¡°I can¡¯t stay on my damn feet for some reason!¡±


    ¡°Vukasin, go see what¡¯s going on!¡±


    ¡°Will do!¡±


    Vukasin moved cautiously towards Kortan, but he didn¡¯t stay on his feet for long either. However, he did realize what¡¯s giving them a hard time.


    ¡°The ground, it¡¯s extremely slippery! It¡¯s as if it¡¯s completely covered in grease! You can¡¯t stand straight without losing your balance!¡±


    ¡°Is any magic involved?¡± Heartwell asked.


    ¡°No ¡­ at least it is not the magic as we know it.¡±


    Heart let out a long, frustrated sigh: ¡°I guess we aren¡¯t being attacked by demonic monsters ¡­ yet. Come, let¡¯s go see it for ourselves!¡±


    Kortan and Vukasin still struggled to get back on their feet as the rest of the group approached them.


    ¡°Lay down until we figure it out. You¡¯ll only hurt yourselves like that.¡±


    Obeying their commander, they sat down on the ground.


    ¡°Even though we¡¯re inside the spell, the ground is too cold!¡± Vukasin complained.


    ¡°And I can see why,¡± Cybil pointed below them, ¡°you are sitting on some real ice.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s ice?¡± Vukasin started feeling the cold, rock-solid ground he was sitting on with his hands.


    ¡°That is a lot of ice!¡± Mizette commented, ¡°It goes all the way to the top of the hill!¡±


    ¡°That is why they can¡¯t maintain their balance. The ice can be polished to an extreme, and then it becomes really, really smooth. Some masterful ice mages can cast polished ice shards that can penetrate even the thickest armor if flung at sufficient speed.¡±


    ¡°You know an awful lot about the ice and frost, Peratha.¡±


    ¡°I have already told you, I have dealt with the ice mages before. You either learn their ways, or you get killed.¡±


    ¡°But, shouldn¡¯t it melt when it gets inside your spell?¡± Hazelmere asked, ¡°I mean, why has the other ice melted but not this one?¡±


    ¡°Hmm ¡­ I guess it has something to do with the frost. The ice mage¡¯s power and the quality of her ice are directly linked to the intensity of frost she can generate. The lower the temperature of her frost, the higher the quality of her ice. It is probably because we are getting closer to the portal. The closer we are, the colder it gets. I did notice my spell got more costly over time, but I thought that is because I am slowly getting tired. The truth is, the spell needs to generate more heat because it is constantly getting colder.¡±


    ¡°How can we make the ice disappear?¡± Heartwell got straight to the point.


    ¡°You can always shatter it. It is said that true ice can be as strong as draconium, but it only exists in myths and legends, so shattering it should do the trick.¡±


    ¡°We have no hammers around here ¡­¡± Heartwell put his free hand on his hip while lost in thought.


    ¡°You just need to crack the ice in one place. Then, the rest of it will shatter easily.¡±


    ¡°All right!¡±


    Heartwell took the spear from the soldier next to him, thrusting it with all his might at the ice.


    CLANG!!! THUMP!!!


    ¡°Thump? It¡¯s not supposed to go ¡®thump¡¯ and it¡¯s not supposed to bounce back!¡± He complained.


    He lifted the spear, only to see that its metal tip was gone.


    Looking back at the ice, everyone saw the strike left nothing but a tiny scratch on it.


    ¡°Are ¡­ you ¡­ shitting me?¡±

 Chapter 21

    Soldiers tried getting rid of the ice in all kinds of ways, with no tangible results. They achieved nothing, besides damaging their tools and weapons.


    ¡°All right, we are wasting our time here. Let me try something.¡±


    Peratha said as she started chanting a new set of incantations.


    ¡°Are you sure you can cast another spell while maintaining this one?¡± Hazelmere asked, worry in her voice, ¡°If your current spell fails, we will all freeze to death!¡±


    Peratha paid no attention to her words, concentrating on the incantation. Eventually, she opened her eyes, extending her left hand in front of her and pointing it at the icy ground.


    ¡°Everyone, step aside!¡±


    As soon as other mages heard that, they moved behind Peratha, including Hazelmere and Mizette who supported her spells with their mana. Seeing the mages move aside so quickly, the soldiers did the same.


    A continuous jet of fire shot out from Peratha¡¯s hand, hitting the ground below. It persisted for some time before disappearing suddenly.


    Peratha turned her face towards Hazelmere, a satisfied, self-important smile on her face: ¡°Who do you think you are talking to? I am perfectly capable of casting several spells at the same time.¡±


    ¡°There is always a risk,¡± Hazelmere instinctively tucked her head in, ¡°and you couldn¡¯t walk last time you were casting this warming spell over us. A soldier had to carry you.¡±


    Peratha¡¯s smile broadened before she turned her face away to look at her work: ¡°I was exhausted back then, and my mana was drained completely. Still, this didn¡¯t help,¡± she poked the ice with her staff, ¡°that did melt a little bit of ice on the surface, but we won¡¯t get far like that. We will run out of mana long before we reach the hill, let alone the plateau.¡±


    ¡°I had no idea ice can be this tough,¡± Mizette said, ¡°the ice I know melts as soon as you hit it with some heat.¡±


    ¡°This ice is pure, no doubt about that,¡± Peratha stated with a solemn look on her face, ¡°this isn¡¯t your regular, magical ice. This ice is created in legendary frost. It is the purest form of ice you can imagine.¡±


    ¡°You are forgetting one more thing,¡± Cybil joined them in the discussion, ¡°it is not just the frost, the water isn¡¯t regular either. Have you already forgotten what has happened back in the camp?¡±


    She gave them some time to think about it.


    ¡°Yesis?¡± Peratha raised her brow questioningly, making Cybil nod her head in confirmation.


    ¡°This ice isn¡¯t made from the regular water either. It is the water created by Yesis himself. It certainly makes the ice much more durable than it is supposed to be. The legendary frost combined with the water of Yesis¡¯s storm ¡­ there is no way we can make our way through it!¡±


    ¡°Nail it,¡± Peratha¡¯s said in a low, defeated voice, ¡°then what are we supposed to do? Go back?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t see how we can move forward.¡±


    ¡°You mages are too quick to give up,¡± Heartwell teased them, ¡°there is a way to move across it.¡±


    ---


    A very strange procession moved across the ice. It moved slowly and clumsily, but it did move, and that was all that mattered.


    Soldiers set on top of their shields, which they dragged across the ice. They used their weapons, mainly their spears¡¯ butt ends, to push the shields forward on the smooth ice, like a fisher would paddle his boat across the water. Those soldiers who didn¡¯t carry any shields set on top of the other soldier¡¯s shoulders, the spears they used to drag the shields turning out to be very useful in maintaining their balance. The same applied to the mages, who used their staffs instead of spears.


    ¡°Never before have I ever been so desperate for a wind mage before,¡± Hazelmere complained as she sat on top of Vukasin.


    ¡°Now that would be useful,¡± Peratha agreed, ¡°we would slide across this damn ice in a few moments.¡±


    That drew out a grunt of protest from Kortan, who carried Peratha on his shoulders.


    ¡°What are you complaining about? It¡¯s not like you¡¯re the one who has to suffer,¡± He grumbled.


    ¡°Oh, shut up, we both know you like this! We all saw your reaction back in the shelter.¡±


    Kortan kept quiet as his cheeks flushed.


    ¡°Just shut up, paddle, and enjoy the sensation of having a noble lady sit on top of your head. You would think that would be a peasant¡¯s dream come true, but nooo, you have to complain!¡±


    ¡°Heartwell, I don¡¯t usually protest against your orders, but are you sure that putting this hussy on top of me is a good idea? I could lose my balance at any time and send her flying. We certainly don¡¯t want that to happen.¡±


    ¡°You have the broadest shoulders of us all, which makes you the most stable mount. And, since our lives depend on her maintaining the spell, she gets the privilege of sitting her noble ass in the safest seat.¡±This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    ¡°Bear with it just a little bit more Kortan, we¡¯re almost there,¡± Vukasin tried to calm his friend.


    With an annoyed grunt, Kortan barred his teeth and continued paddling forward.


    But, as soon as they got near the summit, the fatal flaw in Heartwell¡¯s plan revealed itself. The lead shield, which had two soldiers on top of it, started sliding back. The soldiers paddled vigorously with their weapons, but it was futile. Slowly but surely, they slid back towards the rest of the group.


    ¡°What is going on?¡± Hazelmere asked, sounding a little bit panicked.


    Peratha realized what¡¯s causing the problem immediately: ¡°The ice is making it impossible to move uphill! We can¡¯t slide uphill on a slick surface.¡±


    The others tried moving forward, with no success. No progress was made, regardless of how hard the soldiers paddled.


    ¡°Any more bright ideas?¡± Hazelmere asked, irritation clear in her voice.


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s time for you mages to be of some use?¡± Heartwell spat back.


    ¡°Excuse me, but I think you¡¯re forgetting one teeny-tiny triviality! We¡¯re only alive because we¡¯re inside the spell!¡± Peratha didn¡¯t bother holding back.


    Heartwell¡¯s face was full of disdain, but he didn¡¯t respond immediately.


    He did respond after a few moments of awkward silence: ¡°Perhaps some other mages could also be of use? Maybe fire isn¡¯t the only element we can use against the ice?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± Cybil shook her head, ¡°the rest of us didn¡¯t specialize in elemental magic. Our magic is completely useless here.¡±


    ¡°Magic isn¡¯t used just for fighting,¡± Hazelmere sounded quite defensive.


    ¡°If we had some hook with a chain attached to it ¡­¡± Vukasin thought out loud.


    ¡°It wouldn¡¯t stick to the ice, it is too thick,¡± but Peratha shot down his idea immediately.


    Some time passed with everyone keeping quiet. Half of the group was lost in thought, while the other half was simply just lost.


    Peratha finally broke the silence: ¡°Oaf, put me down.¡±


    Kortan didn¡¯t respond.


    ¡°Put me down, you oaf!¡±


    Still, no response.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have the time for your damaged ego! My magic is draining rapidly! The other mages can¡¯t lend me their mana as long as I¡¯m on your shoulders so, if we don¡¯t do something, we¡¯ll all freeze to death!¡±


    ¡°You could be a bit nicer to him, though,¡± Mizette¡¯s said in a reprimanding voice, ¡°you had your payback several times already. Don¡¯t you think you should cut him some slack? At least you could call him by his name.¡±


    Peratha rolled her eyes as she let out a small sigh.


    ¡°What is your name, oaf?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not how you do it!¡± Mizette protested.


    ¡°Kortan, can you put the hussy mage down? We don¡¯t have time for this.¡±


    Hearing Heartwell¡¯s orders, Kortan obliged. And, as soon as Peratha has stepped outside the shield Kortan was sitting on, she came crashing down in a heap.


    ¡°Watch your step, hussy mage. Our lives are dependent on your spell,¡± Heartwell smiled with great joy.


    ¡°Shut up! I want all the other mages to come to me! I¡¯ll need your mana! And you, peasants, get on your feet and follow closely behind!¡±


    Nobody liked her tone or her words, but nobody protested either. Even though the soldiers were peasants, they weren¡¯t as stupid as some people might think. Just because they didn¡¯t get any education, that didn¡¯t mean they couldn¡¯t judge a situation properly.


    And besides, even if she sounded petty and arrogant, she didn¡¯t say anything that wasn¡¯t true.


    ¡°I want all of you to lend me your mana!¡± Peratha ordered the mages as soon as they¡¯ve gathered around her.


    The four mages put their hands on her. As soon as Peratha felt their mana coursing through her body, a fire jet flew out of her hand. Although it had the same size as the one before, this one was much more intense. Its force made the mages¡¯ hair fly up into the air.


    She concentrated the jet in one place, and it wasn¡¯t long before the ice started melting. As soon as she noticed the ice was replaced with the scorched ground, she started moving forward while maintaining the spell. Slowly but surely, she was creating a path of scorched earth through the icy ground.


    But, maintaining such a powerful spell put a lot of strain on both her and the mages supporting her. It wasn¡¯t long before Hazelmere had to stop for a moment.


    ¡°I can¡¯t¡­ I need to use the crystal ¡­¡± she said with a heavy breath as she took a crystal from the bag she carried on her hip.


    ¡°Oh, you already have to use the Crystal?¡± Cybil gloated, with a shit-eating grin on her face.


    ¡°Nail yourself! I was supporting her all along!¡±


    Cybil just deepened her grin, saying nothing more.


    The supporting mages took turns recharging their mana via crystals, even Cybil had to do it at one point. Meanwhile, Peratha didn¡¯t lower the spell¡¯s intensity, not even for a moment. She continued clearing the path uphill while maintaining the existing heating spell that still surrounded all of them.


    After way too much effort, they eventually did reach the summit. All the mages leaned on their staffs for support, completely exhausted. Mizette tried sitting on the cleared ground, but the heat made her jump back in an instant.


    ¡°Is that it ¡­ do we need to clear more?¡± Hazelmere asked between her ragged breath.


    ¡°I ¡­ I think that¡¯s what we¡¯re looking for,¡± Peratha pointed in front of them.


    When people hear a word portal, they usually imagine some glowing ring, some noticeable, obvious gateway into the other world.


    But, as always, the reality is far less impressive.


    There was no glow. In fact, the portal didn¡¯t even have any outline at all! The only reason why they¡¯ve realized they were anywhere near the portal was that they knew that big, tall trees don¡¯t grow on Treadmondo¡¯s plateau. And those trees stuck out like a sore thumb in the landscape. It also helped that the portal wasn¡¯t tall enough to show the top of the trees. So, they looked at the rows of giant trees whose top halves were missing, standing tall in the middle of the ice-covered plateau.


    If the sight on the other side looked anywhere close to their surroundings, they wouldn¡¯t even notice the portal.


    But that wasn¡¯t the only odd thing.


    ¡°Am I the only one, or does someone else has an uneasy feeling about this?¡± Mizette asked.


    ¡°It is an aura,¡± Peratha stated.


    ¡°You think?¡±


    ¡°I am absolutely certain of it. The aura of dread is emanating from the portal itself.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a relief,¡± Vukasin said, ¡°I started wondering if I became a coward all of a sudden.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s do this quickly then! I don¡¯t want to stay here for one more moment,¡± Hazelmere appeared to be in the biggest rush,¡± Let¡¯s find the proper place for our magescope and get out of here!¡±


    ¡°Just throw the damn thing towards the portal!¡± Peratha¡¯s voice was devoid of patience, ¡°It will be fine, wherever it lands!¡±


    ¡°Won¡¯t it break if you throw it?¡± Vukasin asked, looking more than concerned.


    ¡°No, it won¡¯t!¡± Peratha¡¯s answer was quick and sharp.


    Hazelmere opened the bag once more, pulling the magescope out of it.


    ¡°That looks like a medium-sized, regular stone,¡± Vukasin noticed.


    ¡°Because it is.¡±


    Noticing the confusion on Vukasin¡¯s face, Hazelmere gave a brief explanation.


    ¡°All objects can be enchanted with magic. Not with all kinds of magic, but some magic can be cast on any object. Magescope is like that. Magescope is the spell, not the object, and you can enchant it to any object you want. Sometimes, people enchant fancy stuff with it to show off but, in our case, a simple stone will do.¡±


    ¡°So ¡­ throwing that stone won¡¯t damage the magescope?¡±


    ¡°No, it won¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°But ¡­ if that¡¯s the case, then why couldn¡¯t we just throw it up at the summit? Is there a reason why you had to clear the path all the way to the top? You could¡¯ve cleared just enough of the path to get us within the throwing distance. You didn¡¯t have to go through all this trouble.¡±


    That made all the mages exchange glances of regret.


    However, they didn¡¯t have to wallow in pity for long because Moana¡¯s extended hand, coupled with her frightened expression, got everyone¡¯s attention:


    ¡°Umm ¡­ what is ¡­ that thing?¡±

 Chapter 22

    Something stood at the other side of the portal, between the trees. It was big, hairy, had four legs and huge horns on its head.


    ¡°All right, mages, move behind us,¡± Heartwell ordered silently, almost whispering, as he readied his sword and shield.


    But the mages didn¡¯t move, transfixed with the creature on the other side.


    ¡°Move, now! We don¡¯t know if it will charge us or if more of them are out there!¡± He raised his voice a bit.


    ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go!¡± Mizette hurried Hazelmere up, who jolted as if woken up from a dream.


    The mages moved back, but not completely. Their heads poked out from behind the soldiers, still trying to figure out what the strange creature could be.


    ¡°Moana, do you sense anything? Is there any demonic presence nearby?¡±


    ¡°Huh, you remembered her name on the first try!¡± Cybil commented playfully.


    ¡°No ¡­ I sense ¡­ nothing ¡­¡±


    ¡°It is definitely some kind of a monster!¡± Peratha said as she gathered her strength, trying to prepare both her body and mind for some more spell casting.


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ somehow familiar ...¡± Kortan tilted his head, a confused look on his face.


    ¡°You know what it is?¡± Heartwell¡¯s voice was still low.


    ¡°I can¡¯t put my mind on it, but it reminds me of something ¡­¡±


    ¡°Have you fought monsters before?¡± Mizette asked.


    ¡°Not monsters, but I did encounter a few beasts while hunting ¡­ aha! I know!¡±


    ¡°Stay quiet, you fool!¡± Heartwell smacked him in the back of the head with a blunt side of the blade. The leather helmet let out no sound at all.


    ¡°Ouch! Sorry about that. Yeah, I think I know what it is!¡±


    ¡°Well, what is it?¡± Peratha raised her voice in annoyance.


    ¡°It looks like an oversized, overbuffed deer to me ¡­ with an ugly face.¡±


    ¡°A deer?¡± There was a strong mocking tone in Peratha¡¯s voice, ¡°You are even dumber than you look!¡±


    ¡°Look at it, hussy! It has four legs and a huge set of antlers!¡±


    ¡°Now that you mention it, those do look like the antlers!¡± Hazelmere agreed, ¡°I thought those were the devilish horns but indeed, this creature is much more similar to a deer.¡±


    ¡°A deer is a graceful animal. It has to be, to run away from the predators. This creature is too huge and too intimidating to be a prey,¡± Peratha was insistent.


    ¡°Or maybe, the predators are even bigger on the other side,¡± Vukasin said.


    Peratha pondered that for a bit before continuing: ¡°Anyway, prey animals always move in herds. That is how they defend themselves. This creature is all alone ¡­¡±


    ¡°I think you¡¯re all missing the point,¡± Heartwell cut her off in the middle of the sentence, ¡°whatever it is, there¡¯s no need for us to stay here any longer. Predator or prey, it doesn¡¯t matter. Just put the damn stone where it¡¯s supposed to be, and let¡¯s get out of here.¡±


    ¡°I agree with the guy,¡± Mizette nodded her head quite vigorously, ¡°let¡¯s do the job and go back. We can observe it to our soul¡¯s content from the safety of our camp.¡±


    ¡°All right!¡±


    Hazelmere threw the stone in her hand gently. It slid on the ice for some time before stopping.


    ¡°Ok, let¡¯s go back.¡±


    ---


    ¡°At least now we know there are animals and monsters on the other side, besides the trees,¡± Cybil pointed out as they approached the camp. The bright spell surrounding them was no more, as it only served the purpose in the cold surroundings.


    ¡°Even if there are no demons on the other side, those beasts will do a lot of damage if they ever reach our camp,¡± Heartwell said, ¡°especially when they¡¯re so massive. Who knows what else is out there.¡±


    ¡°You are right, Hazelmere agreed, ¡°we will spend the rest of the day making sure the magescope is working properly. However, I want all the remaining mages and military commanders to join me in the main tent tomorrow. If there are animals and beasts on the other side, then there also have to be some more intelligent creatures out there. And I don¡¯t want them to catch us by surprise. We will need every advantage we can get, and I think I know how we can get one.¡±


    ¡°Ohh, Hazelmere is making plans of her own!¡± Peratha¡¯s voice was playful and friendly.


    ¡°That sounds fine, but we don¡¯t have a camp anymore. Yesis has smashed it completely,¡± Cybil pointed out.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. We¡¯ll make something simple to replace the command tent by the end of the day,¡± Vukasin sounded very sure of that.


    And that was the case. While most of the camp was in scattered ruins, the soldiers have managed to erect a few new tents. It looked much more like a traveling carnival than a military outpost since the new tents were made from the muddy bits of the previous tents, which got completely torn up. The soldiers sew them together clumsily, but they did fulfill their purpose. They also started erecting a simple, wooden palisade around the camp. The muddy ground was gone, thanks to Sun who shone his light brightly after Yesis has left.


    The magescope worked perfectly. Another, much bigger stone was bound to it, enabling a mage pouring her energy into it to access the magescope from afar. Much energy was needed to maintain the bind, but that was nothing for a group of experienced archmages.


    The next day, all the archmages and six soldiers, including Heartwell and Vukasin, gathered at the new command tent, which now also served as Hazelmere¡¯s, Mizette¡¯s, and Peratha¡¯s tent until more were built. Moana was also there.


    ¡°So, have we sent the water we have collected to the palace?¡± Peratha started the conversation.


    ¡°Yes, but we won¡¯t get the results any time soon,¡± Hazelmere responded.


    ¡°That much is obvious. So, Hazelmere, tell us about this plan of yours.¡±


    ¡°We saw there are beasts on the other side. And, if there are beasts out there, then it is reasonable to assume there are also demons nearby.¡±


    ¡°Demons? I am convinced the angel said it is the void, not hell, on the other side,¡± Cybil interrupted her.


    ¡°Yes, that is what he said. But, he also said that the heavens are still debating it, which means they have no idea what is going on. As far as we know, nothing exists in the void besides dark energy. It is the darkest plane of existence imaginable. And, while we can¡¯t detect any energy on the other side, we saw there is life out there. The trees, the beasts ¡­ life can¡¯t exist without energy. This is why I think the other hypothesis makes much more sense. It is not that the energy doesn¡¯t exist on the other side. We just can¡¯t detect it. The energy of the other world conflicts with ours somehow.¡±Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°Ok, let us assume that is the case. Why demons?¡± Natle asked, ¡°What makes you think there are demons on the other side and not some regular people? And just so we are clear, I am not saying you are wrong. I agree with you, but I would like to hear your opinion on it first.¡±


    ¡°Ok, here is my reasoning,¡± Hazelmere braced herself, as if she was about to do some hard, physical labor, ¡°The hell we know of is an extremely inhospitable, fiery place. Such a perverse place can only give birth to perverted beings. There is no place for gentleness or compassion in such a harsh environment, power is everything there. Here, we have something that looks like the exact opposite, a frozen world. But, is it really that different from the hell as we know it? If we ignore the looks of it, the essence is the same: a harsh, inhospitable world which, although it should be impossible, harbors life somehow. And, we have seen the beast on the other side. If the big soldier is right about it, and it is actually prey, that only goes to show what kind of life the other side is filled with. It is not a graceful, gentle one, but strong and brutal.¡±


    ¡°An ox is also a strong animal, yet it isn¡¯t a predator,¡± Cybil pointed out.


    ¡°But an ox is not a prey,¡± Mizette countered, ¡°the gods created oxen to help the people with hard labor. That is why you always see them near the people and never in the wild.¡±


    ¡°Please continue, miss,¡± Heartwell got the conversation back on track, sounding far more nobly than usual.


    ¡°Anyway, my point is that there may be several different kinds of hells. We only had to deal with one fiery type, but that doesn¡¯t mean there aren¡¯t other kinds as well. The harsh environment, the enormous trees far more fitting in a Sanddiac forest than in such an unforgiving environment, the huge beasts. All of that has much more in common with the fiery hell than with a normal world like ours. And we can rule out the possibility of it being the void. There is no way complex creatures such as beasts can exist in the void.¡±


    ¡°There is also one more important thing,¡± Natle continued, ¡°would the demons bother to show up at all if it was a portal to the void? They had to use up an outrageous amount of mana to come to fight the angels here, and there is no way they would do it if it didn¡¯t benefit them somehow. We can¡¯t sense the energy on the other side but, if it has anything to do with their demonic origin, maybe they can?¡±


    ¡°That is a good point,¡± Cybil agreed.


    ¡°Anyway,¡± Hazelmere got them back on track, ¡°it would be reasonable to assume there are demons out there. And, in all likelihood, they are completely different from the ones we already know. If we have really opened the portal to hell, and even the angels themselves aren¡¯t able to sense it for what it is, then nothing we have to fight these demons will be of any use to us. The divine magic might not even work on them, at least not until tweaked properly. And it would be too foolish of us to do nothing but wait for them to march through the portal.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that why we are here though? To observe the other side and gather information?¡± Cybil pointed out.


    ¡°Yes, but there is one more thing we can do.¡±


    ¡°Which is?¡±


    ¡°We can explore the ruins below us.¡±


    An awkward silence took hold of the room. Most archmages exchanged worried glances between them.


    ¡°Didn¡¯t the emperor himself forbid us from doing so?¡± Peratha raised her voice slightly, but the difference in tone was quite noticeable.


    ¡°No, he didn¡¯t. His advisor forbade us. She didn¡¯t even give me the chance to talk with his majesty.¡±


    ¡°The same advisor who¡¯s now rotting in the dungeon,¡± Heartwell¡¯s said in a harsh voice.


    ¡°Or worse,¡± Vukasin added.


    ¡°Do you intend to go back to the palace and ask his majesty?¡± Peratha asked.


    ¡°No.¡±


    Peratha frowned, an extremely displeased look on her face.


    ¡°He might not understand, which is why we will do it without his permission,¡± Hazelmere stated.


    ¡°Are you mad!¡± Peratha yelled at Hazelmere without any reserve, throwing her completely off guard.


    ¡°Wha-wha-what?¡±


    ¡°Do you have any idea how dangerous dungeoneering is? Only the most skilled, veteran adventurers can pull it off!¡±


    ¡°Whoa, whoa, calm down, hussy,¡± Heartwell raised his hand to stop Peratha¡¯s overreaction.


    ¡°I thought you¡¯d be for it?¡± Hazelmere¡¯s eyes opened wide in shock, ¡°I mean ¡­ weren¡¯t you the one telling me it¡¯s better not to mention some things to his majesty? Besides, you had proposed the same thing before the portal was summoned!¡±


    Peratha took a moment to collect herself: ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind exploring the ruins back then, when we had much more people and resources at our disposal. But doing it now, with so few of us ¡­ there is no way we can pull it off!¡±


    ¡°Have you explored dungeons before?¡± Hazelmere asked.


    ¡°Yes ¡­ and I didn¡¯t like it one bit!¡±


    ¡°But it is ok, the adventurers who have discovered the ruins first have already cleared them. We just need to see if they have missed something. Maybe there are some enchanted objects they didn¡¯t sense. After all, I doubt they had the archmages with them.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s not how dungeons work!¡± Peratha got back to yelling, ¡°All the dungeons are connected to the underworld, which means the new monsters always come to replace the ones that have been slain! And they¡¯ve cleared the ruins a few moons ago. Those ruins are filled with monsters now! We don¡¯t have the experience, nor the proper escort to do it!¡±


    ¡°But we also have no choice!¡± Hazelmere slammed both her hands on the table, much to everyone¡¯s surprise, ¡°I know what I¡¯m asking is dangerous, which is why I¡¯ll go too! I¡¯m also aware we may return empty-handed, but taking such a risk is certainly better than sitting on our asses all day long, waiting for the demonic armies to show up!¡±


    ¡°You aren¡¯t going anywhere, missy,¡± Heartwell said in a relaxed manner, as if he was stating the obvious truth instead of arguing.


    ¡°Oh yes, I am!¡±


    ¡°No, you won¡¯t! I don¡¯t care if it is some kind of mage¡¯s honor I¡¯ve never heard of before or a foolish display of bravery. My job is to keep you safe, which means you won¡¯t be going underground.¡±


    ¡°What, are you going to disobey my orders?¡± Hazelmere smirked at him.


    ¡°I¡¯m going to tie you to your bed, that¡¯s what I¡¯m gonna to do,¡± instead of raising his voice, Heartwell crossed his arms over his chest.


    ¡°You are here to listen to my orders!¡±


    ¡°As long as those don¡¯t contradict his majesty¡¯s orders.¡±


    That made Hazelmere pause.


    ¡°His majesty¡¯s orders take precedence over yours. Besides, it¡¯s not like you have to go down there yourself. Honestly, I like the idea. I¡¯m not looking forward to losing some of my soldiers to monsters, but I think it¡¯s worth a shot. If what you¡¯re saying is true, and the demons are really on the way, then their lives are already lost. Taking a risk like this, to learn anything we can about our enemy before it shows up, makes perfect sense to me. However, I have no intention of ordering anyone to go down there. Only the volunteers will go.¡±


    Peratha pointed accusingly at Hazelmere, staring her in the eyes: ¡°And what if we come back empty-handed? In all likelihood, we¡¯ll be sending people to their deaths with nothing to show for it! If we knew we¡¯d find something useful, I¡¯d have nothing against sacrificing some of us to get it! But this is too rash, too foolish! I¡¯m completely against it! Let the Emperor send another team of adventurers down there, and some of us may come with them. Our current forces are too weak to fight anything!¡±


    ¡°Scared?¡±


    Hazelmere wasn¡¯t even trying to hide her intent. Everyone knew she was baiting Peratha, including Peratha herself. It was way too obvious.


    And yet, it worked.


    ¡°Scaareed?¡± Peratha¡¯s face distorted in a fit of rage, ¡°Someone like you, who spent her entire life in a mansion, is asking me if I¡¯m scared?¡±


    ¡°Maybe your past experiences with the dungeons have been too painful? Maybe your mind can¡¯t take any more of it?¡±


    ¡°Oh, rest assured, they were! And I have no interest in sending the other people to die in a dungeon for no good reason! All for some small chance that a team of experienced adventurers, who are well known for stripping everything in their path, have missed something important!¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to go if you don¡¯t want to,¡± Peratha found Hazelmere¡¯s smug face to be the most punchable thing she has ever seen.


    ¡°And who¡¯ll go in my place? I¡¯m the best offensive mage you have here! You¡¯d have to send at least three archmages in my stead, which only means more people will end up dead than it¡¯s necessary!¡±


    ¡°You voted for me, when we were deciding who the next royal archmage will be! Now, the time has come for you to take responsibility for it!¡±


    Peratha opened her mouth, an incredulous look on her face.


    ¡°Don¡¯t you think you are being unreasonable right now, Hazelmere?¡± Natle asked, ¡°We should at least ask his majesty. Maybe he will be willing to assemble a new team of adventurers.¡±


    ¡°There is no time!¡± Hazelmere cut her off, ¡°We have no idea how much time we have at our disposal, and it will take moons for a new adventuring party to form up! No, we are exploring the ruins right now, without delay! However, I agree with our knight-commander. It wouldn¡¯t be right to order anyone to go down there. Only the volunteers will go! And, if anything goes wrong, I will take full responsibility for it!¡±


    ¡°You think there will be enough volunteers?¡± Heartwell asked.


    ¡°We don¡¯t need a big party. Twenty people will do.¡±


    ¡°Umm ¡­ twenty-five is better ¡­ to please the divines ¡­¡± Moana said.


    ¡°Twenty soldiers and five mages, that should be enough!¡± Hazelmere waved her hand around, like a storyteller in a theatre.


    ¡°What, you are a military genius now?¡± The mocking tone of Cybil¡¯s voice was more than evident.


    ¡°Let me remind you that, if you feel like it, you can leave anytime you want! Nobody is forcing you to be here!¡±


    Hazelmere noticed Heartwell staring disapprovingly at her.


    ¡°Well, mages, that is. Soldiers don¡¯t have much of a choice. Anyway, if any of you archmages disagree with my plan, you are free to go! You are the ones who have made me the royal archmage, and now you have to deal with it! However, if you choose to do so, you better have an excuse ready for when his majesty summons you eventually.¡±


    That made Natle shake her head in disbelief.

 Chapter 23

    The archmages tried dissuading Hazelmere for a long time. However, with Heartwell firmly on her side, she had no intention of making any compromises. One could even say she was stubborn, to the point of arrogance.


    In the end, Hazelmere evoked the privileges given to her by the Emperor himself: submit to the will of the royal subject or face the consequences of defiance. Seeing that the devil has claimed the joke, the mages fell in line.


    The party had two days to prepare. Peratha, despite her many protests, volunteered to go. Four other, regular mages went with her, together with twenty soldiers. Getting the soldiers on board was very easy once Hazelmere declared that any riches found which aren¡¯t deemed useful for their current mission, will be given to those who explored the ruins. Kortan also volunteered to go, but Heartwell refused his request, saying that his large frame would easily get stuck in a narrow tunnel.


    So, the party descended into the ruins, with little ceremony.


    ---


    Two days have passed since then. The days were very slow, with almost nothing to do besides observing the portal. The lack of Peratha¡¯s outgoing personality made the camp feel empty to the other mages, there was much less conversation going on, and the topics became dull. That made Hazelmere realize Peratha wasn¡¯t that bad, even though she always found her to be annoying on some level, mainly because she never cared if she hurts the people¡¯s feelings with her lame jokes. Yes, she was annoying sometimes, but she knew how to carry on an interesting conversation and, most importantly, she had a natural gift for grabbing people¡¯s attention when necessary.


    ¡°Oh gods, listen to what I¡¯m saying,¡± she thought, ¡°she had? I¡¯m talking as if she¡¯s dead. Talking to myself, no less.¡±


    As soon as that idea crept into her mind, Hazelmere felt something tighten in her chest. It was something she has never felt before. The idea that someone may get hurt because of her wrong decision hit her suddenly. She didn¡¯t hesitate when it was necessary to make that decision but now, when she had no idea what was going on down there, the idea started tormenting her mind.


    She tried all kinds of rationalizations to deal with it: ¡°Peratha is the best combat mage in the entire Empire, her skill and combat experience are legendary. There¡¯s no way she¡¯d get hurt by some lowly monsters. She has explored the dungeons before. It¡¯s nothing new for her. She knows better than anyone what she¡¯s doing. She¡¯ll keep both herself and everyone else safe.¡±


    However, no matter how laughable the idea was, it was always present in the corner of her mind. The idea that she may be the one who has sent the Empire¡¯s best offensive mage to her death.


    And many others with her.


    Hazelmere shook her head to get the thoughts out of it, making her canine ears swing left and right as she did so. She stood up from her bed and went to see Mizette, who was observing the portal at the moment. During the last two days, she realized that the best way to get those dark thoughts out of her head was to keep herself busy. The conversations with the other people were especially useful. Even if the conversation was dull and not engaging at all, it would help get those thoughts out of her head.


    In a twist of irony, this caused her to talk with the peasant soldiers more often, especially Heartwell. And, while he wasn¡¯t a good conversationalist, he did prove himself to be a good listener and a surprisingly welcome distraction. Unlike the other soldiers, he didn¡¯t try to impress her with useless feats or over-exaggerated stories of his fictional achievements. He was content to just ¡­ listen. And it was a welcome change.


    ¡°Have you seen anything new?¡± She asked Mizette as she approached.


    Mizette straightened up and started rubbing her eyes.


    ¡°I saw something that looks like a wolf today, a whole pack of them. They just walked past the portal, didn¡¯t care about it at all.¡±A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    ¡°Are the nights still chaotic?¡±


    ¡°Yes, they follow no rhyme. When it is day in our world, it could be either day or night out there. This morning it was as dark as midnight, but now their Sun is already up.¡±


    ¡°Yes ¡­ Sun. Do you think they have another Sun out there?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how there could be anything but eternal darkness otherwise. Without Sun, the darkness would swallow the world.¡±


    ¡°But, how can a good god like Sun exist in hell?¡±


    ¡°Maybe their Sun is evil? I mean, life can¡¯t exist without the energy, so I guess even the hell must have its Sun or his equivalent.¡±


    ¡°And yet, he can¡¯t melt the ice. Maybe their Sun is also good but is just too weak to affect the hell.¡±


    ¡°Or the evil on the other side is just too great for Sun to deal with. It would make sense if we are talking about the hell itself.¡±


    ¡°Some would consider that idea blasphemous.¡±


    ¡°I am very eager to hear their explanation. Oh yes, there was another strange beast. I saw it just before you came. It looked huge, but it was among the trees, so I am not sure. Maybe it is still out there, let me see.¡±


    Mizette closed her eyes so she could see clearly, placing the fingers of both her hands on the big stone.


    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s still here! Come, take a look at it.¡±


    Hazelmere approached the stone, putting her fingers on the other side of it.


    In a few moments, the icy wasteland filled her vision. It took her some time to orient herself in the featureless landscape. First, she saw the line where the ice ends, and the normal ground begins. It didn¡¯t take her long to notice her own camp in the distance. Then, she realized the portal must be right behind her.


    And right on its edge stood a huge beast.


    Yes, stood. Unlike the other beasts, this one didn¡¯t walk on all four. It stood tall, leaning its back against a tree. Like all the other beasts they saw on the other side, this one was also covered in thick fur. And, like the weird, monstrous deer, this one was also bizarre. It was massive, both in its height and girth. And yet, its head was way too small. It was completely disproportionate to the rest of its enormous body.


    Hazelmere noticed that the beast was moving in place. Its legs stood still while its back moved back and forth.


    ¡°Oh, it is scratching its back on the tree,¡± Mizette realized, ¡°it almost looks cute for a murderous monstrosity.¡±


    ¡°Just look at those massive paws! How would we even stop that?¡±


    ¡°It is huge so, hopefully, it is also slow. Besides, the fur should be very easy to set on fire.¡±


    Mizette felt the mood dampen without opening her eyes.


    ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to ¡­¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s ok. You said nothing wrong. Fighting it with fire makes perfect sense.¡±


    ¡°If anyone can survive the ruins, it¡¯s Peratha.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡±


    ¡°Oh, look! It has friends.¡±


    Looking through the stones, Hazelmere saw three more beasts emerge from among the trees. These were of the same kind as the one near the portal, but they were much smaller.


    ¡°Cubs, perhaps?¡± Mizette asked.


    ¡°I guess even the beasts have their young.¡±


    Shortly after, the big beast laid on the ground, clearly unbothered by the freezing ice in the slightest. Meanwhile, the small ones ran around, sometimes even wrestling each other.


    ¡°Yeap! Definitely cubs!¡±


    ¡°Aww, look at them. They are so cute when they aren¡¯t murdering something,¡± Hazelmere did her best to over exaggerate the sarcasm.


    With nothing better to do, Mizette and Hazelmere watched the beasts run wild. That lasted until the big beast stood up on all fours and looked directly at the portal.


    ¡°Oh, no. Don¡¯t you dare,¡± Mizette uttered the meekest threat of the millennia.


    ¡°You think it wants to cross?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s looking this way for too long.¡±


    ¡°Just because it is looking at it doesn¡¯t mea ¡­ oh, nail me!¡±


    ¡°No! No! Go back!¡±


    But the beast didn¡¯t listen. For a moment, it stopped right in front of the portal, as if it was wagering something.


    And then, it took a step forward.


    ¡°Do you think it¡¯s through?¡± Mizette asked.


    However, there was no reason for Hazelmere to respond. As soon as the beast has stepped through the portal, its small ears perked up. It stood up on its back legs, clearly alarmed. After looking confused and frightened for a few moments, it turned away and ran back into its world.


    ¡°That¡¯s the most relief I¡¯ve ever felt in my whole life,¡± Hazelmere said while clasping her hands in prayer towards Sun.


    ¡°Hazelmere, do you know what this means?¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°It means that our hypothesis is most likely true. The creatures on the other side can¡¯t move into our world without getting hurt, just how we can¡¯t move into theirs. Their energy is conflicting with ours!¡±


    Hazelmere looked at Mizette, who had the purest expression of happiness on her face.


    ¡°We¡¯re safe! Just how we can¡¯t get into their world, they also can¡¯t come into ours!¡±


    Mizette ran into Hazelmere with full force, almost knocking her down, giving her the tightest hug she could.


    ¡°Even if there are demons on the other side, there¡¯s no way for them to come here!¡±


    It took a while for her to break the hug. Hazelmere just stood still, like a statue.


    ¡°Quickly, we must tell the others! We must send a messenger to the palace, let everyone know there¡¯s nothing to be afraid of!¡±


    But instead of happiness, Mizette found only grief on Hazelmere¡¯s face.


    ¡°Are you ¡­ are you telling me I¡¯ve sent Peratha and the others into the ruins for nothing?¡±

 Chapter 24

    Hazelmere gathered all the commanders, and all the archmages, into the improvised command tent to tell them the good news. As soon as they¡¯ve heard it, the mages started jumping with joy. Military commanders weren¡¯t so ecstatic about it, but the smiles on their faces went from ear to ear.


    The only one who didn¡¯t show any emotion was Heartwell.


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean anything,¡± he said.


    ¡°What do you mean: that doesn¡¯t mean anything?¡± Hazelmere¡¯s voice was almost reprimanding, ¡°They clearly can¡¯t get into our world! That beast would have definitely crossed the portal if it could! Beasts have no reason! It didn¡¯t start thinking how crossing the portal was a bad idea! The moment it felt something odd, it ran away!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the thing, it ran away. Beasts will run away when threatened. But beasts aren¡¯t the only creatures that may exist out there. Monsters, for example, aren¡¯t known for running away.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think any monster from our world would survive in that frozen hell. So, it makes sense that their monsters can¡¯t survive here either,¡± Mizette retorted.


    ¡°Are you telling me the monsters on the other side would find our warm, pleasant air repulsive?¡± Heartwell remained skeptical.


    ¡°Umm ¡­ there is a ¡­ reason ¡­ why the creatures of the night ¡­ hide during the day,¡± Moana spoke softly, ¡°Sun burns them ¡­ when he sees them ¡­ maybe ¡­ if that really is hell ¡­ his light burns them too ¡­¡±


    Hazelmere victoriously pointed the finger at Heartwell: ¡°See! That makes sense! Sun protects us from hellish monsters!¡±


    Heartwell scratched his chin, lost in thought. After a few moments, he spoke again.


    ¡°Still, that means those beasts can cross the portal during the night and slaughter us all. If Sun isn¡¯t there to burn them, they¡¯re free to roam around.¡±


    That made the corners of Hazelmere¡¯s mouth reverse their position.


    ¡°Besides,¡± Natle joined the conversation, ¡°if it were that easy, Sun would have protected us from the very first demons who came into our world. Let us say the monsters truly can¡¯t cross the portal. What if the demons on the other side have some kind of magic which nullifies that, just how we have magic that nullifies their frost?¡±


    ¡°There are also magical monsters who could possess the same ability,¡± Cybil added.


    ¡°Umm ¡­ demons ¡­ spread through ¡­ corruption. Maybe ¡­ these demons ¡­ have a way to ¡­ spread the frost ¡­ into our world ¡­¡±


    That completely knocked down any joy Hazelmere and Mizette had.


    Noticing that, Natle continued: ¡°It is nice to know some random beasts can¡¯t cross the portal during the day, but I think it is too soon to send a messenger to the palace. We should wait and see. Who knows, maybe you are right. Maybe the demons on the other side can¡¯t cross the portal. But we have just started observing the portal. Who knows what else we will see out there.¡±


    As everyone considered Natle¡¯s words, a mage stormed into the tent. Her breathing was ragged, eyes bulging from the physical exertion.


    ¡°Everyone!¡± her voice was filled with panic, ¡°Quickly! You must hear this!¡±


    ---


    ¡°So, you think you have heard some war drums beating on the other side, but you saw nothing?¡± Hazelmere questioned the mage as they walked hurriedly.


    ¡°Yes, but it is very strange! It is as if those drummers are coming and going really fast.¡±


    Hazelmere¡¯s brow went up: ¡°Are you sure you aren¡¯t just confused?¡±


    ¡°That is why I think you should hear it yourself ¡­ your lordship. It is very hard to describe ¡­¡±


    Hazelmere shook her head in disbelief, turning to look at Mizette, who shrugged in response.


    Finally, they¡¯ve reached the big stone.


    ¡°You won¡¯t see anything, but if you wait for a while you will start hearing the drums in the distance.¡±


    Not heeding the mage¡¯s words, Hazelmere took a look through the stone and saw nothing.


    Some time passed without anything happening. Everyone just stood there in anticipation.


    ¡°So ¡­ you say we will hear it eventually?¡± Cybil eventually asked.


    ¡°I swear I¡¯ve heard it!¡±


    ¡°At least we have plenty of time. There isn¡¯t much we can do besides observing at the moment,¡± Mizette¡¯s voice had a distinct lack of enthusiasm.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    But, shortly after, Heartwell¡¯s ears went straight up, together with his hand.


    ¡°Wait, wait ¡­ keep quiet ¡­ I think I can hear something.¡±


    Everyone else concentrated and indeed, they heard it too. The drums echoed dully in the distance, beating very fast, their pace never changing. The sound moved from the right side of the portal to its left before disappearing completely. And still, Hazelmere saw nothing through the stone, nothing but the trees. Not even the beasts.


    Heartwell broke the silence once the drums were gone.


    ¡°Those may not be drums. That sounds like some big mounts galloping to me.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think the mounts could move so fast around the trees,¡± Vukasin said.


    That got Heartwell thinking for some time.


    ¡°Hmm ¡­ may be some wraith-mounts? I¡¯m not an expert, but I guess wraiths could go through the trees.¡±


    ¡°That would make sense. Only the undead could survive in that frost,¡± Cybil agreed, ¡°beasts are one thing, they are mindless creatures. But I have a hard time imagining any intelligent creatures surviving out there, besides the undead.¡±


    ¡°Sun should keep the undead away from us, right?¡± Hazelmere turned to face Moana, who stood behind everyone.


    ¡°Yes, but ¡­ only during the day ¡­ besides ¡­ still ¡­ this is a bad omen ¡­ regardless ¡­ no matter what ¡­¡±


    ¡°Have you felt something?¡± Mizette asked her, ¡°anything demonic out there?¡±


    ¡°No, but ¡­¡±


    Moana stared at her feet for quite some time.


    ¡°It¡¯s a ¡­ bad omen ¡­¡±


    She said nothing more after that. A short time later, the soldier came running.


    ¡°Commander ¡­ the dungeon party ¡­ they¡¯ve returned ¡­¡± He spoke as he struggled to get his breath back.


    Everyone rushed back into the camp as soon as they¡¯ve heard that.


    ---


    The group was noticeably smaller than what it used to be. It was almost halved. Most of the soldiers were wounded, their leather armor was torn apart in a few places. Still, nobody was bleeding, meaning that the healing mage did an impressive job.


    Meanwhile, while not showing any sign of physical damage, the mages in the returning party looked absolutely terrified.


    Hazelmere approached them but had no idea what to do or say. Heartwell quickly took over.


    ¡°Have you found anything?¡± He asked one of the soldiers.


    ¡°Nothing but death. Those halls are filled with horrors. We found nothing at first, so we went deeper. Then, they¡¯ve ambushed us from all sides.¡±


    A mage jumped in front of Heartwell, her face showing nothing but extreme dread:


    ¡°There were monsters everywhere! Even on the ceilings! We couldn¡¯t even see them in the darkness! They attacked us from all sides! No matter how many we¡¯ve killed, more of them came! They were eating them alive, tearing their faces off!¡±


    POW!!!


    Heartwell punched the screaming mage right in the face, with all his might, making her body go limp and crumble to the ground.


    ¡°She¡¯s just stressed,¡± he spoke as if what he just did was the most usual thing, ¡°she was never scared for her life before and doesn¡¯t know how to control the fear. She¡¯ll be fine once she wakes up. Although she¡¯ll be having a strong headache for a few days.¡±


    He returned his attention to the soldier: ¡°Anyway, you found nothing?¡±


    ¡°Nothing but death,¡± the soldier repeated while shaking his head slowly.


    ¡°We all knew it was a risky move,¡± Heartwell said without breaking eye contact with the soldier.


    ¡°Yeah, we know that.¡±


    ¡°Where ¡­ where is Peratha?¡± Hazelmere looked frantically all over the small group.


    Hearing that, everyone who has returned lowered their gaze to the ground, remaining silent. For the first time in her life, Hazelmere felt an unspeakable burden deep in her chest, weighting her entire being down.


    She didn¡¯t stop searching for the mages in the group, but she could only count four of them. She counted them over and over again, even the mage lying sprawled on the ground, but the fifth mage never showed up.


    Finally, one of the mages in the group spoke.


    ¡°She ¡­ she sacrificed herself ¡­ to buy us time ¡­ she has cast an enormous fire spell with her at the center ¡­ that got them off our tails ¡­¡±


    For quite some time, there was nothing but dead silence. Finally, the same mage decided to break it.


    ¡°We must seal the entrance. If those horrors get out, they¡¯ll slaughter us all,¡± her voice was unexpectedly calm.


    ¡°This mage of yours, has anyone seen her die?¡± Heartwell asked.


    ¡°¡­ no, we were too busy trying to run away.¡±


    ¡°So, there¡¯s a chance she may still be alive?¡±


    The mage shook her head: ¡°I doubt it. The flames were too powerful. Even if she has somehow managed to survive that, she¡¯d be too exhausted to fight her way out.¡±


    ¡°Beasts are afraid of fire. Maybe it has scared them?¡±


    ¡°Commander, why are you so insistent?¡± Vukasin asked him, a confused look on his face.


    ¡°That hussy mage was the most useful person we had here. I don¡¯t want to write her off until we¡¯re absolutely certain.¡±


    ¡°Do you intend to send a rescue party in the ruins?¡± Vukasin couldn¡¯t hide the displeasure in his voice.


    ¡°Of course not! I just don¡¯t want to seal the entrance before giving her a chance to return.¡±


    ¡°If those monsters leave their cave, there¡¯s no way we¡¯ll be able to fight them off. There¡¯s too many of them!¡±


    ¡°I appreciate your input, miss mage, but you aren¡¯t seeing the bigger picture,¡± Heartwell continued, ¡°it¡¯s not just about the hussy mage, she¡¯s only a part of it. If we collapse the entrance to the ruins, no one will ever get to explore them again. You didn¡¯t find anything useful down there, not because you found nothing but because you couldn¡¯t explore the ruins properly. We still don¡¯t know if there¡¯s something important down there. Besides, we sent you there expecting the ruins to be somewhat clear. We didn¡¯t expect them to be full of monsters. Meaning, you went down there unprepared. Some other party may have more success. Now that we know what we¡¯re dealing with, the next group can prepare properly.¡±


    Seeing the grimaces of disapproval on everyone¡¯s faces, he continued talking: ¡°I have no intention of sending anyone else down there! I was thinking about a proper adventuring party. We didn¡¯t ask the Emperor to organize one because it would take way too much time, but now we have no other choice.¡±


    ¡°Considering we have already acted and have some info regarding the dungeon, he will be more willing to accept our proposal now,¡± Cybil added, ¡°especially since now we know for sure that we can¡¯t maintain our control over the portal unless the dungeon is cleared. Those monsters are endangering our camp.¡±


    ¡°But those monsters may crawl out of it at any moment!¡±


    ¡°Ok, here¡¯s what we¡¯re gonna do,¡± Heartwell spoke with extreme confidence, ¡°we¡¯ll place a strong guard detachment at the entrance. We¡¯ll give your fire mage three days to find the exit. After that time, we¡¯ll assume she¡¯s dead for sure. Then, we¡¯ll put all kinds of traps at the dungeon entrance and even at the first several hundred beards inside of it. That should discourage any monster from trying to crawl out of it. That should be enough until a proper adventuring party comes to exterminate those monsters. Meanwhile, the royal archmage will send a letter to his majesty, explaining the situation and requesting that an adventuring party be sent here. Sounds good?¡±


    He turned to face Hazelmere, seeking her agreement. But all he saw was a lost girl with a frozen expression on her face, staring into the distance.

 Chapter 25

    Hazelmere didn¡¯t leave her tent for three days. She didn¡¯t talk with anyone, and no one bothered her in turn. Even the few attendants she had with her said nothing, they did their duties without intruding at all. They realized something was terribly wrong and knew better than to stick their noses in their lord¡¯s business, like all the wise servants.


    On the fourth day, she heard Heartwell calling from the outside of the tent:


    ¡°May I come in?¡± His voice was as confident as ever.


    ¡°You may.¡±


    He entered the tent slowly. Hazelmere sat on her bed, her head looking slightly down, deeply lost in thought as she absent-mindedly played with her thumbs.


    ¡°Your mage had three days to escape. I think it¡¯s wise to assume the worst now.¡±


    Hazelmere nodded her head quietly without looking at him.


    ¡°I¡¯ll give the order to set all kinds of traps at the dungeon¡¯s entrance like we agreed. Is that ok with you?¡±


    Hazelmere nodded once again, making Heartwell frown slightly.


    ¡°What about the letter to his majesty? Have you sent it?¡±


    ¡°Mizette gave the letter to the courier. It is on the way to the palace,¡± her voice was very quiet.


    ¡°Why Mizette? Why not you?¡±


    There was a short pause before Hazelmere answered: ¡°Because she wrote it.¡±


    ¡°But you were there when she was writing it, right? You told her what to write?¡±


    ¡°Yes, of course.¡±


    ¡°Shaky hands?¡±


    Hazelmere stopped playing with her thumbs instantly.


    Heartwell let the awkward silence dominate the tent for a while, before sitting on the opposite side of the bed, making it squeak a bit. Both of them looked ahead of them instead of looking at each other.


    ¡°They didn¡¯t prepare you for this, didn¡¯t they?¡±


    Hazelmere kept quiet.


    ¡°Nobody prepared me either. However, unlike you, I didn¡¯t really have a choice. At least you did it of your own will.¡±


    Heartwell noticed Hazelmere clenching her hands tight.


    ¡°In my mind, that makes you braver than I was. If I was in your place, in your shoes, I don¡¯t think I¡¯d have the bravery to make that call.¡±


    ¡°Or, rather, the foolishness,¡± Hazelmere¡¯s voice had a lot of spite in it, but Heartwell knew it wasn¡¯t directed at him.


    ¡°Why? Is it because you¡¯ve disregarded their complaints?¡±


    ¡°I thought I was smarter than anyone. I allowed my rank to get the better of me. And that got many people killed. Oh, by the way ¡­¡±


    She turned her head towards Heartwell, but this time he was the one ignoring her.


    ¡°¡­ didn¡¯t you say it was a good idea? How can you say you wouldn¡¯t have the bravery to do it when you have supported my idea from the start?¡±


    ¡°Are you blaming me for what has happened?¡± There was no edge in his voice at all.


    Hazelmere stared at him for a few moments before turning her head away: ¡°No, I don¡¯t. This is all my fault. I said I will take full responsibility, and that is what I am going to do.¡±


    Heartwell nodded his head slightly, with a satisfied look on his face: ¡°That¡¯s good, that¡¯s how a leader should act. And let me clarify something: the current me thinks your idea is the best thing you could¡¯ve done, even with it turning out the way it did. I was talking about me from a few dozen years ago.¡±


    ¡°That sounds too complicated. I don¡¯t want to think right now.¡±


    ¡°Then I¡¯ll make it short. It¡¯s easy for me to make such a call now, when I have plenty of experience to rely on. But, if I were in your place, if I were given the task of such a magnitude without having any experience at all, I¡¯d be too terrified to do anything.¡±


    Hazelmere let out a very unladylike grunt: ¡°A soldier saying he is terrified ¡­ that¡¯s new.¡±


    ¡°I have no issues facing my shortcomings, current or past. And fear is a natural thing, the gods gave it to us for a good reason. Fear, for all of its many flaws, is doing a great job of keeping us away from harm.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you soldiers big on how brave you are? From what I have heard in this short time, I would say you guys are more concerned with how brave you are than with the size of your dicks. Until now, I thought that is what concerns males the most but, to my shock, your soldiers are much more interested in showing off their bravery.¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°Yes, we are. You could even say we¡¯re obsessed with it, and for a good reason. We know what it takes to be brave.¡±


    ¡°And what does it take?¡±


    ¡°Experience. And that¡¯s all there is to it. Nobody was born brave. People become brave through experience, through overcoming bad odds, facing uncertainties. We all love thinking ourselves to be brave, we all love thinking we¡¯ll do the right thing when it matters, but that only lasts until we¡¯re called upon to act bravely. Then, most of us choose to turn our heads in the other direction, saying: it¡¯s none of my business. We make all kinds of convenient excuses to explain our inaction. But, the more you turn your head away, the more tired of it you become, until it becomes impossible for you to ignore it anymore.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the worst attempt at explaining bravery I¡¯ve ever heard.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why your hands can¡¯t stop shaking, and that¡¯s why mine couldn¡¯t either. It was the same with all of my soldiers. That¡¯s just how the gods have made us. But, the more experienced you¡¯re at it, the easier it becomes. Like in all other things, the first time is the hardest.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re talking as if bravery can be learned.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I¡¯m trying to say. A few decades ago, there was no way I¡¯d be able to make the call you had to make, but now ¡­ I can make it without even blinking. The more tough decisions you¡¯re forced to make, the easier it becomes to make them.¡±


    ¡°But I didn¡¯t do it because I was brave, I ¡­ I just didn¡¯t want to be manipulated ¡­ I was more concerned with acting on my own than with doing the right thing ¡­¡±


    ¡°You think someone is trying to manipulate you?¡±


    ¡°¡­ I shouldn¡¯t be talking about this ¡­¡±


    ¡°What, you think I¡¯ll expose your secret?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Even if I did that, do you honestly think someone would believe a filthy peasant like me? Do you really think anyone would take my word over yours?¡±


    That made Hazelmere chuckle slightly.


    ¡°I don¡¯t even know what to think anymore.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re lost, it¡¯s normal. You think I enjoy sending my people to their deaths? As I¡¯ve said, the first time is the hardest. But the more you do it, the easier it becomes. After a thousand people lost, you¡¯ll stop thinking about it and only focus on completing the objectives. Like a true leader should.¡±


    ¡°What, soullessness can be learned too?¡±


    ¡°I believe that everything can be learned.¡±


    ¡°Then, how come when I stub my toe on the edge of the table, it always hurts with the same intensity?¡±


    That made Heartwell smile: ¡°That¡¯s pain, you can¡¯t learn your sensations. You can¡¯t learn pain, pleasure or hunger, or anything else that affects your body. But ¡­ the things that affect your soul ¡­¡±


    ¡°Now, that sounds horrifying. You¡¯re making it sound as if I¡¯ll become soulless if I keep losing ¡­¡±


    That threw Hazelmere¡¯s mind in deep thought.


    ¡°That¡¯s the price of leadership,¡± Heartwell spoke, not noticing her absent expression, ¡°people in our position have no choice but to sacrifice others to achieve the goals given to them. We get to be in a safer place than our subordinates, but that has to come at some cost. The way I see it, it¡¯s only fair. Privileges should never come without responsibility. But yes, the more people you lose under your command, the more soulless you become. This may sound disturbing, but it¡¯s quite liberating, actually. Life becomes much easier when you aren¡¯t burdened by the soul and emotions. The reason is all you¡¯ll ever need in your current station. And, looking at the way things are, it¡¯s only going to get worse.¡±


    That got Hazelmere¡¯s attention back.


    ¡°Then, why did you come to my tent if not because of emotions? And here I thought you started caring about me,¡± she teased.


    ¡°I do care, but not emotionally. I care about you logically. I need you at your best, we all need you at your best. Our lives depend on it and, even though it¡¯s deeply flawed, I enjoy my life and would like to continue living it. That¡¯s why I need you to wisen up, so I¡¯m trying to help. I know nothing about the magic, but I have some advice to give when it comes to leadership and commanding people.¡±


    ¡°Wisen up?¡± There was a hint of offense in Hazelmere¡¯s voice.


    ¡°Yes. And you¡¯re doing a good job. The one quality a leader must have is to accept the responsibilities for his or her actions. You passed that one test, at least. But, you¡¯re still woefully inexperienced when it comes to leadership, that much is obvious, which is why I¡¯m offering to help. A few moons ago, you used to be just yet another spoiled brat, a typical noble. But I must say that you¡¯ve started developing some useful skills. After that last decision you¡¯ve made, I realized there¡¯s hope for you yet.¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about? It was a complete failure! We lost people, including our Empire¡¯s best offensive mage, with nothing to show for it! Their deaths served no purpose!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s where you¡¯re wrong. The outcome is completely irrelevant. What is important, much more than the lives of your subordinates, is that you¡¯ve started acting like a leader and not as a puppet. And I don¡¯t care about why or how you started acting like that, I want to see more of it. We need more of it. We need a single decision-maker, someone who will stand behind her decisions even when those decisions are wrong, instead of every mage trying to pull the others in the direction she wants us to go. We need a clear authority figure more than anything right now. I¡¯m not saying you shouldn¡¯t listen to your subordinates, I¡¯m saying you must assert yourself as someone who has the final word. And it¡¯s always better to do something, anything, even the wrong thing, than to sit idly by, doing nothing as the danger approaches. Yes, we did lose an important mage. But had you not have sent her to her death, we¡¯d have no idea monsters are lurking beneath us. And, one day, they could¡¯ve crawled out of their lair, catching us by surprise and slaughtering us all. Sending a few to their deaths has saved the rest of us.¡±


    ¡°Maybe ¡­ maybe not. Maybe those monsters would¡¯ve never left the dungeon anyway.¡±


    After a short pause, Heartwell stood up, away from the bed, and started moving slowly towards the exit.


    ¡°I¡¯m not trying to discourage you or be mean. I¡¯m just being honest with my superior when I say that there will be many more sacrifices you¡¯ll have to make if you want to protect this world from whatever is lurking on the other side. Those war drums we keep hearing beyond the portal, those aren¡¯t some mindless beasts. It¡¯s inevitable that people will die, but whether their deaths are in vain or not is up to you. As long as you learn something from their deaths, and grow as a leader, their deaths weren¡¯t in vain. Because the knowledge and the wisdom you gain from it will give you the tools to minimize deaths in the future and save others.¡±


    He stood at the exit for a few moments. After seeing no reaction from Hazelmere, he continued.


    ¡°However, if you take a coward¡¯s way out and start regretting things, then you¡¯ll only repeat the same mistake again, and again, and again. Or even worse, be completely paralyzed every time you have to make a meaningful decision. And that¡¯s not what being in charge of people¡¯s lives is about. The truth is, you were lucky enough to get the best learning opportunity possible. Taking risks with the lives of a single legion and a few mages is much more preferable than taking risks with the entire armies or cities. Even if you lose all of us here, it won¡¯t mean much in the long run. So, use this rare opportunity the gods have bestowed upon you as best as you can. If you don¡¯t, you¡¯ll certainly regret it.¡±


    And with that, Heartwell left the tent.

 Chapter 26

    ¡°What is the situation?¡±


    Cybil moved her hands away from the magescope to look at Hazelmere.


    ¡°Oh ¡­ look who is here. Are you done sulking?¡±


    ¡°Yes, what is the situation? Has anything changed?¡±


    ¡°You mean, in the last three days while you were hiding?¡±


    ¡°Look, I had to think everything over! I don¡¯t want to repeat the same mistake again, so I had to think it over and over again for everyone¡¯s sake!¡±


    ¡°Aha ¡­ and while you were thinking those monsters could have gotten out.¡±


    Hazelmere put her hands on her hips, exaggeratedly tilting her head. Her ears perked up in a show of hostility.


    ¡°Fine ¡­¡± Cybil relented, turning her head away, ¡°what has changed is that there are no beasts to be seen on the other side anymore. As soon as the drumming started there, all the beasts have decided to run away. Do you know what that means?¡±


    ¡°Enlighten me.¡±


    ¡°It means that whatever is drumming is scary enough to make even the most blood-thirstiest of beasts run for their lives.¡±


    ¡°The drumming, has it continued?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it has never stopped. It keeps coming and going each day, in steady intervals at that.¡±


    ¡°Have you seen what it is?¡±


    ¡°No. There is absolutely nothing to be seen. Quiet!¡± Cybil raised her hand urgently, ¡°Can you hear it?¡±


    Both of them focused their ears towards the portal.


    ¡°Yes, I can hear it. But I am not so certain it is the drumming though. It is too far away to make any sense of it, the sound is completely distorted.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it is lost in the distance, but I don¡¯t know how else to describe it.¡±


    ¡°Unless ¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, unless ¡­ although ¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, it will be much harder this time. But still, we don¡¯t have to go all the way out there.¡±


    ---


    ¡°You want us to do, what?¡± Heartwell sounded much more confused than disapproving.


    ¡°We will enchant another stone with the sound catcher and take it to the portal, so we can get a better idea of what is happening on the other side,¡± Hazelmere explained to everyone in the command tent.


    ¡°First of all, what¡¯s a sound catcher?¡±


    ¡°It is a spell, very similar to the magescope, but it gives us hearing instead of sight.¡±


    ¡°Why couldn¡¯t you do that in the first place?¡±


    ¡°It has never occurred to us that we may need it. And ¡­ everyone was thinking of leaving back then, so I wanted us to act as soon as possible.¡±


    ¡°Besides, enchanting two spells on the same object causes all kinds of problems,¡± Cybil added.


    ¡°Ok, but how are we going to bring it to the portal? We¡¯ve barely managed to do that when we had your fire mage. We don¡¯t have anyone to protect us from the frost now ¡­ or do we?¡±


    ¡°No, we don¡¯t have anyone, but we don¡¯t need to take the stone catcher close to the portal. Yes, that would be ideal, but it isn¡¯t necessary. We had to take the magescope to the top of the hill because our vision was blocked otherwise. But that is not the case with the sound since it travels over the obstacles. We just need to get it as close as we can.¡±


    ¡°So ¡­ you need someone to walk through the frost, as far as they can, and throw this new stone towards the portal.¡±


    ¡°Exactly!¡±


    Heartwell scratched the back of his head.


    ¡°I guess wearing plenty of furs would help. Ok, I¡¯ll be the one to go.¡±


    That made Hazelmere¡¯s ears shoot straight up.


    ¡°No ¡­ we can¡¯t have you do this ¡­ it¡¯s too risky.¡±


    ¡°I just need to walk through the frost, right? And, as soon as I realize my body is becoming weak, I¡¯m to throw the stone and turn back.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but ¡­ there are too many uncertainties regarding the frost! Nobody has ever dealt with such a massive frost before!¡± Hazelmere¡¯s tail swished left and right nervously.


    ¡°And that¡¯s exactly why I¡¯m the one to go. I know the limits of my endurance, and I can¡¯t trust anyone else with it. Or, would you prefer a mage to go?¡±


    The archmages exchanged uneasy glances between each other.


    ¡°Maybe ¡­ we can ask for a frost mage? Maybe they can handle the frost?¡± Mizette asked.


    ¡°It won¡¯t work. They aren¡¯t resistant to frost just how fire mages aren¡¯t resistant to fire,¡± Natle pointed out, ¡°Knowing how to manipulate an element doesn¡¯t mean you are invulnerable to it. After all, Peratha is the best proof of it. Her element was the exact opposite of the frost, which is exactly why she had the best chances of surviving it.¡±


    ¡°What about a regular fire mage? They can¡¯t do as good of a job as Peratha, but they could be useful.¡±


    ¡°You should know that the regular mages don¡¯t have the necessary understanding of their elements to fine-tune them like an archmage does. They would most likely burn everyone inside of their spell,¡± Cybil said with annoying confidence.


    ¡°Well, excuse me for not being an elemental mage!¡± Mizette raised her voice.


    ¡°That is common knowledge.¡±


    ¡°All right, that¡¯s enough!¡± Hazelmere interfered, ¡°We aren¡¯t interested in listening to Cybil bicker with anyone. Are you absolutely sure you will be fine, Heartwell?¡±The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Heartwell¡¯s ears twitched slightly, ¡°As soon as I start feeling overwhelmed, I¡¯ll turn back. Others would go on, trying to impress everyone, but not me. Unlike the other soldiers, I have nothing to prove.¡±


    Hazelmere took a deep breath and sighed: ¡°All right then ¡­ I will put my faith in you. But please, don¡¯t make me regret it. I am already responsible for losing the Empire¡¯s greatest offensive mage. I don¡¯t want to add its greatest commander to the list.¡±


    Heartwell bowed slightly: ¡°I¡¯m not the greatest commander, but you have my word.¡±


    And with that, everyone left the tent, leaving the Hazelmere to rub her hands nervously.


    However, she eventually realized that sitting around and doing nothing will only make things worse, so she went to get Mizette to help her with the enchantment. She figured that enchanting the stone herself would give her mind something else to focus on.


    It took them a good portion of the day. Meaning that, by the time the stone was ready, there wasn¡¯t much time left before the Sunset. So, Hazelmere decided to postpone Heartwell¡¯s mission for the next day.


    Early in the morning, everything was ready.


    ¡°Here is the stone.¡±


    Heartwell extended his arm, opening his palm, which was barely visible under all the furs he had on him. He took the stone, putting it in the sack on his waist while breathing heavily.¡±


    ¡°I swear, I¡¯ll die from overheating before I ever reach the frost.¡±


    ¡°Do you want us to take some furs off?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯ll need all of it.¡±


    ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want to take anyone with you?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no point. I¡¯m going now. I don¡¯t want to spend a single moment longer under these furs than necessary.¡±


    He started moving slowly and clumsily. It took him a long time to get out of the earshot.


    ¡°Do you think he will make it?¡± Cybil leaned in to whisper in Hazelmere¡¯s ear.


    ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t know. But I chose to put my faith in him, and I am curious to see if he delivers.¡±


    ¡°Still playing with people¡¯s lives? Didn¡¯t you learn anything from Peratha¡¯s death?¡±


    ¡°Quite the contrary, I learned a lot from it. And I am committed to learning even more. Last time, I have ignored my subordinates, so I am curious to see if trusting them will make any difference at all.¡±


    Cybil¡¯s face turned blank: ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound like you at all.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all his fault ¡­ I guess it¡¯s his turn to take responsibility now ¡­ or maybe he did it intentionally ¡­ doesn¡¯t matter either way.¡±


    Hazelmere turned and walked away, followed by Cybil¡¯s worried stare.


    ---


    Time passed slowly. With nothing better to do than wait, every moment felt like an eternity.


    The noon passed without any news. Noticing that the dusk has arrived, Hazelmere let out a labored, disappointed sigh.


    ¡°I guess I did it again.¡±


    Sitting on the bed, she hunched forward, cradling her face in her hands.


    ¡°Strange ¡­ it isn¡¯t the sadness or the guilt I¡¯ve felt for Peratha and the others ¡­ I guess there¡¯s some truth to what he was saying.¡±


    She sat like that for quite some time, lost in thought.


    Until she noticed the noise rising in the camp.


    She stood up, slowly and limply, and headed out of the tent.


    ¡°I guess it¡¯s time to hear some more complaints. I¡¯ve already turned the mages against me, I bet I did the same with the soldiers too.¡±


    She moved the curtain at the entrance away, leaving the tent. As soon as she did, Mizette jumped in front of her.


    Or rather, away from her, since she let out startled squeak mid-air.


    ¡°EEKKK! You scared the heavens out of me!¡±


    ¡°Am I not allowed to leave my tent?¡±


    ¡°Are you ok? You are as pale as a ghost!¡± Mizette asked as soon as she had recovered.


    ¡°Ha! It already shows, huh? Anyway, why are you here? Have the soldiers become restless?¡±


    ¡°Well, of course!¡±


    ¡°Are they coming this way?¡±


    Mizette¡¯s startled face turned into a confused one: ¡°No, everyone is running to see Heartwell.¡±


    Hazelmere¡¯s ears perked up slightly: ¡°Have they recovered him?¡±


    ¡°They are recovering him right now. Some soldiers saw his silhouette in the distance, so they ran towards him.¡±


    ¡°They saw him standing?¡±


    Only now realizing what may be the cause of her sunken looks, Mizette poked Hazelmere¡¯s nose gently.


    ¡°He wouldn¡¯t make much of a silhouette laying down, wouldn¡¯t he?¡±


    After blinking a few times, Hazelmere finally realized.


    ¡°Oh ¡­ ohh!¡±


    Then, she started running at full speed, without a second thought.


    Reaching the camp¡¯s entrance, Hazelmere saw a group of soldiers approaching from the outside. Most of them were surrounding the four soldiers who carried an improvised stretcher.


    And on the stretcher, they carried a big pile of furs.


    ¡°Move away! Move away! And go get a healing mage! Get the archpriestess too!¡± Kortan, who was at the head of the group, yelled at the gathering crowd.


    The soldiers moved aside with practiced quickness, clearing the path. They grabbed the few mages who didn¡¯t get a gist of what Kortan was asking them to do.


    Hazelmere joined Kortan immediately.


    ¡°How is he?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s still alive, still conscious, but Sun¡¯s warmth is leaving him!¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s take him to Natle! Follow me!¡± Hazelmere raised her voice as she yanked Kortan in the other direction.


    Thankfully, Natle¡¯s tent wasn¡¯t far. Hazelmere and Kortan entered first, followed by the four soldiers who carried Heartwell on the stretcher. They raced so fast, they¡¯ve managed to tear up the entrance to the tent, trying to enter it at the same time.


    Natle, already in her nightgown and lying in her bed, was clearly flustered.


    ¡°What, what, what are all of you doing here? What¡¯s going on?¡±


    ¡°He needs your magic!¡± Hazelmere commanded, pointing behind her.


    There, the soldiers put the big ball of furs on the ground. Natle stared at it, not knowing what they expected her to do.


    All of a sudden, she jumped out of her bed, almost running through the tent and making another exit in the process.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how to heal the beasts!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not a ¡­¡±


    ¡°Get it out of here! Get it out of here!¡±


    Hazelmere frowned deeply as she approached the healer.


    ¡°I wonder if this will work!¡±


    SLAP!!!


    Hazelmere let her hand hang in the air after the slap, expecting Natle to notice it.


    Which she did.


    ¡°It¡¯s not a beast! It¡¯s Heartwell, covered in several layers of furs! Don¡¯t you know he set out today to set up the sound catcher? His body is suffering from frost damage, and we need you to take care of him! Right ¡­ now!¡±


    Then she turned towards the soldiers.


    ¡°And I want all of you out! But not you, big boy, I want you to stay! I need one soldier to stay here because I don¡¯t want anyone spreading the rumors how the mages had fiddled with your commander when they were all alone with him, and you look like the reliable sort! Everyone else, out! Not you, Mizette! Natle may need some of our magic!¡±


    As soon as Natle realized she¡¯s not in danger, she got to work. It didn¡¯t take her long to finish casting the needed spells. Hazelmere and Mizette stood nearby to lend their mana, but there was no need for it. Kortan just kept quiet, carefully watching everything Natle did.


    ¡°Ok, I did everything I can.¡±


    ¡°But he is still shaking!¡± Hazelmere pointed out.


    ¡°Yes, because the frost has drained the warmth from his body. His body is still suffering from the aftereffects of the frost, but everything else about it is fine now. All we can do is keep him warm. The rest is in the hands of the gods.¡±


    ¡°Maybe we can bring the archpriestess? Maybe she can help if his soul was drained?¡±


    ¡°No, his soul wasn¡¯t drained. All his body needs right now is warmth. Putting him in the sunlight would be perfect, but the night is about to fall. There is nothing else we can do.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s with that face ¡­ Kortan?¡± Heartwell spoke softly, something which was very uncharacteristic for him to do, ¡°Do you honestly think that ¡­ some cold ¡­ can get the better of me?¡±


    ¡°That would sound reassuring if you could stop shaking,¡± Kortan responded.


    Heartwell gave him a weak smile.


    Seeing the look in his eyes, Hazelmere kneeled next to him, grabbing his hand. It felt as if she took hold of an ice cube, but she didn¡¯t let the unpleasantness show.


    ¡°I must say, you did great. You did what you¡¯ve set out to do, and you came back. It would be such a shame for you to die after all of that.¡±


    ¡°Your hands ¡­ they¡¯re so warm ¡­ so, comforting ¡­¡±


    Hazelmere grasped his hand tighter.


    ¡°I¡¯ve just realized ¡­ something. You see ¡­ there¡¯s a way to ¡­ raise the warmth of one¡¯s body ¡­ very quickly.¡±


    Hazelmere opened her mouth to ask what, but she quickly realized it herself.


    Putting his hand back on the ground, she slapped his forehead, the only part of his face that wasn¡¯t covered in furs.


    ¡°Go nail yourself, peasant!¡± She yelled at him before rushing out of the tent. Kortan¡¯s loud laughter could be heard even from the outside.


    ¡°What was that? What was that?¡± Mizette followed her, almost jumping along the way while speaking in a teasing, playful voice, ¡°Is my Hazelmere showing some affection for a dark-skinned peasant?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not affection! He did something admirable, so it¡¯s only natural, for a good leader, to praise her subordinates when they do something like that.¡±


    ¡°Oohhh? Are you sure? Are you sure that¡¯s all there is to it? You may regret it later if you¡¯re not being honest right now. I don¡¯t remember you praising any of your subordinates before. Besides, you know I can keep a secret.¡±


    ¡°¡­ we need him at his best.¡±

 Chapter 27

    Two days have passed since Hartwell has returned, without anything new happening in the camp. Until ¡­


    ¡°Hazelmere, wake up!¡±


    ¡°Whaaat ¡­ what do you want?¡± Hazelmere shifted in her makeshift bed, rubbing her eyes.


    ¡°They¡¯re here!¡±


    ¡°Who¡¯s here?¡±


    ¡°The demons! They¡¯re crossing the portal!¡±


    That woke her up instantly. She looked at Mizette, hoping it¡¯s some kind of a sick joke, but the horror in her friend¡¯s eyes told her everything she needed to know. She jumped up, put her dress on in a hurry, without adjusting it properly, and rushed outside.


    As soon as she got out, she saw the soldiers running everywhere. They yelled and screamed way too much for Hazelmere¡¯s comfort.


    ¡°Do they know?¡± Hazelmere asked as she and Mizette dashed towards the stones.


    ¡°Yes, I screamed as loud as I could to wake everyone up.¡±


    ¡°Good call!¡±


    ¡°Also, that drumming noise we used to hear before, it isn¡¯t passing anymore. Now you can hear it constantly.¡±


    ¡°Oh yes, I can hear it.¡±


    ¡°And when you are listening through the stone, it sounds much more like the mounts galloping than the drums. But it¡¯s really weird. It sounds as if something is galloping up in the sky. And it always comes from the same direction. You would expect the galloping mounts to move, but it sounds as if they don¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°So, I take it that Heartwell has done a good job?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know how far he took it, but you can hear it as if it is right in front of you. You can even sense the vibrations in your bones.¡±


    Running as fast as they could, they reached the two stones used for observation, one for magescope and the other for the sound catcher. Hazelmere put each hand on a different stone, closing her eyes.


    She saw them right away. People-like creatures stood near the portal. Their figures were identical to those of Timkiks, but she couldn¡¯t say the same for their bodies, which were completely covered in the strangest furs she ever saw. It was puffy like a regular fur, but there was no hair on it.


    For a moment, she wondered if that fur was an integral part of their bodies, but she quickly realized that¡¯s not the case. The upper part of it was dyed bright red, while the lower part could only be described as the color of the forest. It wasn¡¯t a single color but a combination of several colors commonly found in the forests. Those colors shifted in a chaotic pattern all over the lower part of the furs.


    ¡°I see no horns on them, but I don¡¯t think they can be anything but the demons,¡± Mizette said, grabbing the other side of the stones.


    ¡°Their faces are completely black, and I see no eyes on them, so yes, those are definitely the demons. I also see no ears or tails on them.¡±


    ¡°Those are probably hidden beneath the furs, but I would expect the horns to poke out.¡±


    ¡°What were they doing before you came to me?¡±


    ¡°I have no idea. I ran as soon as I saw them.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like they are trying to cross. And there are too few of them for an invasion.¡±


    ¡°Scouts, perhaps?¡± A male voice spoke.


    Opening her eyes, Hazelmere saw Vukasin standing next to her.


    ¡°Heartwell made me the commander until he recovers.¡±


    ¡°Those could be scouts,¡± Hazelmere responded, ¡°but the noise is what is worrying me. It is the same noise as before but now, when I can hear it closer, it does sound as if something is galloping in the sky.¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    ¡°As if something is galloping above the portal itself,¡± Mizette added.


    Cybil joined them, breathing heavily.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on? Are we under attack?¡±


    ¡°Not yet, but we will be any time now.¡±


    ---


    ¡°Aarrrgggghh!¡±


    Startled, the archmages looked at Hazelmere, seeing her trying to pull her hair out. All of them gathered near the stones, taking turns, expecting the demons to pour through the portal.


    That was some time ago, and now the anticipation has started affecting some of them.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are they coming?¡± Mizette asked, readying for action.


    ¡°No! Those dumbasses are still doing nothing! They are just standing there, looking around, pointing fingers!¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that a good thing?¡± Cybil asked, her hands still on the stones, ¡°And that galloping noise is gone. Maybe that means they won¡¯t be crossing the portal today?¡±


    ¡°It would make sense for them to study the portal. After all, as far as they are concerned, the portal appeared out of nowhere. They know nothing about it, so it makes sense for them to be cautious,¡± Natle pointed out.


    ¡°That is exactly what worries me,¡± there was an ominous tone in Cybil¡¯s voice.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I have never seen a demon before, but everyone told me they are more like the beasts than the people, even though some of them do have a people-like appearance. Even though they do have some intelligence, I was told that they act on instinct, like the beasts do. They are supposed to be led by instinct and unchained emotions. And yet, here we see them being suspicious. They are looking at the portal, analyzing it. They aren¡¯t just charging at it as you would expect the demons to do. They are acting ¡­ academic about it.¡±


    ¡°¡­ maybe they aren¡¯t demons? I mean, I couldn¡¯t see any horns,¡± Mizette¡¯s voice betrayed her uncertainty.


    Cybil opened her eyes to fix Mizette with a stare: ¡°They have been standing there since the morning, completely unaffected by the frost. There is no way anything besides the beasts and the demons can survive such cold. The peasant-commander didn¡¯t get anywhere near the portal, and yet, his blood turned to ice.¡±


    ¡°Horns aren¡¯t ¡­ necessarily ¡­ the sign of a ¡­ demon ¡­¡± Moana¡¯s voice was as low as ever, ¡°¡­ cubus demons ¡­ for example ¡­ can be ¡­ people-like ¡­ and some people ¡­ can also have ¡­ horns ¡­¡±


    ¡°Indeed. Ovces have horns, and yet, they are nice, gentle, meek people,¡± Hazelmere said.


    ¡°The sheep-people?¡± Vukasin asked.


    ¡°Yes, them. Their horns are huge, but they are extremely peaceful. So peaceful that the only reason they aren¡¯t extinct yet is that no one is interested in climbing the barren, rocky mountains they live in. Even the dwarves have abandoned those mountains, there is nothing to mine out there.¡±


    ¡°Then, how do they live there if they have nothing to trade?¡±


    ¡°They eat grass.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°They have such a lack of ambition, they don¡¯t need anything more than that.¡±


    ¡°Oh, oh, oh, it looks like the demons are doing something!¡± Cybil¡¯s excited words stopped the casual conversation.


    Hazelmere grabbed the stones instantly, closing her eyes to feel them better.


    ¡°Wait, are they ¡­ what are they doing?¡±


    ¡°It looks like they are grabbing the ice with their bare hands and throwing it through the portal.¡±


    ¡°How can they even do that? We couldn¡¯t break that ice with a spear, so how can they do it with their bare hands?¡±


    Everyone held their breath as Hazelmere and Cybil commented on what¡¯s going at the portal. The stones simply weren¡¯t big enough to be handled by more than two people simultaneously.


    ¡°Wait, wait,¡± Cybil said, ¡°I don¡¯t think they are shattering the ice. It looks much more like that half-ice we saw before. Remember the soldier who grabbed it and then shaped it into a ball with his hands?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°I think they are doing the same. See? They grab it, compress it with their hands, and then throw it through the portal.¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes, I see. However, when we were near the portal, there was thick ice everywhere! Where would they find that half-ice?¡±


    ¡±I think Yesis¡¯s storm is responsible for that unshatterable ice,¡± Cybil stated, ¡°his storm probably didn¡¯t reach the other side of the portal. In fact, when you get a closer look at it, close to the portal, see how the ice changes? Do you see how the ice is smooth up to a point where it stops reflecting Sun¡¯s rays?¡±


    ¡°But why are they throwing the ice through the portal? Why would they do that? What is the point?¡±


    ¡°¡­ maybe ¡­ they are ¡­ spreading ¡­ the ¡­ demonic corruption ¡­¡± Moana offered an explanation.


    As soon as she said that, both Hazelmere and Cybil opened their eyes, looking directly at her. The sudden attention made Moana squirm in place.


    ¡°¡­ it could be that ¡­ they ¡­ can¡¯t leave their world ¡­ unless ours is ¡­ corrupted enough ¡­ if the ice is ¡­ carrying corruption ¡­ maybe ¡­ they are trying ¡­ to speed up ¡­ its spread ¡­ maybe that is ¡­ what protects them ¡­ from Sun ¡­¡±


    ¡°Hmpf ¡­ could be ¡­¡± The sour look on Hazelmere¡¯s face made Moana cover.


    ¡°But, if that is the case, I would expect more of them to be out there. There are only a few of them. There is no way they will spread the corruption any time soon,¡± Cybil pointed out.


    ¡°Maybe they are just testing the portal, trying to see what happens to whatever tries to cross it?¡± Natle said.


    ¡°That makes more sense,¡± Mizette nodded her head, ¡°I am not saying their corruption isn¡¯t spreading through the ice but, if that is what they are trying to do, I would expect them to send an entire army to speed up the process.¡±


    ¡°¡­ umm ¡­ maybe ¡­ those scouts ¡­ are only testing if ¡­ it can be done ¡­ and ¡­ the army ¡­ will come ¡­ later ¡­¡±


    Hearing that, Mizette¡¯s face soured too: ¡°That, may be the case ¡­¡±


    Vukasin took a deep breath: ¡°Well, there¡¯s no way for us to know for sure. The best thing we can do is prepare to both fight and flee, depending on how the situation develops. If a few of them try crossing the portal, we fight. If an entire army shows up, we flee. Anyway, I¡¯ll go to and report the situation to Heartwell. And I¡¯ll also arrange for a courier to deliver the message to the palace, saying that we¡¯ve finally encountered the demons on the other side.¡±


    ¡°Yes, please do that,¡± Hazelmere agreed.

 Chapter 28

    ¡°Should you be walking?¡± Hazelmere sounded like a reprimanding mother.


    ¡°I can¡¯t take it anymore. I¡¯ll go insane from doing nothing,¡± Heartwell responded.


    ¡°You look so weak, I bet even a single slap from me would knock you off your feet.¡±


    He gave her a weak smile: ¡°I¡¯d like to see you try. Anyway, what¡¯s going on? Have the demons moved yet?¡±


    Hazelmere sighed: ¡°It has been three days now, and nothing has changed. They are still standing near the portal, doing nothing. They aren¡¯t even trying to spread their corruption anymore. They are just standing there. The drumming noise comes near the portal, stays for some time, and then disappears. That happens several times per day. They did place some things around it, marking it for some reason. You would think the portal would be obvious, but hey, I don¡¯t know how the demonic minds work.¡±


    ¡°Could it be something magical?¡±


    Hazelmere shrugged: ¡°It could be, we have no idea. We can¡¯t sense any energy on the other side, so we can¡¯t tell.¡±


    ¡°Some magical, guiding beacons for their army, perhaps?¡±


    That made Hazelmere¡¯s ears raise up: ¡°It ¡­ it could be ¡­¡±


    ¡°Vukasin said he had sent a messenger to the palace.¡±


    ¡°Yes, he did. Hopefully, a few of our armies will join us soon.¡±


    Heartwell shook his head slowly: ¡°No way. That¡¯s not gonna happen.¡±


    ¡°Why not? The Empire is clearly threatened now.¡±


    ¡°It has been threatened for a long time, from all sides. The armies are needed elsewhere, to fight the hosagians. There¡¯s no way our armies will be marching here. Not until the demons cross the portal.¡±


    ¡°Won¡¯t it be late then? I am not a military expert, but isn¡¯t it better to stop the demonic army at the gates than to have it plunder and murder all over our realm?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t have a good defensive position here. When the demonic armies start marching, we¡¯ll fortify the closest castle or a city. That way, we¡¯ll have much better chances of defeating them. And, as we fight the siege, the other nations will probably join us. Hopefully, the angels too.¡±


    ¡°What about the farms and the villages?¡±


    ¡°They aren¡¯t important. If there¡¯s time, the lords may try to get the farmers and the villagers into the cities too. But that would create more problems than it¡¯s worth. You¡¯d have much more people to feed during the siege, and that¡¯s the last thing you want.¡±


    A soldier walked into the tent, interrupting the conversation.


    ¡°Miss mage ¡­¡±


    ¡°Archmage! The royal archmage at that!¡± Hazelmere corrected him.


    ¡°Miss ¡­ royal ¡­ highness, we need you at the stones!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Heartwell asked.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know. The mages didn¡¯t tell me.¡±


    ---


    ¡°Are they crossing the portal?¡± Hazelmere asked in a loud voice as soon as she had arrived.


    ¡°Umm, yes ¡­ but not in a manner you would expect them to.¡±


    Hazelmere gave Cybil a reprimanding frown.


    ¡°Take a look yourself.¡±


    With an irritated grunt, Hazelmere put her hands on the stones.


    ¡°What am I supposed to look at?¡±


    ¡°Look directly at the portal.¡±


    ¡°Ok, I see it. What about it?¡±


    ¡°Do you see the three demons standing near it? One of them is holding something in his hands.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I see them.¡±


    ¡°Do you see something like a thin leash going out of whatever he is holding in his hands?¡±


    ¡°Hmm ¡­ oh yes, I see it now. There is no way I would see it if it wasn¡¯t black. It is so tiny!¡±


    ¡°Follow the leash with your eyes.¡±Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ¡°What makes you think it is a leash ¡­ oh ¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why we think that is a leash.¡±


    ¡°Is that ¡­ is that some kind of a bug?¡±


    ¡°It looks like it.¡±


    ¡°It is ¡­ it is crawling over the ice.¡±


    ¡°And, much more importantly, it is on our side of the portal.¡±


    Hazelmere lifted her head to look at Cybil.


    ¡°They are testing to see if the creatures from their world can cross the portal ¡­¡±


    ¡°¡­ and it looks like they can,¡± Cybil finished Hazelmere¡¯s sentence.¡±


    ¡°But ¡­ but that makes no sense! I saw it with my own eyes, that huge beast running back! It was clearly hurt! It wouldn¡¯t have run otherwise!¡±


    ¡°They are probably trying to see how long that bug can survive. I guess the leash is there so they can pull the corpse back once it dies. Do you know what that means?¡±


    ¡°They are studying it!¡±


    Cybil nodded slowly, with a dead serious look on her face: ¡°These aren¡¯t some mindless demons. They are using the same methods we would use.¡±


    ¡°I disagree,¡± Mizette said, ¡°when we were summoning the portal, we brought no animals to send over there. No one has even mentioned it. I would argue that these demons could be even smarter than we are.¡±


    Cybil dismissed Mizette¡¯s opinion with a lazy wave of her hand: ¡°They have to be more cautious because they weren¡¯t the ones who have summoned it. They have no idea what they are dealing with, whereas we do.¡±


    ¡°Really? Is that why we¡¯re staying here to guard against the demonic invasion, because that was exactly what we wanted to do?¡± Heartwell didn¡¯t bother hiding his sarcasm one bit.


    ¡°I don¡¯t expect a peasant to understand. I was talking about the methodology, not unforeseen consequences. The point being, these aren¡¯t some savage, wild demons we have heard so much about.¡±


    ¡°These ones are much more intelligent and far better organized.¡±


    ¡°Exactly!¡±


    After agreeing with Cybil, Hazelmere put her hands back on the stones.


    ¡°Oh, no.¡±


    ¡°What, what is it?¡± Cybil got her attention back to the stones in a hurry.


    ¡°It¡¯s crawling back.¡±


    ¡°What is?¡±


    ¡°The bug! It¡¯s crawling back on its own.¡±


    Hazelmere watched as the bug crawled back to the other side, looking completely unhurt. One of the demons picked it up in his hands (at least Hazelmere assumed it was a male), after which all three demons started walking away from the portal.


    Hazelmere opened her eyes with a depressed look on her face.


    ¡°It has survived. They didn¡¯t have to drag it out with a leash. It crawled back on its own.¡±


    ¡°Maybe it was starting to feel the pain, so it ran back?¡± Cybil offered a vague guess.


    ¡°Maybe. But now we have seen proof that the demons and the beasts on the other side can survive in our world. At least for a bit.¡±


    ¡°The question is, for how long?¡± Cybil pointed out.


    ¡°Indeed.¡±


    ---


    For the next few days, the demons repeated the same thing over and over again. They¡¯d send a bug on a leash through the portal, let it roam around for a bit, and then it would return to them.


    ¡°I have something,¡± Mizette said to the archmages who were sitting near the stones, ¡°come and see this.¡±


    ¡°What? What is happening?¡±


    ¡°The bug they have sent isn¡¯t moving this time.¡±


    Hazelmere stood up to look through the stones, and indeed, she saw a bug sitting still at the very edge of the portal. It wasn¡¯t moving at all.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like anything is wrong with it,¡± she pointed out, ¡°it is not like it has flipped over, or something similar.¡±


    ¡°Yes, but we have never seen it stand still like that.¡±


    ¡°The bug isn¡¯t moving, but the demons are much more animated than before.¡±


    ¡°They certainly are.¡±


    ¡°Look, they are sending another one!¡±


    ¡°Is it ... it is trying to push the first bug back?¡±


    ¡°It looks like it.¡±


    ¡°Oh! Look at the first bug! The one that is being pushed! It has no leash!¡±


    ¡°So?¡±


    Everyone was silent for a few moments. With a gasp, Mizette opened her eyes to look at Hazelmere.


    ¡°I think I know what the leash is for! I think it may have nothing to do with pulling the bug back or making sure it doesn¡¯t run away!¡±


    ¡°Well, what else could the leash be for?¡±


    ¡°They are using it to transfer the energy to the bug!¡±


    Hazelmere opened her eyes, looking skeptically at Mizette.


    ¡°I mean, it doesn¡¯t have to be a leash at all!¡± Mizette continued, ¡°We have assumed it was a leash because they have attached it to the creature. But it is too thin, and ¡­ don¡¯t you think it would be strange to stuff a leash into a bug¡¯s rear end?¡±


    Hazelmere made a disgusted face.


    ¡°Look at it! Look at the bug they have sent to push the first one out! It is facing away from us, and you can clearly see that the leash, or whatever it is, is ¡­ well ¡­ stuffed into its rear end.¡±


    Still looking disgusted, Hazelmere closed her eyes to take another look.


    ¡°Oh, that really is the case!¡±


    ¡°A leash is put on the throat or a limb. I am yet to see ¡­¡±


    ¡°I know, I know! You don¡¯t have to say it!¡±


    ¡°So, it would make more sense for it to be something else!¡±


    ¡°But, why do you think they are transmitting the energy through it?¡± Cybil asked.


    ¡°I am assuming that because the bug that isn¡¯t moving has no ¡­ thread, attached to it. It stopped moving the moment it has crossed the portal because it was cut off from its world¡¯s energy. However, the bug pushing her has the thread which, I assume, is providing it with the necessary energy. That is why it can move while the first one can¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°So, are you saying they have played it safe up to this point and now want to see if they can survive on the other side without the constant energy supply?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t say for sure, but that would make sense.¡±


    ¡°Still ¡­ using such a disgusting method ¡­ even if it works ¡­¡± Hazelmere couldn¡¯t get over it.


    ¡°Would that even work? Is something like that even possible?¡± Cybil asked no one in particular, scratching her chin.


    ¡°¡­ has ¡­ anyone ¡­ ever tried ¡­ something like that ¡­¡± Moana asked, her fingers fidgety and her head low.


    ¡°I have never heard of such a method, but I wouldn¡¯t be surprised to learn the elves have tried it,¡± Cybil responded.


    ¡°Maybe that is why they are so good at magic? Maybe that is what they mean when they say: our connection with magic is so deep, no mortal race could ever understand it.¡±


    The archmages laughed at Mizette¡¯s joke, but Hazelmere didn¡¯t appreciate it. She did her best to shift the conversation with the first chance she got.


    ¡°Oh, it is moving again!¡±


    ¡°It has recovered as soon as it back into their world. I think I may really be onto something here,¡± Mizette said proudly.


    ¡°That would explain why that huge beast ran away. It was large, so it would make sense for it to have plenty of energy stored in its body. But small creatures, like insects, are incapacitated instantly.¡±


    ¡°So, the energies of our worlds really are colliding with each other!¡± Cybil stated, ¡°We can¡¯t go through the portal, but neither can they!¡±


    ¡°That is where you are wrong,¡± Mizette countered, ¡°they can cross it, but they need a constant energy supply to survive. So, prepare for the demonic invasion, with rows upon rows of crazed, demonic soldiers charging at you, all of them having threads sticking out of ¡­¡±


    ¡°Shut up!¡±

 Chapter 29

    Two days have passed, with nothing new happening. The demons tried sending a few more bugs with no threads attached to them, but the result was always the same. All of them stopped as soon as they¡¯ve crossed the portal and had to be pushed back.


    On the third day, Hazelmere woke up early to replace Cybil, who stood watch on the stones overnight. Reaching the stones, she saw Cybil and the four soldiers guarding her bundled up inside the furs, trying their best to fight the sleep off.


    Noticing Hazelmere, Cybil yawned: ¡°There was some development out there, but I didn¡¯t feel like waking you up for it. It didn¡¯t look threatening, so I just observed what they were doing. Also, I had to activate the heating Peratha enchanted on the stone, since it got buried in that white ice.¡±


    ¡°Oh? Has something interesting happened?¡±


    ¡°Yes. They have sent bigger bugs this time and had them carry something across the portal.¡±


    Slightly alarmed, Hazelmere took a look. She immediately noticed some alien objects placed very close to the magescope.


    ¡°They have placed these during the night?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but it was daytime on the other side, so they didn¡¯t do it in the dark. After all, there is no way I would notice it otherwise. They had some new bugs, much bigger than before, take those objects across the portal and place them there. These bugs even had some arms with hands on them. Not people-like hands, of course. They had thin arms, like insects, which, at their end, had ¡­ hmm ¡­ I think those would be better described as claws. Yes, claws! Not hands. They used those claws to set up the instruments, or whatever those things are. They did it during the whole night, very slowly.¡±


    ¡°I see that those objects are also connected with the threads.¡±


    ¡°Yes. Those bigger bugs had the threads too.¡±


    ¡°Oh! Some of the objects are moving.¡±


    ¡°I bet some of them are golem-like constructs. They are probably using them to observe the area below the summit since they can¡¯t see it from the portal.¡±


    Hazelmere opened her eyes in alarm: ¡°And if you are right, that means they can see our camp!¡±


    ¡°Yes. I was thinking of raising the alarm but have decided against it. They were placing those for most of the night, so I concluded they won¡¯t have the time to attack before dawn. And, had I woken you up, you would all be tired and exhausted. You wouldn¡¯t be in the condition to fight.¡±


    ¡°Do you think they will attack?¡±


    Cybil shrugged slowly: ¡°I have no idea. It may be the start of the invasion, but they are only observing us for now, just like we are observing them. We are yet to see any of their soldiers.¡±


    ¡°We have heard those mounts galloping though.¡±


    ¡°True, but we haven¡¯t seen them. They are hiding their soldiers away from sight while sending dispensable scouts and bugs to take a better look. Who knows, maybe they are as afraid of us as we are afraid of them? For all they know, someone has opened a portal in their back yard and is trying to invade them. Besides, isn¡¯t that exactly what was supposed to happen?¡±


    ¡°I have a really hard time imagining the demons being afraid of us.¡±


    ¡°Nevertheless, they saw a military camp relatively close to the portal. They have every right to consider us a threat,¡± the sudden male voice next to her made Hazelmere jump back a bit.


    ¡°Go ¡­ nail yourself! You scared the heavens out of me! Don¡¯t stalk me like that!¡± She protested.


    Heartwell gave her an amused smile: ¡°I apologize, lady, I didn¡¯t mean to. I wanted to say hi but didn¡¯t want to interrupt your interesting conversation. That would also be rude.¡±


    ¡°Just, don¡¯t sneak up on people like that! That¡¯s not normal!¡±


    ¡°I apologize once again,¡± he lowered his head slightly in an apologetic gesture, after which he turned to face Cybil, ¡°so ¡­ the demons have placed something on our side?¡±


    ¡°Yes. I assume it is used for observation. Once again, these demons are using the same methodology we would use. We have a magescope, and it looks like they have something similar.¡±


    ¡°Is there any way for me to see it?¡± Heartwell asked.


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°Maybe my military experience can offer an insight that the archmages don¡¯t have?¡±


    Cybil and Hazelmere looked at each other, clearly in agreement over something.


    ¡°Oh well, I guess it couldn¡¯t hurt,¡± Hazelmere spoke in a condescending tone, with an arrogant grimace on her face.


    But, even though they were in agreement a moment before, Cybil gave her an exaggerated look of surprise as soon as she realized what Hazelmere said.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    ¡°I mean, it will take some mana to give him the sight, but it¡¯s not like we have to conserve every bit of it. Besides, he risked his life to fulfill a mission. Don¡¯t you think we should be more open to his proposals, even though they may sound silly?¡± Hazelmere tried reasoning with Cybil.


    ¡°Is it a problem if I take a look?¡± Heartwell asked.


    ¡°Well, it is bothersome and quite exhausting. And it will take a whole day for my body to recover the mana I have spent giving you the sight.¡±


    ¡°If you think the demons may attack us and you need the mana, then it would make sense to deny my request.¡±


    Hazelmere waved her hand dismissively: ¡°Nah! If they do attack, I can use crystals to recharge it.¡±


    ¡°It is not really a matter of spending mana. It is about the mages being very selective about letting others experience their magic. It is a kind of ¡­ a very strange topic,¡± Cybil explained.


    ¡°Anyway, come closer,¡± Hazelmere gesticulated to Heartwell.


    As soon as he was within reach, she put her hand on his neck.


    ¡°Close your eyes. It is much easier to see that way. You don¡¯t want your natural sight interfering with the magescope.¡±


    Heartwell did as he was told. It wasn¡¯t long until pieces of vision started revealing themselves. At first, there were just pieces, like in a puzzle. But, as more and more pieces reached him, a proper vision started forming in his mind.


    ¡°It takes some practice to control the far-sight so, let me adjust your vision.¡±


    Right after Hazelmere said those words, his vision shifted, as if someone has turned his head forcibly.


    ¡°Can you see those? They are very close.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, I can see them.¡±


    ¡°So, what do you think?¡±


    ¡°Let me observe them for a bit.¡±


    A few moments passed in silence.


    ¡°Can you ¡­ get the vision closer to it?¡± Heartwell asked.


    ¡°Do you mean, as if taking a step towards it?¡±


    ¡°Something like that.¡±


    ¡°No, I can¡¯t do that. I can only change the direction we are looking at. That is because the magescope is actually looking in all directions at once while our eyes have limited vision. I can change the direction we are looking at, but I can¡¯t change the position. You would have to move the magescope itself to do that.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s something ¡­ I¡¯m not really sure, but it boggles my mind. Can you see  ¡­ I don¡¯t know how to describe it ¡­ these things, they have something like a stand. And on the stand, there¡¯s a big long box which holds it all. Can you see it?¡±


    ¡°Ok, I see it.¡±


    ¡°Then, there¡¯s another box on its left side. It¡¯s noticeably smaller. Can you see it?¡±


    ¡°Ok.¡±


    ¡°Look at the top of that box. I can¡¯t say for sure, because we aren¡¯t looking from the good direction, but don¡¯t you think some sharpened things are coming out of that small box into the big one?¡±


    ¡°Hmm ¡­ I am not sure if those are sharp, but I see what you mean. Those two long, round things? Is that what you are talking about?¡±


    ¡°Yes. There are two of them that we can see. I bet there are more in that box.¡±


    ¡°What makes you say that? Do you think you know what the box is for?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s just a wild guess, but if those things are sharp, then that box could store the ammunition.¡±


    ¡°Ammunition for what?¡±


    ¡°For the weapon!¡±


    ¡°What weapon, you dimwit?¡± Hazelmere sounded irritated.


    ¡°Do you see that tube coming out of the box?¡±


    ¡°What about it?¡±


    ¡°What could the tube be for if not for shooting at something?¡±


    ¡°Why would you ever shoot something out of a tube? If it were a ranged weapon, it would be bow-like! Like a ballista!¡±


    ¡°Have you ever heard of blow-darts?¡±


    ¡°Of what?¡±


    ¡°Blow darts! It¡¯s a common weapon among the peasants. Not as effective as a bow, but it¡¯s much easier to make, use and master. That¡¯s what this looks like to me, a huge blow-dart with a box of darts attached to it.¡±


    ¡°What makes you think it is a weapon in the first place?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because these things are set up in a defensive perimeter! Look at them, they¡¯re placed in a way that gives them the best combination of observation and cover. Putting them along the edge would give them the best sight, but that¡¯s not the case. Whoever was placing them was also considering putting them in a proper cover.¡±


    ¡°Maybe they were worried those things might slip over the edge? After all, the ice is slippery. However, let us assume that you are right and that those really are some weird weapons. Wouldn¡¯t they need someone to shoot them?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m still not certain. I¡¯m convinced that those are weapons, but I can¡¯t say I¡¯m certain. They¡¯d need someone to aim and ¡­ oh ¡­¡±


    As he spoke, the box with the tube moved slightly.


    ¡°Did you see that?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it moved.¡±


    ¡°But there was no one to move it!¡±


    The sight disappeared out of Heartwell¡¯s mind. Opening his eyes, he saw Hazelmere sitting on the ground, looking visibly fatigued.


    ¡°Are you ok?¡± He asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m just ¡­ a little bit tired.¡±


    ¡°You were looking for way too long,¡± Cybil gave him a reprimanding look.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t know. But I think it was worth it. If those things can move on their own, then they can also aim on their own. And if they can do that then, what¡¯s stopping them from shooting on their own?¡±


    ¡°You still think those are weapons?¡±


    ¡°It would make perfect sense.¡±


    ¡°But, why place a blow-whatever instead of a ballista? I understand it is easier to make a construct fire a bolt rather than swing a sword, but why would they make it shoot an inferior weapon when they can give it a proper bow?¡±


    ¡°Excuse me, what?¡± Cybil exaggerated her surprise at Hazelmere¡¯s words once again, ¡°Are you actually entertaining the idea that those can be constructs?¡±


    ¡°Why not? Aren¡¯t you the one who has proposed it first?¡± Heartwell complained.


    ¡°No, I said they were golem-like. Those things can¡¯t be constructs. Constructs can¡¯t be so small! They need the cores to function properly, and those cores require plenty of space and mana! There is no point in making such an unimpressive construct, it would be a waste of resources. And to make several of them at that! And for what, to blow a few darts at the enemy?¡±


    ¡°Even though it sounds silly, I could accept the idea of it being some kind of a weapon,¡± Hazelmere said, ¡°we know little about the demons so, ok, maybe they use such inferior weapons like blows. But to make a construct to use it ¡­ that makes no sense.¡±


    ¡°Maybe those constructs are primarily meant for observation, and the weapon is only there to serve in self-defense?¡± Heartwell offered.


    ¡°That makes more sense, but ¡­¡±


    ¡°But it would still make no sense for it to be a construct,¡± Cybil finished Hazelmere¡¯s sentence.


    ¡°Precisely. Or ¡­ maybe it is not a construct ¡­ maybe those are magical in nature, like our magescope?¡±


    ¡°Those are clearly mechanical though,¡± Cybil pointed out.


    ¡°You know what ¡­ I am too exhausted to think about this right now. My head hurts just from thinking about it,¡± Hazelmere stood up and started walking away while grabbing her head in frustration.


    When she was out of the earshot, Heartwell turned to Cybil with an incredulous look on his face.


    ¡°Did she just walk away, in the middle of ¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, she did. She isn¡¯t a very reliable sort. But then again, she did waste much mana giving you the sight, so it is no wonder her head hurts.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know ¡­¡±


    ¡°It isn¡¯t your fault, nor your responsibility. She is just terrible at managing things, including her own mana.¡±

 Chapter 30

    Bbbzzzzz ¡­


    ¡°¡­¡±


    Bbbzzzzz ¡­


    ¡°¡­ what in the ¡­¡±


    Bbbzzzzz ¡­


    ¡°¡­ let me sleep Luana, will you ¡­ I have nothing important today ¡­¡±


    Bbbzzzzz ¡­


    ¡° ¡­ a damn bug. I don¡¯t remember any of them being so loud before ¡­¡± Hazelmere complained as she shifted in her bed, trying to cover her big, canine ears with the pillow.


    Bbbzzzzz ¡­


    ¡°¡­ wait ¡­ the bigger a bug is, the louder it ¡­¡±


    A sudden realization hit her in the head, making her jump out of bed.


    ¡°A big bug!¡±


    She wrapped herself in the furs quickly, without putting a dress on first. Wrapped like that, she ran out of her tent, frantically looking into the skies, trying to find whatever was buzzing outside.


    Bbbzzzzz ¡­


    It was the middle of the night, meaning that the sky was covered in darkness. Yet, after some searching, she did notice a red dot blinking in the sky.


    ¡°What in the ¡­¡±


    Looking around, she saw no one outside. Everyone was still sleeping. With just a moment to come up with something, she rushed towards Heartwell¡¯s tent.


    ¡°Peasant, wake up!¡± She screamed.


    His eyes opened instantly. He unsheathed his sword with a practiced reflex, which stood next to his bed, pointing it at Hazelmere.


    ¡°Not at me, you jackass!¡±


    A small, lit candle in his tent helped him realize she isn¡¯t an enemy: ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you. What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Something is flying over our heads!¡±


    Heartwell looked up, concentrating, as if he could see the sky through the tent.


    ¡°The buzzing ¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    ¡°Those demons on the other side are using bugs ¡­¡±


    ¡°Yees!¡±


    Throwing away the furs covering him, he rushed towards his armor. As he was putting it on in a hurry, he started questioning Hazelmere.


    ¡°Are there any demons in the camp?¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Are there ¡­¡±


    He got his eyes off the armor to look at Hazelmere. Her eyes were glued to him, and yet, she didn¡¯t respond. He quickly realized that, while she was staring at him with her jaw hanging open, she wasn¡¯t staring at his face.


    After all, like all the other peasants, he had a habit of sleeping naked.


    ¡°Hey, hey,¡± he waved his hand to get her attention, ¡°my eyes are up here, lady!¡±


    ¡°Oh ¡­ yes, they are ¡­¡±


    ¡°Are there any demons in the camp?¡±


    ¡°¡­ none that I¡¯ve seen ¡­¡±


    ¡°Have you alarmed anyone else?¡±


    ¡°No. I ran here because your tent is the closest to mine, and you¡¯re responsible for my safety.¡±If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°Good call.¡±


    He put his armor on with practiced ease. It wasn¡¯t the most durable, nor the most splendorous armor, but it was very practical and could be put on or taken off quickly.


    ¡°Let¡¯s wake up the others! Stay close behind me!¡±


    With the alarm raised, everyone in the camp got out of their tents. The camp was now bustling with chaotic activity as people collided with each other in the dark.


    ¡°That red, blinking dot! Do you see it?¡± Hazelmere asked Heartwell.


    ¡°Yeah, I see it!¡±


    ¡°I think that¡¯s the bug!¡±


    ¡°The buzzing certainly comes from that direction. And it¡¯s up in the sky. I think you¡¯re right. But how do we take it down? Do you have some useful magic for taking down flying creatures?¡±


    ¡°And, most importantly, are you sure that¡¯s the only bug in the sky?¡± Cybil asked as soon as she has joined them.


    ¡°I hear the buzzing coming from one side only. By the way, why weren¡¯t we alerted? Shouldn¡¯t we have someone watching the other side?¡±


    The three people exchanged worried glances among themselves.


    ¡°Oh gods,¡± Hazelmere raised her hand over her mouth, as her pupils dilated in horror, ¡°Mizette is on the guard duty tonight!¡±


    ¡°Let me gather some soldiers, and we¡¯ll see what has happened to them.¡±


    It didn¡¯t take long for Heartwell to organize a small force. As soon as he had enough soldiers, they marched towards the stones, weapons at the ready. Hazelmere and Cybil were the only mages with them.


    They reached the stones without getting themselves into a fight, seeing that the five people responsible for observing the other side were alive and well. One of them had to be a mage, so she could look through the stones, while four soldiers were tasked with guarding her during the night.


    ¡°Mizette! Are you ok?¡± Hazelmere asked, just in case.


    ¡°Yes ¡­ yes ¡­ we¡¯re fine ¡­¡± Mizette answered, her breathing noticeably quicker than it should be.


    ¡°Have you seen any demons?¡±


    ¡°No ¡­ no, we didn¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°You must have seen this flying bug come through ¡­¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s night on the other side too ¡­ we can¡¯t see anything ¡­¡± Mizete responded.


    ¡°But, didn¡¯t you hear the buzzing? It is so loud, it woke me up!¡±


    ¡°Umm ¡­ no, we didn¡¯t hear any ¡­ buzzing ¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see,¡± Heartwell¡¯s reprimanding voice got Hazelmere¡¯s attention.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    He raised a half-empty bottle in his hand: ¡°Smells like wine,¡± he took a small sip, ¡°a good one at that, too good for a soldier to have. Our observers were having some fun during their shift.¡±


    Hazelmere looked at Mizette in a mixture of disgust and disbelief: ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°No, no,¡± Mizette waved her hands frantically in her defense, ¡°we didn¡¯t ¡­¡±


    Hazelmere grabbed the furs Mizette had on her, pushing her hand forcibly through them. She found the sash of her dress and yanked it as strong as she could. It flew right out of the furs.


    ¡°Your sash is undone ¡­¡±


    Mizette lowered her gaze, looking a bit ashamed, but not too much.


    ¡°You didn¡¯t have the time to put it back on properly, didn¡¯t you? You were in a hurry.¡±


    Instead of responding, Mizette exhaled loudly.


    ¡°Our lives are at stake!¡± Hazelmere roared at her with the eyes of a murderous psychopath.


    ¡°I know ¡­¡±


    A hand on her shoulder stopped Hazelmere from going any further.


    ¡°Yes, our lives are at stake,¡± she heard Heartwell¡¯s voice talking in her ear, ¡°so let¡¯s focus on the demonic creature that¡¯s flying over our heads. We will punish them later. I¡¯ll lash my soldiers, and you do with your mage as you will. But we have much more pressing concerns right now.¡±


    ¡°If you need help finding a bug in the dark, I can help with that,¡± Mizette offered in a soft, measured tone.


    ¡°What do you want!¡± But Hazelmere responded with a voice full of fury.


    ¡°I¡¯m a light mage. I can cast a light-ball spell and send it towards the buzzing so we can see what is out there.¡±


    ¡°Oh, so you can hear the buzzing now, huh?¡±


    ¡°Do it!¡± Heartwell said, ending any further bickering.


    Mizette waved the palm of her left hand around her staff while chanting. A tiny ball of pure, white light formed in her hand and started growing in both size and intensity. Once it became big enough to fill the entire hand, she released her hold of it, making it float in the air. Then, she directed it with a gentle move of her staff towards the red, buzzing dot in the sky.


    It floated slowly through the air, illuminating everything in its path. Everyone in the camp stopped what they were doing to stare at the bright ball of light up in the sky. In a few moments, it was close enough to reveal its target.


    ¡°So ¡­ it really is another bug,¡± Heartwell said.


    ¡°It looks like it, but I would expect it to flap its wings. I don¡¯t see anything moving on its body,¡± Cybil noticed.


    ¡°I think I can see some tiny insect legs on it. Four of them,¡± Hazelmere said.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t the insects have more?¡± Heartwell asked.


    ¡°Maybe the ¡­¡±


    The flying bug tilted to one side and started moving away from the camp in the middle of Cybil¡¯s sentence.


    ¡°It¡¯s running away! It¡¯s running away from the light!¡±


    ¡°You think it got scared? Aren¡¯t the insects supposed to be attracted to the light?¡±


    ¡°Looks like the demonic ones aren¡¯t.¡±


    Cheers erupted throughout the camp, accompanied by a few juicy curses directed towards the flying intruder.


    ¡°Umm ¡­ does this mean we have won?¡± Hazelmere asked, sounding both confused and uncertain.


    ¡°If there are no other demons nearby, I guess we have,¡± Heartwell concluded.


    ¡°So, all we need to do to chase them away is to cast some light spells at them?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s the case. We saw those crawling bugs cross the portal during the day,¡± Cybil pointed out.


    ¡°Maybe it has confused my light with the holy light?¡± Mizette offered an explanation, ¡°Maybe the holy light can hurt it, so it didn¡¯t want to take any risks.¡±


    ¡°Hmm ¡­ that could make some sense ¡­ and if that is true, we will need more archpriestesses here.¡±


    ¡°Maybe the one who is here knows how to summon the holy light?¡± Cybil said.


    ¡°Moana?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I believe that is the name. It is quite interesting to see that you, who have so much trouble remembering names, have remembered her name right away,¡± Cybil teased.


    But Hazelmere chose to ignore it: ¡°Yes, maybe she can. And if that is the case, we should test the effect the holy light has on these demons. Maybe, that is how we can fight them.¡±


    Then, remembering something, Hazelmere approached Mizette once again, with a furious look back on her face.


    ¡°And what am I to do with you ¡­¡±

 Chapter 31

    Heartwell stretched his body in his tent. Doing such exercises several times a day became a habit of his, ever since he has received the first wound on his arm. The healers did their job right, but something that¡¯s broken will never be the same again. No matter how skilled an artisan is, the best he can do when restoring something is to make it look right. The cracks remain forever, making it a frail version of what it used to be.


    And, for some reason, Heartwell keeps adding new cracks to his body, as if it¡¯s some twisted addiction of his.


    So, to keep his cracked body as prepared as possible, he had no choice but to stretch his sore, itching muscles every chance he gets. A precious lesson he learned from some village elder he met along the way. Some people don¡¯t appreciate his enthusiasm though, ridiculing him when they see him do it in public, which is why he has decided to perform such extravagances only when the other people aren¡¯t around.


    The truth is, he probably wouldn¡¯t have to do it if he¡¯d just listen to his friends. Considering his achievements and flawless service record, he could give up on the war, take a patch of land he deserves, find a decent wife, and spend the rest of his life in peace. However, that would mean he¡¯d have to work the land and, in Heartwell¡¯s mind, there wasn¡¯t much difference between swinging a sword and swinging a hoe. Sore muscles would be the end result regardless.


    Another option would be to train the young officers, an idea he considered to be even worse. The very thought of babysitting young, spoiled nobles, who are always offended by the fact that a lowly peasant can be above them, disgusted him. While The Timkik Empire claimed to be meritocratic, and while its laws were written in such a way, its nobles didn¡¯t appreciate the idea and did their best to show it at every turn. He got tired of that a long time ago.


    Those things aside, the truth is, nothing could ever compare with the sense of brotherhood his legion gave him, even if most of his brothers are with him only temporarily.


    ¡°Excuse me, may I come in?¡± His stretching was interrupted by a pleasant, feminine voice coming from outside the tent.


    ¡°Just a moment,¡± he took some time to put everything back in order and calm his breathing, ¡°come in!¡±


    Hazelmere entered the tent somewhat shyly.


    ¡°I came to tell you what my mages have observed on the other side.¡±


    ¡°Since you¡¯re calm, I take it we aren¡¯t in immediate danger?¡±


    ¡°That is true.¡±


    ¡°Meaning, there¡¯s another reason why you¡¯re here. I doubt a lady like you would come to see a peasant just to put his mind at ease.¡±


    Hazelmere scowled: ¡°That is also true! I want us to try and find a better way of observing the other side. Considering our observers have failed spectacularly two days ago, and we wouldn¡¯t notice a demonic army approaching until it is too late.¡±


    ¡°I gave twenty lashes to each of my soldiers. I believe the entire camp could hear them screaming.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, we have.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not going to ask what punishment have you given to your mage. I don¡¯t like poking my nose in my superior¡¯s business.¡±


    Hazelmere tilted her head a bit: ¡°That¡¯s strange. Usually, males don¡¯t accept such things easily, even when their superior is an archmage. Male pride and all that meaningless stuff.¡±


    ¡°My peasant heritage carries far more weight than my gender. Even if you¡¯re a female, your wealthy, high-born heritage puts you above me.¡±


    She nodded her head with satisfaction: ¡°A male who knows his place ¡­ what a refreshing sight to see.¡±


    ¡°But you didn¡¯t come here to talk about where my place is, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    That made her straighten up: ¡°Right ¡­ soo, let me remember ¡­¡± she tapped her finger on her chin a few times, ¡°oh yes! That flying bug, we know where it comes from! Listen to this, this is crazy!¡±


    She took a seat without asking for permission.


    ¡°You know there are crawling bugs crossing from the other side.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°Well, much bigger bugs are now crossing the portal. They look very similar to those small bugs, with threads sticking out of their ¡­ rears. They are exactly like an oversized version of those, but with a flat back.¡±


    Heartwell narrowed his eyes: ¡°The way you said that makes me think that¡¯s somehow important.¡±


    She pointed the finger at him, smiling like a child: ¡°Exactly! Because, listen to this: they are carrying those flying, buzzing bugs on their backs! Those demons put the flying bugs on the flat backs of those big bugs, move them to our side of the portal, and then the flying bugs ¡­ well ¡­ start flying. Once they get tired, the flying bugs land on those big bugs and go back across the portal.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that is exactly the reaction we had! Why are they complicating things? Why not have those bugs just fly through the portal?¡±


    ¡°The small bug without a thread stopped moving, maybe that¡¯s why,¡± realizing something, Heartwell ears perked up, ¡°are those flying bugs connected to threads?¡±


    Hazelmere¡¯s lower lip moved to reveal her teeth, as she looked away: ¡°No ¡­ they aren¡¯t ¡­¡±


    ¡°But ¡­¡±


    ¡°I know! They aren¡¯t supposed to move without a thread! But these flying ones do!¡±


    ¡°Hmm ¡­¡±


    ¡°They must be somehow connected with those big bugs carrying them over the portal. What other reason could there be for something like that? Cybil assumes that those big bugs are somehow giving their energy to the flying ones, they could be bound somehow. Those big bugs are connected to the threads, so maybe they can supply the smaller ones. And, while that is not a perfect explanation, it is really hard to come up with a better one.¡±


    ¡°And let me guess ¡­ that means trouble.¡±


    ¡°Yesss ¡­ if they can bind those bugs to some energy source and make them move without a thread, then they can certainly do the same thing with their soldiers.¡±


    ¡°Aww, that¡¯s great!¡± Heartwell exhaled as he leaned his entire body back.


    ¡°There is another thing you should know about.¡±


    ¡°Is it worse than this one?¡±


    ¡°No ¡­ but it is very ¡­ strange, so I think you should hear of it.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead!¡±


    ¡°For some reason, the demons have started tying some other, small animals to those bugs and are taking them across the portal.¡±This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°Why would they do that?¡±


    ¡°These other animals aren¡¯t connected to the threads, but the bugs carrying them are. I guess they are trying to test if being close to the bug which is supplied with the energy can help the other animal survive.¡±


    ¡°And can it?¡±


    Hazelmere made a short pause.


    ¡°It can. Those tied up animals don¡¯t stop moving when they cross the portal. They can¡¯t really move, since they are tied up, but you can see their limbs moving rapidly as they are trying to escape. We don¡¯t know how affected those animals are, but they are clearly not experiencing the issues the lone bugs have. If you remember, the bugs without the thread stop moving as soon as they cross the portal. But, when tied up to a connected creature, the animals can still move their limbs.¡±


    ¡°How did they even get the idea to try that?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, but these demons are extremely careful and thorough. And, even though it looks like they are not in a hurry, they are making some decent progress. They learn something new about our world with each passing day.¡±


    ¡°Makes you wish we were half as ready as they are. And they are the ones responding to our initiative.¡±


    Hazelmere straightened in her chair: ¡°There is one more reason why I came here, as I have already told you. We need to change the way our sentries work. The current arrangement has shown its flaws. Mizette is someone whom I trust the most so, if she can fail in her duty, then the others can too!¡±


    ¡°I bet it was happening all the time. We just didn¡¯t notice it.¡±


    ¡°What makes you say that?¡± Hazelmere said, blinking a few times.


    ¡°I was worried something like that may happen, which is why I proposed to have at least two soldiers protecting the mage. I thought they¡¯d compete with one another, trying to put each other down. That¡¯s what usually happens when a cute girl comes anywhere close. But, instead of competing, they decided to cooperate. Strangely, I¡¯m proud of them in a way. Seeing my soldiers reach such a compromise instead of butting their heads gives me some sort of ¡­ I guess, fatherly pride? When you¡¯re glad to see your children work towards a common goal, I guess. Don¡¯t get me wrong, I know what they did was extremely dangerous. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve lashed them personally. But, still, it took a lot of compromising to ¡­ not to mention, the practicality of it. I mean, how is it even possible ¡­ with four males at once?¡±


    Hazelmere averted her eyes away from Heartwell, looking rather guilty: ¡°I ¡­ I don¡¯t know. But that¡¯s not important! What is important is to find a better way of dealing with it!¡±


    ¡°Honestly, I don¡¯t think we can. The soldiers have to escort a mage. If having four of them didn¡¯t work, increasing the number of soldiers won¡¯t help either. And you¡¯ve said it yourself, that we can¡¯t have more than one mage observe the other side during the night. Proper rest is extremely important for the mages and all that stuff.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve run into someone tonight, which gave me an idea. Do you remember we have an archpriestess in the camp?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s doing her best to avoid everyone, but I¡¯ve noticed her.¡±


    ¡°Maybe, having a priestess present will help? Maybe that would dissuade the others from doing anything stupid?¡±


    Heartwell crossed his arms, exhaling deeply: ¡°I¡¯m not so sure. We can¡¯t have her on the night guard duty every day. Besides, that priestess is too timid. I don¡¯t think she can pull it off.¡±


    ¡°But she is a priestess! Certainly, having a priestess nearby ¡­¡±


    ¡°Maybe you¡¯re not aware of it, but some people find modesty and meekness to be very attractive! And our priestess is the very example of it! In all likelihood, some soldiers will try persuading her to participate, and considering how unassertive she is, I¡¯m worried she wouldn¡¯t have the necessary fortitude to resist as fervently as she should! I¡¯m not going to be the one responsible for giving her name its meaning! Not like that.¡±


    ¡°So ¡­ what? We should just keep it like it is? Is that your idea?¡±


    ¡°No, I agree we should change something. I just disagree with using the priestess because I don¡¯t think she has what it takes.¡±


    A soldier stormed into the tent from the outside, ending the conversation in an instant.


    ¡°Chief!¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°A bug is approaching, a big one! Tis¡¯ big as the people! It¡¯s coming this way!¡±


    ¡°Towards our camp?¡±


    ¡°Right at it!¡±


    Heartwell stood up, grabbing his sword: ¡°Looks like this conversation will have to wait.¡±


    ---


    A crude wooden palisade was erected around the camp after it was smashed in that enormous storm a moon ago. It would do little against a determined attacker, but Heartwell ordered it constructed since it looked like they¡¯ll have to deal with all kinds of insects before the demons decide to come at them personally. And, even though it didn¡¯t offer much resistance, the palisade provided great observation for those who¡¯d climb it.


    Arriving at the defensive perimeter, they saw everyone was ready. Both the soldiers and the mages were precisely where they were supposed to be, their eyes focused on the approaching threat.


    Some of them were perhaps too eager. Heartwell noticed some archers have already nocked their arrows.


    ¡°What are you doing, you imbeciles!¡± He roared at them, ¡°You¡¯ll hurt someone even before the enemy gets in range!¡±


    Startled, the archers looked at him. Then, they released the tension on their bowstrings, with shy expressions on their faces. Heartwell continued forward while shaking his head in disbelief.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t they supposed to be ready?¡± Hazelmere asked.


    ¡°If the enemy was in range, all the archers would¡¯ve been ready to shoot. They were nervous, not ready. Come, let¡¯s take a look,¡± Heartwell said as he grabbed Hazelmere¡¯s hand.


    She was visibly confused but didn¡¯t complain.


    ¡°Where¡¯s the enemy?¡± He asked in a loud, commanding voice as soon as they¡¯ve joined the archers on the palisade. There was an occasional mage here and there mixed in with them.


    ¡°Right there, chief!¡± An archer pointed in the distance with his hand.


    Heartwell and Hazelmere looked in the direction. As soon as they did, their ears and tails went straight up, together with their hair.


    Yes, what approached them was indeed a big bug. But it wasn¡¯t just that. It was the creepiest creature Hazelmere has ever heard of.


    Imagine a big, fat, armored bug, crawling extremely fast on the ground. But, this bug had a torso growing from its front, where a typical insectoid head with antennae was supposed to be. Its torso was really thin, just like every limb on any other insect. It resembled a pole much more than a torso. However, it was clearly a torso because the shoulders, a pair of arms, and a head were sitting on top of it. Its shoulders looked the same as the torso and were as thin, with the only differences being that these were much shorter and were placed horizontally. The arms were even thinner and had no hands. Instead, three really thin fingers grew straight out of the arms. Those fingers were so thin, they looked much more like blades than fingers.


    And, on top of the torso sat a disgusting, insectoid head. As the creature got closer, Hazelmere noticed it had a set of two big eyes and another set of two smaller ones, right below the big ones. There were no mouth, nose, not even antennae on its head, nothing but the eyes.


    ¡°Oh, look! It has a thread coming out of it!¡± Hazelmere noticed.


    ¡°At least we know it has one weakness,¡± Heartwell responded in a solemn voice.


    ¡°It really is disgusting, but do you think it will attack us? What is the point of sending it to fight all alone?¡± She asked.


    ¡°It has no chance of winning alone, at least I hope so, but maybe they didn¡¯t send it to win. Maybe they only want to see the way we fight. Remember, they can see the camp, meaning they¡¯re watching. Probing enemy defenses before an attack makes perfect sense.¡±


    As they talked, the creature got much closer. It finally stopped some two hundred beards in front of the palisade. It observed the soldiers on the ground for some time, before lifting its ugly head to look at the people standing on the palisade, sending chills down Hazelmere¡¯s spine as soon as their eyes have met.


    Everyone held their breath as the disgusting creature observed them. Nobody dared make a single move or utter a single sound.


    After a while, the creature got tired of observing and started lifting one of its disturbingly thin arms in the air, very slowly. Its arm moved so slowly, Heartwell started wondering if it was mocking them.


    Once it rose its arm completely, it started waving it left and right, slowly at first but increasing the speed with each move.


    ¡°Hazelmere!¡± The sudden female voice coming from behind startled her so much, she squeaked involuntarily.


    ¡°Cybil ¡­ don¡¯t do that! You scared the heavens out of me!¡±


    ¡°Yes, and your squeak scared everyone around you! But that is not the point! It is waving at us!¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°It is waving at us, look! Take a good look! Don¡¯t you think it is trying to wave its hand?¡±


    ¡°Do you honestly think it¡¯s intelligent enough to understand a social greeting?¡±


    But, the discussion didn¡¯t go far before it was interrupted by a strange, alien voice.


    ¡°Riiidddiii!¡±


    It sounded like an overly enthusiastic child greeting someone. Even though the word was utterly ununderstandable, there was no mistaking its purpose.


    ¡°Is that ¡­¡±


    ¡°Riiidddiii!¡±


    ¡°I am telling you, it is waving at us! It is trying to greet us!¡±


    ¡°But, that sounded like a child!¡±


    ¡°I see no mouth on that thing,¡± Heartwell pointed out.


    ¡°You two are overthinking it!¡± Cybil pointed her finger accusingly at them, ¡°Whatever it is, it isn¡¯t hostile! It is only trying to communicate with us!¡±


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s trying to hide its real intent?¡± Heartwell said.


    ¡°Maybe. I am not saying we should let it into our camp, but responding wouldn¡¯t hurt. Maybe that will satisfy it and make it go away.¡±


    ¡°Riiidddiii!¡±


    ¡°We should, what, try to talk with it? But it wouldn¡¯t even understand us! I mean, we have no idea what it is saying. Why would it be any different the other way around?¡±


    ¡°Hmm,¡± Heartwell started thinking, ¡°I guess it wouldn¡¯t hurt to try. It¡¯s not like we have anything to lose. And if it tries anything stupid, we have plenty of arrows aimed right at it.¡±


    ¡°Ok, what should be our response?¡±


    CLANG!!!

 Chapter 32

    CLANG!!!


    Heartwell watched an arrow bounce off the lower part of the creature. He stared at it in disbelief for a few moments. But, once the arrow has settled on the ground, he realized he had to do something.


    And fast.


    ¡°Who¡¯s the jackass who did it? Who¡¯s disobeying my orders?¡±


    All the archers looked at him, their faces terrified. Nobody dared say anything.


    ¡°You¡¯re not to shoot until I give you the order! Or unless it shoots first!¡±


    Bbbrrrrmmm!


    Hearing the alien sound, Heartwell got his attention back to the creature, fearing the worst. But, instead of responding with hostility, it started crawling back with impressive speed. It didn¡¯t turn around like everyone would expect an insect to do. It still faced them, its big bug-eyes still stared at them with the same blank expression. But its legs were running in reverse as if those were somehow independent of the rest of its body. It lowered its thin arms, saying nothing as it was fleeing as fast as it could.


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s running away ¡­¡± Hazelmere said in disbelief.


    ¡°I¡¯d also run away if someone tried to kill me after greeting them,¡± Heartwell grumbled, ¡°but, something¡¯s wrong there.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°The way the arrow bounced.¡±


    ¡°Its carapace must be very strong.¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s about the sound ¡­ it sounded as if the arrow had struck a metal ¡­¡±


    Remembering something, Heartwell straightened up as he turned away.


    ¡°But before that, I have to deal with some insubordination.¡±


    ---


    After a long while, Heartwell finally entered the command tent, interrupting the archmages and Vukasin in their discussion.


    ¡°Considering that the screaming and begging has ended, I take it you have dealt with your problem?¡± Cybil asked, sounding quite haughty.


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing a good lashing can¡¯t fix.¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t you come up with something more creative?¡±


    ¡°Why change something that works?¡±


    ¡°Anyway,¡± Hazelmere smacked both hands on the table, but not too hard, just hard enough for them to make the slapping noise, ¡°the way Heartwell is dealing with his soldiers is none of our business. He stays out of our way, and we stay out of his.¡±


    ¡°Huh, now isn¡¯t this strange?¡± Cybil commented.


    ¡°We have far more pressing concerns,¡± Hazelmere continued, ¡°so, let us focus on the task at hand. We must figure out what that creature was.¡±


    ¡°I can tell you one thing for sure. That wasn¡¯t a creature,¡± Heartwell said.


    The archmages looked at him for a few moments without saying a word. They didn¡¯t have to say anything though, their stares were disapproving enough.


    ¡°Well, what was it then?¡± Cybil finally asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m certain it was made out of metal. It was probably some kind of construct.¡±


    Cybil started laughing wholeheartedly at that: ¡°A construct ¡­ hahaha ¡­ are you serious? I have never heard of any constructs staying functional in the frost. The metal would freeze completely! There is no way a construct could move a single beard in such a cold. Didn¡¯t you have some issues drawing your sword out of its scabbard when the portal was summoned?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I know it¡¯s strange, and you¡¯re right about everything you¡¯ve said. But I¡¯m absolutely certain it was a construct. It looked like an insect, but it didn¡¯t move like one. Yes, it was crawling on the ground, but its movements were too slow.¡±


    ¡°Its speed was impressive when it was running away through,¡± Mizette pointed out.


    ¡°Yes, but everything else about it was slow. Its hands, its head, the eyes, all of it moved too slowly for an insect! And it didn¡¯t have those ¡­ thin but long things on its head.¡±


    ¡°Antennae?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that! And, most importantly, the arrow! When the arrow struck, it sounded as if it had hit something made out of metal! ¡°


    Cybil shook her head vigorously as her irises went as high as they could: ¡°There are so many reasons for why it can¡¯t be a construct that I don¡¯t have the time to list them all!¡±


    ¡°Like what?¡±


    ¡°Like the core, for example! Constructs need the core to operate, and there is no way you could make a core small enough to fit in that thing! That is why all the constructs are big, clumsy creations. There is no such thing as a small, agile construct!¡±


    ¡°Wait, wait,¡± Mizette said as she scratched her chin, ¡°it didn¡¯t have the core, but ¡­ what if the core is on the other side?¡±


    ¡°How would that make any sense?¡± Cybil lifted her head high up, in a display of irritation, ¡°do you have any idea how much energy it would take to supply the construct from a distance? Dead metal requires much more energy to animate than anything natural. Those are the basics of magic! Even corpses are easier to animate than metal!¡±


    ¡°We have all agreed that those insects are supplied with the energy thanks to those threads, right? What if the core is on the other side, and the construct was supplied through the thread? Besides, we saw no mages on the other side yet.¡±


    ¡°We didn¡¯t see any cores either! The threads are connected to those small boxy things the demons are holding in their hands. There is no way a core could be that small!¡±


    ¡°And what are those boxy things then?¡± Mizette raised her voice slightly.


    ¡°I have no idea, but those are clearly not the cores!¡±


    ¡°I think there is some merit to this idea ¡­¡± Natle mused.


    ¡°Really?¡±


    ¡°Think about it this way. What is more plausible, that a thread is connected to a construct or that those demons are inserting them into the living creatures¡¯ rear ends? I mean, it looks like those threads can be taken off easily. I doubt anyone, insects included, would appreciate such treatment.¡±The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Cybil closed her eyes tightly, as if she was trying to unsee what Natle had said: ¡°Are you really going to use that as an argument? Those insects could be trained to take it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not an expert when it comes to magic or constructs, but this is where I know you¡¯re wrong,¡± Heartwell jumped in, ¡°you can¡¯t train an insect. Only animals with sufficient smarts can be trained. That¡¯s why we use horses in battle instead of oxen. Oxen would be much more effective to fight on. Charging enemy lines would be much easier with them, but you can¡¯t train them properly because those are some stupid animals. And insects are even worse.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care how hard it is to train an insect, it is much harder to create such a small construct. Next thing, you¡¯ll tell me those flying bugs are also constructs!¡±


    ¡°They certainly aren¡¯t flying like proper insects ¡­¡±


    ¡°Although,¡± Mizette interrupted Heartwell, ¡°those flying bugs aren¡¯t connected to the threads. It would be far-fetched to assume they have ¡­¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Cybil asked, visibly annoyed with Mizette stopping in the middle of the sentence.


    Mizette put the finger on her lip while looking down, thinking very hard.


    ¡°How do those even fly? Shou ¡­ shouldn¡¯t the creatures lacking threads be unable to move?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ve already talked about it!¡± Cybil shoved her outstretched hand in front of Mizette¡¯s face, ¡°those big bugs are giving them the ¡­¡±


    As Cybil also stopped in the middle of her sentence, they stared at each other without saying a word for quite some time, each one of them looking more confused than the other.


    ¡°So ¡­ what you are trying to say ¡­¡± Cybil restarted the conversation.


    ¡°If those big bugs can give energy to the flying ones ¡­¡±


    ¡°No, that¡¯s¡­¡±


    ¡°That was your explanation!¡±


    ¡°But, there are reasons why all constructs have a core instead of ¡­¡±


    ¡°In this world, yes.¡±


    ¡°What are the two of you talking about?¡± Hazelmere asked.


    Mizette and Cybil turned their heads towards her, slowly.


    ¡°If ¡­ if my guess is correct ¡­¡±


    ¡°Then what, Cybil?¡±


    ¡°Then, there is so much we know nothing about.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t say! A specific example would be appreciated,¡± Hazelmere crossed her arms impatiently. With a short glance, Hartwell noticed that her flat chest gave her no difficulties in doing so.


    ¡°For example ¡­ if those big bugs with flat backs can supply the flying ones with the necessary energy from a distance, does that also mean a core could do the same?¡± Mizette said.


    Making Hazelmere frown: ¡°The energy loss would be too great! I agree with Cybil on that one. Animating metal takes way too much energy. There is no point in making something so useless! Not to mention, the core would have to spend too much energy to track the position of the construct.¡±


    ¡°Not really,¡± Mizette countered, ¡°that is what the threads are for! The threads solve that issue completely by feeding the energy directly into the construct!¡±


    ¡°Then, why are we talking about supplying the energy from a distance?¡±


    ¡°Just because we didn¡¯t see the core on the other side, that doesn¡¯t mean there isn¡¯t one! It would make sense to keep it hidden! Instead of supplying the constructs directly, it would make sense to supply some kind of relay close to it, which would then supply them. That way, you could easily trick the observers into thinking there is no core nearby!¡±


    ¡°But why? They used those threads on the first bug they have sent through. Even before they could see our camp.¡±


    ¡°Because, the bugs can¡¯t move without the thread!¡±


    ¡°I know Cybil, but if what you are saying is true, the first bug they would send wouldn¡¯t have the thread.¡±


    ¡°I disagree!¡± Cybil shook her finger rally fast as if that would help her win the argument somehow, ¡°you would be right in every other case, but I am certain you are wrong in this one.¡±


    ¡°And what makes you say that?¡±


    ¡°These demons are the most careful creatures we have ever seen. Each and every time they did something, they were always on the safe side. The first thing any other race would do is send a single, brave soldier through the portal and wait to see if he will return. However, not a single one of these frost demons has dared to cross the portal yet. They just sit there and let their bugs do everything dangerous for them.¡±


    ¡°Maybe, they are just cowards.¡±


    ¡°Huh! As much as I find the idea of some cowardly demons amusing, I find it hard to believe. No, these demons are insanely studious. First, they do the safest thing. And then, if it works, they start increasing the level of risk. They did send the bug without a thread eventually, right? But they only did it to see what happens, to see if the limits they thought were in place truly exist. And it turned out they were right!¡±


    ¡°You are assuming way too much,¡± Hazelmere slowly shook her head in dismissal.


    ¡°We were assuming ever since the portal was summoned, that is all we do here! Name one piece of solid evidence we have gathered!¡±


    ¡°Oh, come on!¡±


    ¡°Listen, listen,¡± Mizette jumped in, ¡°we have no way of knowing who is right, so it wouldn¡¯t hurt to consider all the possibilities. Maybe those bugs aren¡¯t constructs, but wouldn¡¯t it be wise to play safe and be ready just in case?¡±


    ¡°What is your point?¡±


    ¡°Do we have any way of fighting constructs? What if an army of constructs attacks us, how will we defend from it?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a good point,¡± Heartwell agreed wholeheartedly.


    ¡°The best we have are spells,¡± Mizette continued, ¡°and here, we have only a handful of mages whose spells can be useful against constructs. We are completely unprepared for such a scenario! So, even if Cybil isn¡¯t right, wouldn¡¯t it make sense to get prepared for it, just in case?¡±


    Hazelmere started scratching the back of her head: ¡°It is hard to argue against that argument. But what is your idea? How can we prepare ourselves?¡±


    Mizette shrugged: ¡°I have no idea, but something has to be done.¡±


    ¡°Why not ask the dwarves for help?¡± Heartwell proposed.


    ¡°The Dwarves?¡±


    ¡°You could send a letter to his Majesty, ask him to enlist some dwarves to help us. If he tells them some exotic constructs are crawling around, I doubt they¡¯ll be able to resist. They probably won¡¯t even ask for payment.¡±


    ¡°And what would you know about dwarves?¡± Cybil asked in a haughty voice.


    ¡°Clearly, much more than you! The dwarves are famous for their smithing skills, and a lot of them leave the mountains to hone their craft. So, as a military commander, I¡¯ve dealt with dwarven smiths plenty of times.¡±


    ¡°Hmm ¡­¡± Hazelmere mused, ¡°that wouldn¡¯t hurt. And, from what I have heard about them, they are also capable and proud warriors. If anyone would know how to dismantle constructs, it is them. But, what happens if they come here and it turns out those bugs aren¡¯t constructs?¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll just explain why we thought they were,¡± Heartwell continued, ¡°the dwarves are extremely hot-headed but, when calm, they¡¯re surprisingly reasonable. After all, they do spend centuries studying all kinds of crafts. You can¡¯t learn those if you¡¯re not patient and smart. Just ¡­ don¡¯t annoy them when they arrive. When annoyed, they don¡¯t think about the consequences.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you think realizing those bugs aren¡¯t constructs will annoy them?¡±


    ¡°It will do much more than that,¡± Cybil commented.


    ¡°As long as we¡¯re apologetic and reasonable, they won¡¯t mind. There are a lot of things wrong with the dwarves, but I¡¯m yet to see one of them turn down an honest apology.¡±


    Hazelmere turned to face the seven other archmages, most of which were completely quiet all this time.


    ¡°What do the rest of you think?¡±


    They shrugged, nodded their heads, made all kinds of grimaces.


    ¡°Do you have any complaints?¡±


    The archmages continued doing what they did, their behavior not affected by Hazelmere¡¯s words.


    ¡°All, right, I will go and seek an audience with the Emperor. I will see if I can ask him personally.¡±


    ¡°You were already denied twice,¡± Mizette pointed out.


    ¡°Yes, by his advisor. And now she has fallen from grace, meaning there will be nobody to stop me from seeing him.¡±


    Mizette nodded: ¡°That makes sense. And don¡¯t forget to ask about the adventuring party that is supposed to clear the dungeon below us. We still haven¡¯t received the Emperor¡¯s response.¡±


    ¡°I will. So, I guess the matter is settled. Whether those bugs are constructs or not, it doesn¡¯t matter. Maybe the dwarves can offer some insight we lack. Maybe their knack for smithing and mechanics will be useful. You are all dismissed. Except you, Heartwell. I need you to stay here for a few moments. To arrange a few things.¡±


    Mizette gave Hazelmere an uncertain stare before she left the tent with the rest of the archmages. Vukasin was the last one to go, leaving only after he had confirmed everyone else was gone.


    As soon as they were alone in the tent, Heartwell decided to start the conversation.


    ¡°Ok, how can I help?¡±


    Hazelmere straightened her posture: ¡°First of all, I want to praise you for your insight.¡±


    Hearing that made both of his brows raise up: ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡±


    ¡°Also, I want you to escort me to the palace.¡±


    ¡°Is Vukasin not satisfactory?¡±


    ¡°He is, but you are the first one who came up with the idea that those insects may be constructs. I want you to tell his Majesty exactly what you have told us. Besides, if I remember correctly, his Majesty appears to have some fondness for you.¡±


    ¡°Where did you get that idea?¡±


    ¡°I remember him being rather unofficial with you when we were summoning the portal. I think having you nearby will make it easier for his Majesty to agree.¡±


    Heartwell shook his head: ¡°No, you got it wrong. Having me in the palace won¡¯t help one bit. Besides, my duty is here, I can¡¯t move from this place. Politicking is your job.¡±


    ¡°But, you will present your idea much better than I can! Our case will be much stronger if we present it from both the magical and military perspective!¡±


    ¡°Vukasin will do it as good as I can. He was here, he knows what we were talking about. He¡¯s a smart guy, I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll remember everything.¡±


    A deep frown set on Hazelmere¡¯s face: ¡°And I guess ordering you to come with me won¡¯t help.¡±


    ¡°Yeap, that¡¯s right. My duty takes precedence over your whims. Besides, I¡¯m not interested in politics in the slightest. The further away from them I am, the better.¡±


    ¡°Fine! You¡¯re dismissed then!¡±

 Chapter 33

    ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you again, miss!¡± The well-rounded guards-commander greeted Hazelmere as soon as he saw her.


    ¡°Hopefully, I will see His Majesty this time.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re lucky because, when His Majesty learned you¡¯ve been denied the audience, he made it absolutely clear we¡¯re to send you to him as soon as you show up. So, I understand you¡¯re weary from traveling, but I don¡¯t want to get on His Majesty¡¯s bad side. And I suspect you don¡¯t want to get there either.¡±


    ¡°Good, I don¡¯t have time to waste anyway. I must return as soon as possible.¡±


    ¡°Boy! Go and see what His Majesty is doing! Tell him the royal archmage came to see him!¡± The guards-commander barked his orders to the youngest guard among them, ¡°Then, find us in the main hall!¡±


    ¡°Yes, sir!¡± The young guard saluted quickly before running off.


    Dealing with that, the round guard turned towards Hazelmere once again:


    ¡°If you¡¯ll please follow me.¡±


    ---


    Some time passed in silence as the guards, Hazelmere and Vukasin walked towards the palace entrance. The guards didn¡¯t ask any questions, and Hazelmere didn¡¯t feel like running her mouth, worried she might reveal something she shouldn¡¯t.


    The young guard rejoined them in the main hall, letting his commander know that His Majesty wanted to receive the royal archmage in the throne room. Without further ado, the guards-commander led her there.


    The big, two-piece door opened, revealing the enormous room. It was decorated will large portraits of previous Emperors hung on its walls. A huge throne sat at the far end of it. It had to be huge because the person sitting on it was gargantuan.


    The Emperor has already taken his place on the throne, holding a scepter in his right hand. And, while the throne was big enough to take most of his frame, some of his mass did spill out of it in certain places.


    As Hazelmere walked on the silken red carpet towards His Majesty, she noticed that someone was kneeling beside him. Taking a better look, she recognized the person.


    Right next to the throne kneeled Rowena, the former royal advisor. She was dressed in plain clothes and, much more importantly, had a slave collar on her neck. There was a leash attached to the collar, its opposite end held firmly in the Emperor¡¯s left hand.


    For a moment, Hazelmere¡¯s and Rowena¡¯s eyes met. But, as soon as they did, Rowena turned her gaze low in a display of shame.


    Seeing that made Hazelmere rearrange her posture, trying her best to look as proper and respectful as possible.


    ¡°Ahoy, royal advisor!¡± The Emperor greeted her, appearing to be in a merry mood.


    Hazelmere took a deep bow with Vukasin following right after: ¡°Ahoy, Your Majesty!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m saddened to hear that you¡¯ve been denied an audience with me before. Thanks to a certain, scheming harlot.¡±


    The Emperor¡¯s voice remained friendly. However, right after he said that, he yanked the leash in his hand. That made Rowena¡¯s head move against her will, hitting the sharp edge of the throne¡¯s armrest with a dull thud, eliciting a low cry of pain from her.


    ¡°I was thinking of sending someone to deliver my apologies for such a poor reception. Even though I wasn¡¯t aware of that, I am the one responsible for giving my ¡­ advisor too much of a leeway. But, in the end, I¡¯ve decided that you already have too much to deal with. And, you¡¯ll eventually be coming back anyway.¡±


    Hazelmere bowed her head respectfully: ¡°There is no need for any apology, Your Majesty.¡±


    ¡°Nonsense, of course there is! Had you been given the audience, the things would¡¯ve ended differently! Had I heard what you had to say, I would¡¯ve agreed to abandon the summoning! The responsibility for what has happened lies firmly with her!¡± The Emperor pointed his scepter at Rowena as he said that, ¡°But, I don¡¯t want to waste time ranting. You certainly came here for a good reason. Tell me, what do you seek this time?¡±


    Hazelmere took one step forward: ¡°Your Majesty, strange things have started crossing the portal. Now, before I go any further, I must say that those things didn¡¯t show any hostile intent so far. They are peaceful for now.¡±


    The Emperor¡¯s mood changed dramatically: ¡°Things? What things?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t know for sure, Your Majesty. And that is why I am here. They look like insects from afar but, upon closer inspection, some of us are thinking those may be constructs.¡±


    ¡°Insects, like, those little buggers?¡± The Emperor used his thumb and index finger to illustrate the small size.


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty, but these buggers aren¡¯t small. Some of them are as big as a person! Some of them can even talk, although we don¡¯t understand a word they say.¡±


    ¡°Have they attacked you?¡±


    ¡°No, Your Majesty. They have been peaceful so far.¡±


    ¡°Have you captured any of them?¡±


    ¡°No, Your Majesty. They are too fast. That is why I came here to ask for help. As I have said, some of us think those are constructs. And, unfortunately, our understanding of constructs is lacking. I don¡¯t think anyone in the Empire has a proper understanding of them. That is why we need help from outside of your realm, to truly understand what we are dealing with.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m certain our armies are using big constructs to fight! There¡¯s an entire order of knights which uses these constructs in battle!¡±


    ¡°Are you referring to host knights, Your majesty?¡±


    ¡°Yes, them!¡±


    ¡°Unfortunately, those aren¡¯t constructs. The hosts these knights use aren¡¯t mechanical, even though they are somewhat similar in appearance to constructs. They are magical in nature. Manipulating them takes a special magical gift, one which is a separate branch of magic. Constructs, on the other hand, are mechanical. Yes, they do use magic, but they are made from dead metal. They aren¡¯t a part of the living nature, unlike hosts.¡±


    ¡°So, you¡¯re saying those knights can¡¯t help you?¡±


    ¡°No,Your Majesty. Unfortunately, they can¡¯t. However, the dwarves could help a lot.¡±


    ¡°Hmm ¡­¡± The Emperor stroked his beard for some time. Finally, he yanked the leash in his hand, but he did it gentler this time.


    ¡°What do you say, slave advisor? Should we ask the dwarves for a favor?¡±


    Rowena kept her head low: ¡°If what the royal archmage is saying is true, and there¡¯s a chance there are some exotic constructs out there, I don¡¯t think the dwarves will see our request as a favor on their part. Besides, the other nations already know what has happened, so it¡¯s not like we¡¯ll lose some prestige when asking for help. And I¡¯m certain the dwarves will greatly appreciate the fact that we¡¯re willing to share such information with them. It may even improve the relations between our nations.¡±Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.


    ¡°Are you as certain as you were certain about summoning the portal?¡±


    Rowena kept quiet. Seeing her lack of response, The Emperor let out an annoyed grunt.


    ¡°I¡¯ll see what I can do. The dwarves have always been ¡­ weird in their customs and behavior. You never know with them. I¡¯ll send a request, and the diplomats will take it from there. If they agree to our terms, I¡¯ll have my advisors ...¡±


    The Emperor paused in his speech as he turned his gaze away from Hazelmere to look at Rowena.


    ¡°Not this one here, but the competent ones. I¡¯ll have them make sure the dwarves have everything they need. You won¡¯t have to worry about accommodating them.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty,¡± Hazelmere said while bowing her head.


    ¡°Is there anything else you need, besides me asking the dwarves for help?¡±


    ¡°There is one more thing, Your Majesty. It is about the ruins below our camp.¡±


    ¡°The ruins?¡±


    ¡°Yes, Your Majesty. I have sent a letter, asking for an adventuring party to be sent there and clear them for good. The ruins are full of monsters, and we are worried they may come to the surface and threaten our camp. If that would happen, we would lose control of the portal.¡±


    ¡°I haven¡¯t received any letter regarding that. But I¡¯ll see what I can do. Still, as far as I know, it takes moons, if not years, for the adventurers to form their parties and prepare for dungeon exploration. From what I¡¯ve heard, very few of them are eager to do it.¡±


    Hazelmere nodded her head in agreement, not saying anything.


    ¡°I¡¯ll see to it, but don¡¯t expect the adventurers to arrive any time soon.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty.¡±


    ¡°Is that all? Is there any other way I can help you with managing the portal?¡±


    ¡°No, Your Majesty. I need those two things, and nothing more at the moment.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s good. But I have a lot of things to ask you about. I got wiser since the last time we¡¯ve met, so I want you to explain everything to me: what has happened, what is happening right now, what are you planning to do, and what you¡¯ve learned so far.¡±


    ---


    It took a long time for Hazelmere to explain everything. The Emperor wanted to hear the tiniest details, continually interrupting her to ask questions about the most unimportant things, which dragged the conversation in the wrong direction.


    However, Hazelmere knew that complaining was never an option. She stood in the room for a good portion of the day, giving her best to leave the impression of professionalism, understanding, and patience. Her legs started hurting from all the standing, but she did a good job hiding it. The questioning dragged on for so long, she had to postpone her departure until the next day.


    A few weeks later, she was back in the camp. As soon as she got out of her carriage, she noticed Cybil waiting for her.


    ¡°Did something bad happen?¡± She asked in a worried voice.


    ¡°No, it has been quiet ever since you have left. No new bugs have tried coming here.¡±


    ¡°Then why are you here? I doubt you came here to greet me.¡±


    That made Cybil smirk: ¡°Of course not. I just came to tell you that we have a guest.¡±


    ¡°A guest?¡±


    ¡°Yes, and a very welcome one, but I don¡¯t want to spoil the surprise for you. He arrived last week and insisted he will stay here until you return. You will find him in your tent.¡±


    ¡°I mean ¡­ thanks for letting me know, I guess. But why isn¡¯t Mizette the one telling me this? I would expect her to care more about me than you do.¡±


    ¡°That is certainly the case, especially since she isn¡¯t fond of me. But, she was kind enough to let me know she will be busy for a while, so I thought it would be fair to tell you this before you start undressing in your tent. We may not like each other, but we have no other choice but to cooperate now.¡±


    ¡°I ¡­ agree. Thanks. But what is Mizette doing? What is she busy with?¡±


    ¡°I have no idea, and I don¡¯t care. I do appreciate her telling me she won¡¯t be available if I need her though.¡±


    ¡°Aha. Ok, I will be on my way now. I don¡¯t want to keep the guest waiting.¡±


    Hearing the news, Hazelmere rushed towards her tent. As she removed the curtain from the entrance, the intense, sudden whiteness pierced her eyes.


    Her eyes adjusted quickly, making her realize those were big, white wings.


    ¡°Oh, miss royal archmage!¡± A pleasant, soothing voice spoke, ¡°I apologize for the intrusion.¡±


    Hazelmere bowed her head instinctively: ¡°You aren¡¯t intruding at all! It¡¯s an honor to have you here!¡±


    The angel smiled genuinely: ¡°I understand you must be overwhelmed so, in the case you have forgotten, my name is Galizur.¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes, yes, I do remember,¡± seeing the angel¡¯s androgynous, but nevertheless beautiful, face made her smile go wide.


    ¡°I came to see how you are doing, and if you need any help. Though, there isn¡¯t much I can help you with until your Emperor agrees to accept our help.¡±


    ¡°He will accept it. There is no doubt about it.¡±


    ¡°I am not so sure ¡­ your Emperor clearly has plans of his own.¡±


    ¡°He will accept because he understands we need all the help we can get. The creatures on the other side haven¡¯t shown any hostile intent yet, but anyone who makes hulking, wild beasts run away as soon as they see them has to be extremely dangerous.¡±


    Galizur sat down, relaxing his muscles while doing so: ¡°Please, tell me about those creatures. I am very curious about them. Do they look like demons? Do they have horns, claws, devilish tails? What is the color of their skin?¡±


    Hazelmere took a seat next to him: ¡°There are so many different kinds of creatures on the other side! There are these beings who have people-like silhouettes, but we can¡¯t get a good look at them because they are very secretive and careful. But I better start at the beginning.


    Hazelmere went to great lengths to describe everything she saw and everything that has happened so far. Galizur mostly kept quiet, interrupting her only when her descriptions were vague and unsatisfactory. The angel proved himself to be a very patient and attentive listener.


    ¡°So, you don¡¯t know if those are constructs or living beings?¡±


    ¡°Exactly! There is merit to both hypotheses, which is why we need someone who knows more about the constructs than we do.¡±


    ¡°Hmm ¡­ the dwarves are indeed your best option. But be prepared, they are the most unpleasant race I have ever had the displeasure of conversing with. For each good quality they have, you will find several disturbing flaws. Their bad tempers are famous all over the Greadinall. Just a single word is enough to enrage them.¡±


    ¡°With the fate of the world at stake, I have no other choice.¡±


    ¡°I understand, just ¡­ be careful.¡±


    Hazelmere¡¯s tail fluttered a bit upon hearing those words.


    ¡°Thank you for everything,¡± Galizur continued, ¡°you have certainly made my job much easier. We in the heavens must know what is happening, so we could intervene if necessary. But, I also came to ensure you are aware of the newest developments yourself. I am not certain how much the Emperor is willing to reveal to you, so I realized it would be for the best to ensure you know what is happening in the world.¡±


    ¡°Did something important happen?¡±


    ¡°You could say so. The rulers of all the nations of Greadinall have been summoned to discuss everything related to the portal. Of course, your Emperor has been summoned too, although he hasn¡¯t answered the summons so far.¡±


    ¡°So, does that mean some armies will be sent to defend the portal?¡±


    ¡°In the perfect scenario, yes. However, the silence of your Emperor worries us. We are worried that the war between your Empire and the hosagians can be used as an excuse to prevent the armies from reaching the portal. It is of the vital importance to stop a demonic invasion at the portal itself, but your Emperor may not agree to it.¡±


    Hazelmere eyed Galizur warily: ¡°If that does happen, would that start a new war? With everyone joining to fight our Empire?¡±


    Galizur let out a long sigh: ¡°I don¡¯t know. That remains to be seen. It is one of the things we will discuss. And it is bound to be a long and heated discussion. If we don¡¯t stop the demons here, at the portal, it will be much harder to fight them. But, fighting your Empire would weaken the armies, which would also make it harder to fight the demons.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    ¡°In any case, nothing is certain so far. But, whatever is decided, I will fly here to let you know. You have too much to worry about already. Also ¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°I apologize for any inconvenience, but could I stay here for some time? I would like to be here as a representative of the heavens, and maybe I could help you if the need arises. Would that be a bother?¡±


    ¡°No, no, of course not!¡±


    Realizing Galizur could misinterpret that, Hazelmere started waving her hands vigorously, with a panicked look on her face.


    ¡°I mean ¡­ it¡¯s not a bother! You can stay here for as long as you like!¡±


    Galizur just smiled cutely at how flustered she was: ¡°Thank you. I will stay in this tent. I prefer it the most. And, if you remember, there is no need for you to feel bad about it.¡±


    Feeling even more flustered now, Hazelmere jumped out of the chair: ¡°That¡¯s fine, that¡¯s fine, whatever you prefer. I have to go now ¡­ and talk with my subordinates. I must see what has happened while I was away.¡±


    Galizur smiled knowingly once again: ¡°I understand.¡±


    ¡°Ok, I¡¯ll ¡­ see you later,¡± Hazelmere said as she turned away, running out of the tent.


    As soon as she was out, she started quietly talking to herself.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that angel? Is he ¡­ teasing me? Why would he say that? Anyway, I better go and see what Mizette has been doing. If she¡¯s busy, that must mean she¡¯s working hard on something. As her best friend, I should offer to help.¡±


    So, she strode through the camp with a newfound purpose. Luckily, Mizette¡¯s tent wasn¡¯t far away from hers.


    She didn¡¯t bother announcing her presence as she walked through the entrance.


    ¡°Hey Mizette, I am back! I have heard you are working on some ¡­ what in the heavens are the two of you doing!¡±

 Chapter 34

    Hazelmere¡¯s uninvited appearance in Mizette¡¯s tent led to ¡­ let¡¯s say, a lot of confused, unarticulated screeching. The next day, Mizette tried to sort things out.


    ¡°Hazelmere, are you in there?¡±


    Not hearing any response, Mizette entered the tent. Hazelmere was sitting in front of the table, trying her best to look busy, even though it was obvious she wasn¡¯t.


    ¡°We need to talk,¡± Mizette kept her voice gentle yet firm. She noticed Galizur was in Hazelmere¡¯s tent, but that didn¡¯t dissuade her one bit.


    ¡°No, we don¡¯t. There is nothing we need to talk about,¡± her friend didn¡¯t hide any hostility though.


    ¡°I ¡­ I will take a ¡­ stroll through the camp,¡± Galizur had a very uneasy look on his face, clearly very eager to get away from the impending emotional confrontation.


    Mizette continued as soon as Galizur has left: ¡°I don¡¯t understand, why are you like that? I thought you of all people would understand me.¡±


    Hazelmere lifted her eyes up, without moving her head: ¡°Excuse me?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand, that was nothing to be upset about.¡±


    ¡°My best friend, the one person I trust, turned out to be a peasant-fucker. How am I supposed to react to that?¡±


    Mizette gasped: ¡°Well, I¡¯m so sorry, miss perfect! Miss, ¡®nobody is judging me for my own sexual exploits¡¯!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s different!¡±


    ¡°How is it any different?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m aware of my station! I don¡¯t fuck filthy, dark-skinned peasants! Yes, I¡¯m far from pure, and yet, even I know better than to fuck everyone!¡±


    Those words made the gentleness in Mizette¡¯s voice disappear completely: ¡°And who are you to tell me who I¡¯m allowed to fuck! I¡¯ve never judged you for any of your poor choices, so why are you judging mine?¡±


    ¡°Because your choices are unnatural!¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Yes, you¡¯ve heard me right! Peasants and nobles aren¡¯t supposed to mix! I was willing to forget what had happened the ¡­ what had happened when you were supposed to keep your eyes on the portal. I thought: MIzette is a good girl, she just got tricked into it. She just needed an outlet to vent her frustrations out. It won¡¯t happen again. And then, I catch you fucking a peasant once again, Heartwell at that! People like you are diluting the noble blood, making all of us weaker!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯m planning to have children with them! And besides, who else is left? Show me a single noble male in the camp, and I¡¯ll admit you have a point! Vukasin is the only one, and he¡¯s completely uninterested! He is too pure a knight to be of any use! I didn¡¯t get the chance to travel to the palace like you did!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s just an excuse! And do you honestly think I had the time to do anything while traveling there? The same Vukasin you¡¯re complaining about kept his eye on me every time I went anywhere outside the camp! If I can keep my desires in check, so can you!¡±


    Mizette grabbed her forehead while shaking her head in disbelief: ¡°I don¡¯t understand, I¡¯ve never imagined you¡¯d act this way!¡±


    ¡°Well, how did you imagine I¡¯d act?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve expected you¡¯d be reasonable! You¡¯ve never cared about what the others say or do! I¡¯ve always admired that in you, you know! When you became the royal archmage, you didn¡¯t wait for one moment to do as you wish. You knew the others disapproved of it, calling you all kinds of names, but you never cared for any of that. I¡¯ve always admired how you are strong enough to do what you want, and I wished I had just a tiny portion of that strength. I wish I were strong enough to defy my family as you do! That¡¯s why I got curious about you. I wanted to see what is the source of that strength. And, as I was spending more and more time with you, I started liking you enough to become your friend. Despite your many flaws, mind you! And yet, here you are, judging me just like the others judge you!¡±Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.


    ¡°It¡¯s different!¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s not!¡±


    ¡°Go and do whatever you want with the nobles, I don¡¯t care! You¡¯re an archmage, you¡¯ve worked hard and have sacrificed a lot, you deserve to do as you wish! But the moment you start fucking peasants is the moment you¡¯ve turned your back on your own kind! You might as well start fucking horses at that point, it wouldn¡¯t make much of a difference!¡±


    Mizette¡¯s jaw went straight to the floor. She stared at Hazelmere for a few moments, having no idea what to say.


    She composed herself eventually. Her stance and mannerisms changed dramatically though. Her voice became cold as spite started beaming out of her eyes.


    ¡°Is that so?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s just how it is.¡±


    ¡°I see ¡­ I know why you¡¯re so angry. You didn¡¯t care when you caught me with several of them, but you do care now. You care a lot. I didn¡¯t even consider bringing it up but, if you¡¯re going to be merciless towards me, then it¡¯s only fair for me to respond in kind.¡±


    ¡°Do your worst, freak!¡±


    ¡°You aren¡¯t upset at me fucking peasants. You¡¯re upset at me fucking Heartwell.¡±


    Hazelmere¡¯s ears twitched in irritation.


    ¡°I¡¯ve seen the way you started acting towards him, the way you started looking at him. I¡¯ve never seen you act like that towards any other male before. And there were so many of them.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re delusional.¡±


    ¡°We need him at his best ¡­ my ass! You were after him this whole time! But you couldn¡¯t make a move because you¡¯re too scared of what the others will say! Hazelmere, a whorish archmage who never cared about what the others think, got scared for the first time! What will my dad say when he learns I¡¯m fucking a peasant?¡± Mizette said in a mockingly, high-pitched voice, ¡°What will everyone in the court think when they realize I truly will fuck anything that moves? And now, you¡¯re upset because someone else dared to do it before you! You¡¯re pissed because I¡¯ve snatched him right in front of you!¡±


    ¡°You have no idea what you¡¯re talking about! I¡¯m not degenerate like you!¡±


    ¡°Oh, really? I bet you¡¯ve already fucked the entire court! Tell me, I¡¯m curious, what does the Emperor¡¯s fat dick taste like? Have you been performing your royal duties properly?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no way I¡¯d ever do it what that disgusting sack of lard! Unlike you, I have some standards!¡±


    Mizette put her hand in front of her mouth, feigning worry in an overly exaggerated manner: ¡°My, my, miss Hazelmere ¡­ such disrespect towards the Emperor! And you¡¯re the royal archmage at that! What would his majesty say if he¡¯d hear of what you¡¯ve said about him? What would everyone else think if they¡¯d learn of the disrespect you have for his majesty? His royal archmage disrespecting him like that!¡±


    ¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare!¡±


    They stared at each other for some time, neither of them willing to break the eye contact.


    But eventually, Hazelmere realized that silence won¡¯t solve anything.


    ¡°It was just a slip of the tongue¡­ I didn¡¯t really mean that ¡­¡±


    Mizette responded in a less edgy voice: ¡°You¡¯re right ¡­ I wouldn¡¯t dare. I wouldn¡¯t dare hurt my friend like that. No matter how vile your opinion of his majesty is, I would never dare report my friend. Not because I¡¯d be scared to do it, but because I could never go on, knowing I¡¯ve hurt someone I cared about. Unlike you. But, I¡¯m slowly starting to think you¡¯ve never cared about me at all.¡±


    Mizette approached Hazelmere, leaning over the table so their faces would be right next to one other.


    ¡°Unlike you, I do care about my friends. I care so much, I¡¯m willing to make some serious compromises on my part. I¡¯m willing to share. After all, I do realize you also need some dicking from time to time. And now, when there are no nobles around, your gaping cunt has started craving some dirty, peasant dick. But it¡¯s ok, you don¡¯t have to hide it from me. Since you¡¯re my friend, I don¡¯t mind sharing Heartwell with you. I don¡¯t mind teaching you the basics of peasant-fucking through practical lessons. After all, that¡¯s a proper next step for a slut like you, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    SMACK!!!


    Mizette put her hand on her cheek slowly, but her facial expression didn¡¯t change. She just stared Hazelmere in the eyes, saying:


    ¡°Now you¡¯ve done it.¡±


    She jumped Hazelmere over the table, knocking the chair her friend was sitting on to the ground. Struggling for a bit, she managed to stay on top. However, instead of trying to hit Hazelmere, she settled for pulling her friend¡¯s hair. And her friend responded in kind.


    ¡°You damn, selfish whore! I¡¯m offering a generous solution! Is that the way to thank a friend who¡¯s willing to compromise!¡±


    ¡°Get off of me, you freak! I¡¯m not sharing some filthy dick with you!¡±


    ¡°So, you want it all to yourself, huh? Even though I was first!¡±


    Hazelmere managed to shake Mizette off after some tussling, making the fight shift from a straddling into a rolling-on-the-ground, hair-pulling match with a lot of screaming and cursing involved. Being physically even meant that neither of them could get enough of an advantage to end the fight.


    Not even Heartwell entering the tent could stop them.


    ¡°What¡¯s going here? Stop it!¡± He said in his best, authoritative voice while inserting himself in-between as he tried to separate them. However, making two females let go of each other¡¯s hair turned out to be much harder than stopping a fistfight.


    ¡°What are you doing here? Get out!¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t you see we¡¯re having a serious archmage debate here? Clearly, the one with more hair left has magic on her side!¡±


    ¡°You can have that any time, but now! The demons are coming!¡±


    ¡°Get this whore off of me then! She¡¯s the one who started it!¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve slapped me first!¡±


    ¡°Too bad I don¡¯t have a peasant dick to slap you with, isn¡¯t it?¡±


    That got Heartwell thinking: ¡°Peasant ¡­ what ¡­ oh, great. Does this have anything to do with what has happened yesterday?¡±


    For a moment, both of them stopped pulling each other¡¯s hair as they simultaneously got in Heartwell¡¯s face.


    ¡°NO!¡±

 Chapter 35

    It took a lot of time and Vukasin¡¯s help to break the two archmages apart. Seeing what was going on, he ran outside and returned with some ropes. That finally fixed the problem.


    ¡°Have the two of you calmed down, or do I need to take you outside like that?¡± Heartwell asked.


    ¡°I¡¯m calm now,¡± Mizette responded, while Hazelmere kept quiet.


    ¡°Maybe you didn¡¯t hear me, but a demon is approaching. A huge bug! A bug bigger than any we¡¯ve seen before. We need you outside, meaning you¡¯ll come on your own, or I¡¯ll drag you outside like that. You can go back to pulling each other¡¯s hair as soon as the bug is gone, but not before. So, will you behave?¡±


    Mizette fixed him with a frowning glare: ¡°We appreciate the help Heartwell, but don¡¯t patronize us like we¡¯re some misbehaving children. We had plenty of reasons to fight. And, if what you¡¯re saying is true, now we have a good reason not to.¡±


    ¡°Then let¡¯s go, so you can see it yourselves.¡±


    Heartwell removed the ropes, but he and Vukasin kept the girls as far away from each other as possible, just in case.


    ¡°Wait, we can¡¯t go like this. Give me a few moments,¡± Hazelmere¡¯s said.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have the time!¡±


    ¡°And we can¡¯t let the others see us like this! My subordinates shouldn¡¯t see me fighting a fellow archmage.¡±


    She got two combs from a stash, throwing one to Mizette.


    ¡°Here, take one. You need it too.¡±


    Mizette opened her mouth instinctively but stopped herself before uttering a sound.


    The two females combed their hair quickly. Their hair was still a mess, but at least it now looked like a sleepy mess instead of a thunder-struck mess it used to be.


    Dealing with that quickly, all of them ran outside. By the time they got there, the demonic bug was already in front of the palisade.


    This bug was much larger than the others, just like Heartwell said. However, Hazelmere didn¡¯t expect it to be that big. It was much bigger than the talking bug they saw before and much, much fatter. While the talking bug was slim and thin, this one was as tall as half of the palisade. It looked like a giant caterpillar, with a boxy frame instead of a round one. Its thin, insectoid legs went in two rows, with the upper row sitting right at the middle of its body. Hazelmere couldn¡¯t help but wonder: ¡°what is that upper row of legs for? It¡¯s certainly not for moving on the ground.¡±


    ¡°Oh, good, you are finally here,¡± Cybil said, ¡°what took you so long?¡±


    ¡°We had a lot to discuss,¡± Hazelmere responded in a gloomy voice, ¡°what is it doing?¡±


    ¡°Nothing so far. It is just standing there. But, then again, it reached the camp not so long ago. Look, this one even has a nose, like that ugly thing with antlers we saw on the other side.¡±


    As soon as Cybil said that, the thing started turning in place while making loud, labored noises. It huffed and puffed a great deal as smoke started coming out from its sides.


    ¡°Is that smoke coming out of its nostrils?¡± Hazelmere asked.


    ¡°No way!¡± Cybil responded, ¡°That¡¯s where the ears are supposed to be! Creatures don¡¯t have their nostrils separated like that! Besides, its nose is clearly on the front. Do you see that boxy bulge which takes almost its entire face?¡±


    ¡°What, you think it is fuming out of its ears?¡±


    ¡°It sounds strange, but why not? It wouldn¡¯t be the strangest thing we have seen. Though, I have never heard of fuming constructs.¡±


    ¡°We still don¡¯t know if those are the constructs or not. That is just a wild guess. Wait ¡­ it stopped moving. What is it doing now?¡±


    ¡°It has turned its back to us. Don¡¯t you think that is a stupid thing to do?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, maybe ¡­¡±


    As Hazelmere spoke, the caterpillar¡¯s rear end slid off from its body completely, as if it was sliced off with a huge, sharp knife. With the body gone, a bony skeleton revealed itself. The only thing left of its fat body was a small portion at the front, with the boxy nose and numerous legs. That, and the skeleton which kept everything in place.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    After losing most of its body, the caterpillar left in the same manner it came, completely unconcerned with what it has left behind.


    Looking at the disposed body sitting in front of the palisade, Hazelmere noticed there were no legs on it. Her first assumption was that those were perhaps two creatures, or constructs, masquerading as one, but the retreating thing still had both rows of legs on it.


    With the caterpillar running away, everyone focused their attention on what is has discarded.


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me it came all the way here just to take a massive dump on us,¡± One of the soldiers commented.


    Which made Heartwell hit the soldier¡¯s helmet with his palm: ¡°Now¡¯s not the time for lame jokes, jackass! Focus!¡±


    A standoff ensued, with nobody willing to make a move.


    ¡°What is it waiting for?¡± Cybil asked nobody in particular.


    Hazelmere¡¯s ears twitched as she remembered something.


    ¡°Is that priestess here?¡±


    ¡°¡­ yes ¡­ I¡¯m here ¡­¡±


    Hazelmere didn¡¯t see her in the crowd, but she didn¡¯t have to.


    ¡°Can you sense anything?¡±


    ¡°¡­ no ¡­ nothing ¡­¡±


    ¡°But, of course, that doesn¡¯t have to mean anything because the energy these demons emit isn¡¯t detectible,¡± Cybil pointed out.


    ¡°Yes, but ¡­ it isn¡¯t moving at all.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s because it¡¯s a metal container,¡± Heartwell said.


    Hazelmere turned her head to look at him: ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m confident it¡¯s a metal container.¡±


    ¡°Container for what?¡±


    ¡°I have no idea, but I can recognize metal when I see it.¡±


    ¡°That is impossible! Look at the size of that thing!¡± Cybil protested, ¡°If it were made out of metal, it would be too heavy to carry around! There is no way that frail skeleton could carry it all the way here!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m telling you, it¡¯s a container! Look at the top of it! Can¡¯t you see how something is neatly arranged there? And can¡¯t you see there¡¯s a frame around it, holding everything in place?¡±


    ¡°It does look like a huge cup,¡± Mizette agreed.


    ¡°Hmm ¡­ ok, it does look like a squarish cup when I take a better look. But what would it hold?¡±


    ¡°Gifts, maybe?¡±


    Everyone turned to look at Mizette.


    ¡°I mean ¡­ they showed no hostility towards us, right? Not even when we shot an arrow at them.¡±


    ¡°That is way too na?ve,¡± Cybil protested.


    ¡°Yes it is, but who knows?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s an easy way to find out. I¡¯ll send two soldiers to inspect the thing. Then, we¡¯ll know for sure.¡±


    But, just as Heartwell opened his mouth to bark his orders, Hazelmere interrupted him.


    ¡°No!¡±


    He looked at her with a confused look on his face: ¡°What no?¡±


    ¡°No! We aren¡¯t sending anyone! It¡¯s a trap!¡±


    ¡°A trap?¡±


    ¡°Yes, a trap, you oaf!¡±


    ¡°Huh, didn¡¯t hear that one for a long time.¡±


    ¡°Silence!¡± Hazelmere lashed out at him, ¡°If that¡¯s really a metal container, then it¡¯s a perfect cover for the enemy, right?¡±


    Heartwell kept quiet.


    ¡°What, you can¡¯t hear what I¡¯m saying?¡±


    ¡°You told me to keep ¡­¡±


    ¡°Speak!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s your problem? Why are you so worked up?¡±


    ¡°That metal box provides a perfect cover for the invaders! The moment our soldiers come close, they¡¯ll jump out of it and surprise us!¡±


    ¡°What, you¡¯re a strategic mastermind now, huh?¡±


    Saying that, Mizette got in Hazelmere¡¯s face, looking quite irritated and being openly aggressive. Seeing what¡¯s happening, Heartwell jumped between them before it¡¯s too late.


    ¡°We don¡¯t have time for this!¡± His voice had a hint of pleading in it.


    ¡°You¡¯re right, we don¡¯t!¡± Hazelmere continued, ¡°I¡¯m not waiting for our enemies to make the first move! Mages!¡± She started shouting,¡± Every mage who is capable of casting even the lowest fireball spell! Prepare it, and get ready to shoot it onto the invaders!¡±


    ¡°Wait Hazelmere, wait!¡± Heartwell tried reasoning with her.


    ¡°That¡¯s ¡®miss royal archmage¡¯ for you!¡±


    ¡°Look, we have no idea what¡¯s inside! Let me send two guys to investigate! Even if you¡¯re right, and I admit you may be, sending two guys to investigate is a negligible loss! But, think what will happen if you¡¯re wrong!¡±


    ¡°We¡¯ll be the ones held responsible for starting the war if you¡¯re wrong, you dumb whore!¡± Unlike Heartwell, Mizette didn¡¯t hold back, surprising even Cybil with her venom.


    ¡°Spells at the ready!¡±


    ¡°Please, think of the possible ¡­¡±


    ¡°Shoot the fireballs!¡±


    Streaks of fireballs flew from the palisade towards the strange thing, with half of them missing it. However, the ones that did manage to hit also managed to set it on fire. Even so, more and more fireballs continued landing until the mages got tired from spending their mana.


    The edgy container burned beautifully, with flames rising quite high. Whatever was inside of it made for some excellent fuel.


    ¡°I hear no screams yet,¡± Cybil pointed out while everyone else kept quiet.


    The fire raged on and on, showing no sign of dwindling anytime soon. Even though it started in the morning, it lasted almost until the sunset.


    And yet, no screams could be heard at all.


    Finally, when the fire and the smoke have stopped, Heartwell went for the improvised gates.


    ¡°Where do you think you are going?¡± Hazelmere asked in a stern voice.


    He continued as if he didn¡¯t hear a thing. Reading the atmosphere, Hazelmere decided against saying anything more than that.


    Crossing the gates, Heartwell went straight for the big, charred box. Placing his hand on it, he confirmed it wasn¡¯t red hot anymore. Inspecting it from up close, he realized the box was designed in a way that made accessing it very easy. There were even carved up steps in it so that people could climb it.


    He jumped in without hesitation as everyone else gawked from the safety of the palisade.


    It didn¡¯t take long for him to get out, holding something charred in his right hand. As he got back into the camp, everyone kept a fair distance away from whatever it was that he was carrying.


    However, Hazelmere couldn¡¯t escape him. He reached her from below, without climbing the palisade, dropping the charred object at her feet. As it fell, small, burnt flakes flew out of it.


    ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± She screamed at him.


    After giving her a scornful glare, he turned around and walked away without saying a word.


    ¡°What is that?¡± Cybil¡¯s voice was so low, it was almost a whisper.


    ¡°It¡¯s ¡­ whatever it was, it is charcoal now,¡± Hazelmere remarked.


    Cybil kneeled, picking up the charred object.


    ¡°What are you doing? We have no idea if it¡¯s safe!¡±


    Paying no attention to Hazelmere¡¯s words, Cybil examined the object. She twisted and rotated it, observing it from every direction. Then, she grabbed it with both hands, splitting it open. As she did so, big chunks of it started falling to the ground one after another.


    ¡°It is a book,¡± she finally said.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°It is a burnt book. And I bet that big thing is full of them.¡±

 Chapter 36

    BAM!!!


    ¡°Umm ¡­¡±


    BAM!!!


    ¡°Miss Hazelmere?¡±


    BAM!!!


    ¡°That is not what the desks are for.¡±


    BAM!!!


    Hazelmere had no choice but to stop banging her forehead on the desk because that last hit wasn¡¯t only painful, it also made her vision spin. Staggering quite a bit, she somehow managed to sit on the chair. Galizur could do nothing but observe in awe. The strange, self-destructive behavior he witnessed completely went against any logic he knew.


    Hazelmere rested her face on the desk she was smashing it against just a moment ago, sprawling her arms over it.


    ¡°Are you ok, miss Hazelmere?¡± Galizur approached her carefully.


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Can I help you somehow? Your head must hurt a lot.¡±


    ¡°My soul hurts more.¡±


    That gave Galizur pause: ¡°I am ¡­ not sure I understand.¡±


    ¡°I ¡­ I don¡¯t think I¡¯m cut out for this ¡­¡±


    ¡°For what?¡±


    ¡°All of this. I¡¯m ¡­ I¡¯m starting to think I¡¯m not worthy of this title.¡±


    ¡°The title of the royal archmage?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Everything is fine until I try doing something on my own. As long as I do as the others say, it¡¯s fine. But, as soon as I do something the way I want, everything goes to shit.¡±


    Galizur wanted to say something to make her feel better, but his honest, angelic nature prevented him from doing so.


    ¡°I¡¯m ¡­ I¡¯m ¡­¡±


    He heard Hazelmere¡¯s voice distort slowly as her breathing intensified. Soon, her words turned into sobs as tears started streaming down her cheeks.


    ¡°I¡¯m a ¡­ f-f-failure! I¡¯m ¡­ only good at ¡­ f-following the others and ¡­ d-doing as they say! Every time I¡¯ve ¡­ disregarded other people¡¯s ¡­ opinions ¡­ it turned into a disaster! I even managed to get Peratha killed! All because ¡­ I wanted to act on my own! And now ¡­ I¡¯ve declared a ¡­ war ¡­ on those demons ¡­ gods only know how many people will die because of me!¡±


    Galizur just stood there, not knowing what to say or do. Such emotional outbursts were totally alien to him.


    ¡°I¡¯m ¡­ not worthy! Someone else should have it! Cybil! Yes, Cybil is much better than I am! I bet ¡­ if she was ¡­ in my place ¡­ she¡¯d handle everything better! She wouldn¡¯t get anyone killed! She wouldn¡¯t ¡­ alienate her friend! She wouldn¡¯t ¡­ burn the books!¡±


    ¡°Have you alienated your friend?¡± Galizur¡¯s voice was even more gentle than usual.


    ¡°I ¡­ I fought with ¡­ Mizette ¡­ just before the big demon came.¡±


    ¡°Fought over what?¡±


    Hazelmere responded with nothing but more sobbing.


    ¡°If that is something you don¡¯t want to share, I respect that. However, I am not sure if you are right.¡±


    ¡°About ¡­ what?¡±


    ¡°About the others being more fitting for your role.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t it ¡­ obvious? Who else could ¡­ fail this hard?¡±


    ¡°I am not going to deny that you have made many mistakes. I have talked with the others before you have returned from the palace, so I am aware of the things that have transpired. Yes, there were many errors on your part, but I am not sure that necessarily means someone else is more suited to handle this. There is a real chance the others would have made the same mistakes in your place, maybe even worse ones. Besides, you mortals have no other choice. You people can only gain wisdom by learning from your mistakes. And, while there is no denying that you are learning at a terrifying pace, the most important thing is that you are learning. You are gaining some wisdom from all of this. The very fact that you have started questioning if you are the right person for the job is proof that you are becoming wiser. Very few mortals are capable of questioning their own actions and, maybe, that is exactly the kind of person that is needed right now. Maybe, that quality will prove to be much more useful than anything else. Maybe, in this case, a leader who is willing to listen is better than a leader who is eager to give orders.¡±


    ¡°I ¡­ appreciate the effort ¡­ but ¡­ I still think I¡¯m unworthy.¡±


    ¡°That is true. You aren¡¯t worthy of your title. You are right when you say that Cybil is better suited for it. She is calmer, more mature, has more confidence in her abilities, is far less prone to sudden emotional outbursts, and many other things. But, just because she is more worthy of being the royal archmage doesn¡¯t mean she would handle it any better. Being unworthy of something doesn¡¯t mean you can¡¯t succeed in it. After all, wouldn¡¯t that be your ultimate triumph? Wouldn¡¯t it be great to succeed even though you aren¡¯t worthy?¡±Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    ¡°I ¡­ I have a hard time ¡­ believing ¡­ this will get any better.¡±


    ¡°Still, it could have been much worse. The demonic armies aren¡¯t pouring through, and they have shown us they are interested in negotiating. I don¡¯t think their intentions are pure, but at least they aren¡¯t mindless beasts like the demons we are used to.¡±


    He starred patting Hazelmere slowly and clumsily: ¡°Why not try to make the most out of it? They have sent you the books so why not return the gesture and send some of your books to them? When they saw you burn their books, they have probably concluded that you aren¡¯t interested in negotiations but, if you give them some of your books, maybe they will realize you didn¡¯t do it on purpose.¡±


    ¡°You think ¡­ that will work?¡± Hazelmere¡¯s sobbing was slowly losing its intensity.


    ¡°It wouldn¡¯t hurt to try! The fact that they have sent you the books shows that they value knowledge. And, from what I have heard, they have been acting in a very academic way all this time. We may be dealing with a rational, intelligent kind of demons.¡±


    ¡°Do such ¡­ demons exist?¡±


    ¡°Yes, they do. Most demons are irrational and overly emotional, acting solely on their feelings and instincts. But there is a tiny minority of rational demons. And, seeing how this new hell is the exact opposite of the hell we know of, there is a chance the rational demons are in the majority there.¡±


    All of a sudden, Galizur¡¯s expression changed into a troubled one.


    ¡°Although, truth be told, the rational demons are much more dangerous than their irrational kin.¡±


    ¡°I have figured as much. Just my luck, I guess. But I¡¯ve never heard of such demons. Do the heavens know of them?¡±


    ¡°They are clever and manipulative. While religions try to unite the people under a single banner, to serve a common goal, these demons do their best to divide them into small groups and then make them fight each other. But, as long as we remain faithful, those demons can¡¯t harm us. The point is, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to send them some books. Unfortunately, we don¡¯t know what kind of books they have sent us, so we have no idea what they are interested in. Still, it is mainly a gesture of good will. It is about showing them there is no need to fight. After all, you don¡¯t give books to your enemies.¡±


    ¡°You think they aren¡¯t interested in invading this world?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, maybe they are, but it wouldn¡¯t hurt to play their game. As long as we have nothing to lose, of course. Besides, that would buy us some time. And that is what we need the most right now. We need to buy the rulers of Greadinall time to reach an understanding. We must buy them time to unify Greadinall. Then, if these demons do show any hostile intent, it will be much easier to fight them.¡±


    Hazelmere straightened up, wiping the tears from her face with the sleeves of her dress.


    ¡°I¡¯ve brought some books with me. We can send those.¡±


    ¡°But please, don¡¯t send them any books about magic. We don¡¯t want them to know how magic works in this world.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I agree. I have some other books with me. More focused on entertainment than knowledge.¡±


    ¡°Those books would be perfect.¡±


    Hazelmere walked towards the big chest sitting in the corner of her tent, next to her bed. She opened it up, revealing plenty of neatly arranged books inside.


    ¡°This chest was very expensive, but it is worth every coin. It even survived that huge thunder which has smashed the entire camp, while I had to bring a brand new bed in,¡± she commented while browsing the books.


    But, as soon as she said that, her hands stopped moving.


    ¡°Speaking of that huge thunder ¡­ what have the heavens decided? Will you be trying to close the portal again? You didn¡¯t succeed the last time but, maybe you will be victorious if you try again?¡±


    Galizur¡¯s big wings waved uncomfortably: ¡°There will be no new attempts. It wouldn¡¯t make a difference. We would only waste our precious energy.¡±


    ¡°How do you know that?¡±


    ¡°Maybe you mortals have forgotten about it, so let me remind you, just in case. Have you noticed that all the heroic tales are about a mortal hero slaying an evil, magical monster with a sword?¡±


    ¡°Ok but, what about it?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you find that strange? Wouldn¡¯t it make more sense for the heavens to strike the monster down? There are gods, angels, spirits, all kinds of other divine beings. And yet, in the end, it is always up to some mortal to defeat the villain? Why do you think that is the case?¡±


    The more Hazelmere thought about it, the more confused she looked.


    ¡°I ¡­ I don¡¯t know. I¡¯ve never thought about it.¡±


    ¡°That is because the world is constantly in balance. The energy which makes the world, and is deciding its course, is constantly in balance. And, since everything is created and determined through energy, even good and evil are balanced. That is because the energy is always seeking to balance itself out. That is its very nature. If it weren¡¯t so, no life would exist. All life is dependent on it. Yes, there are moments when the balance is shattered and the chaos takes over, but those times are short-lived. Even when the balance is shattered, the energy seeks to establish a new balance as soon as possible, which it eventually does. The chaotic times only serve to shift the balance, since they can never truly destroy it.¡±


    ¡°And, what that has to do with my original question?¡±


    ¡°Everything! You see, the gods have created the mortals to be useful. They didn¡¯t create you just because they felt like it. They were more than happy existing on their own. However, all the gods have quickly realized that the gods who were neither good nor evil are the only ones who can change things. As I have already explained, good and evil eventually balance each other out. However, those who are neither good nor evil can tip the balance at any time. Both the good and the evil gods got tired of these neutral gods being the most influential, so they have decided to create the mortals to change that. Gods made you mortals to be neutral on purpose, because that way you aren¡¯t limited by the balance. You can become either good or evil, the choice is yours. Therefore, just like the neutral gods, the mortals can tip the scales at any time. That is also why you mortals aren¡¯t magical, even though you can use magic.¡±


    ¡°But, if these neutral gods can change the balance at will, then what chances do we have against them?¡±


    ¡°The thing with the neutral gods is that they aren¡¯t unified. All of them have their own opinions and aren¡¯t known for cooperating with each other. That is why, in most cases, these gods take the opposite sides. Some neutral gods join good ones, while others join the evil ones. That makes the balance restore itself, quite ironically at that. However, there are times when most of the neutral gods join one side.¡±


    ¡°Is that what had happened when you tried to close the portal?¡±


    Galizur fidgeted uncomfortably: ¡°Well ¡­ no. We had most of the neutral gods on our side, which is why we were confident about our success. But ¡­ a strange god showed up, one that rarely takes sides. And this god is one of the most powerful gods out there.¡±


    ¡°Yesis ¡­¡± Hazelmere whispered carefully, as if just saying that name out loud could cause great calamities.


    ¡°¡­ yes. We didn¡¯t expect the most chaotic and wrathful deity to show up. With Yesis¡¯s appearance, the balance was restored once again, making it impossible for us to change anything. And that is where you mortals come in. Now that Yesis¡¯s meddling has restored the balance once again, the time has come for you to shift it back to where it is meant to be. The time has come for a mortal hero to save the world once again!¡±


    ¡°But, wasn¡¯t the balance already shattered when the portal has appeared in our world?¡±


    ¡°As soon as it was summoned, a new balance was created. The portal became an inseparable part of this world. I have told you, the balance can never be truly shattered. It can only be shifted. That being said, I hope I have cleared some things for you. What books do you have in that chest?¡±

 Chapter 37

    ¡°Ok, that is not a big selection of books, but it should be a proper gift nonetheless,¡± Galizur said once they¡¯ve finally finished selecting the books from the chest, ¡°there is just one more thing.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I want you to add your favorite book to the pile. Consider it a sacrifice to appease the gods.¡±


    Hazelmere started squirming bashfully: ¡°But, why?¡±


    ¡°It will show the gods you are serious about this and will, hopefully, win their favor.¡±


    She hesitated for a while, but Galizur didn¡¯t rush her. Finally, she reached for the biggest stack of books inside the chest.


    At that moment, Galizur realized something. The books were separated into neat stacks inside the chest, each stack containing the books with different content. He realized that the stack Hazelmere was reaching for right now was the only stack they didn¡¯t take any books from. She found the book she had in her mind easily, clearly knowing where it was supposed to be. However, once she had it in her hands, she froze.


    ¡°Umm ¡­ Galizur?¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m not sure if ¡­ I have to tell you something. It¡¯s embarrassing so, please, don¡¯t laugh.¡±


    ¡°I promise I won¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not so sure I should give them my favorite book. I¡¯m worried it could cause a misunderstanding, or even an incident.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡±


    ¡°The book is ¡­ naughty ¡­¡±


    There was no mistaking her embarrassment. Her sour face, low ears, and ashamed look said it all. Even her tail wiggled slowly, like when a child is caught stealing a cookie.


    However, the angels aren¡¯t known for their discretion.


    ¡°You mean, it is an erotic book?¡±


    ¡°¡­ yes ¡­¡±


    ¡°I see nothing wrong with that. They are the demons, after all. They are the most lecherous creatures that exist. I bet they will like that one the most.¡±


    ¡°¡­ but ¡­ still ¡­¡±


    ¡°Besides, I am certain they don¡¯t know how to read any of our languages. Or if they even have a ¡­¡±


    After a short pause, Galizur continued: ¡°Ok, they certainly have a language because they have sent us their own books. I forgot these are the clever demons for a moment. There is nothing to worry about, they will have no idea what is written inside. Unless ¡­ does it have any drawings in it?¡±


    ¡°No, it has none.¡±


    ¡°Then it is perfectly fine.¡±


    Reluctantly, Hazelmere put the book on top of the pile.


    ¡°Galizur ¡­ can I ask you something?¡±


    ¡°Sure, you can ask me whatever you want.¡±


    ¡°I am asking for a friend. I am worried about her.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    ¡°As I have said, I am asking for a friend. I am curious ¡­ what do the heavens think about ¡­ having ¡­¡±


    Galizur waited patiently, with a knowing look on his face.


    ¡°You know ¡­ about ¡­ about having an ¡­ intercourse ¡­ between a noble and a peasant?¡±


    ¡°The gods didn¡¯t create the mortals to have them shun each other.¡±


    ¡°The church disapproves of it, calls it a sin, but ¡­ I was wondering ¡­ if you could shed some light on it for me.¡±


    ¡°Is this about you alienating your friend?¡±


    Hazelmere looked him in the eyes, with a face full of relief.


    ¡°Yes. I¡¯m glad you¡¯ve realized I¡¯m truly not asking for myself.¡±


    ¡°Hmm ¡­ yes, your religion does consider it to be a sin. However, the religions are much more focused on dealing with earthly matters than implementing the divine rules as they are. After all, that is their purpose. You, mortals, are limited creatures. Therefore, you can¡¯t adhere to all the divine rules. That is why your societies have their own sets of rules. So, some compromises have to be made. The gods don¡¯t care about who you mortals have sex with, they have much more important matters to worry about. As long as you aren¡¯t harming anyone, of course. Then, the gods may take an interest, both the good and the evil ones. But, generally speaking, the gods don¡¯t care. However, your religion clearly does, and that is probably because such things impact your society somehow. So, if a religion says that is a sin, then it certainly is one. However, not all sins are serious. Most of them can be forgiven easily. You should refrain from doing it, but you mortals don¡¯t have to be sinless all the time. Besides, different religions have different sins. That wouldn¡¯t be the case if those sins were divine in nature.¡±


    ¡°I always thought that is because different gods have different sets of criteria for what a sin is.¡±


    ¡°That is what all the religions say and, of course, that is what they would say, wouldn¡¯t they?¡±


    ¡°I ¡­ don¡¯t understand?¡±


    ¡°Anyway, back to the topic. A noble person having sex with a peasant is a sin, but only because some social consequences are involved. The gods don¡¯t care about that. That is why it is not a universal sin. For example, that is a perfectly normal thing in all the elven societies.¡±


    ¡°Well, that is because many unnatural things are considered normal in their lands.¡±


    ¡°That is because you aren¡¯t the same race. What is unnatural to one race is perfectly natural to the other. So, while your friend is a sinner, that doesn¡¯t necessarily make her a bad person. She isn¡¯t a good person either, she is just an imperfect mortal. She is the very example of mortal neutrality.¡±


    Galizur looked at Hazelmere with a satisfied look on his face: ¡°So, are these the books you will be sending?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that¡¯s it. It isn¡¯t nearly as much as they have sent, but ¡­¡±


    ¡°It is a show of goodwill.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of goodwill, I think you and your friend should make up.¡±


    ¡°I ¡­ I would like to, but ¡­ I¡¯m not so sure.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t have to accept what she is doing. You are both adults, capable of making up your own minds, so having differences is perfectly fine. Just because you disapprove of what she is doing, that doesn¡¯t mean you can¡¯t still be friends. And it is obvious you care because you wouldn¡¯t ask an angel such questions otherwise.¡±


    ¡°I ¡­ I said a lot of mean things to her.¡±


    ¡°Then apologize for it. If she forgives you, then you can be certain that your friendship is genuine.¡±


    ¡°But I really meant what I¡¯ve said! If I¡¯d apologize for it, I¡¯d feel as if I¡¯m betraying myself, what I stand for!¡±


    ¡°Then, tell her you still think what she is doing is wrong, but you are willing to ignore it for the sake of your friendship. It is not as complicated as you think. Friends don¡¯t have to agree on everything. In fact, only when their friendship is stronger than their disagreements can people truly call themselves friends.¡±


    He noticed Hazelmere was still hesitating, turning her eyes away from him.


    ¡°Just go for it and see what happens. You are clearly sorry, if not for the things you said, then for how you have said them. A simple sorry and a simple thank you can do wonders when used properly.¡±If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    Galizur stood up: ¡°Alright, with everything sorted out, I will be going now. Do you need me for anything else?¡±


    ¡°No ¡­ and, Galizur.¡±


    ¡°Yes?¡±


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    He responded with a wholehearted smile.


    ---


    ¡°Umm ¡­ Mizette? Are you in there? May I come in?¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯m not here! Go away, and look for me somewhere else!¡±


    Hazelmere had no idea how to respond to that. She even considered coming back some other time. However, realizing that time is the one thing she doesn¡¯t have right now, she decided to do it anyway. She¡¯d rather annoy her friend even further than leave without at least trying to bridge the gap between them.


    She moved the curtain away as she entered Mizette¡¯s tent, seeing that Mizette was clearly not in the mood.


    ¡°What do you want!¡±


    ¡°I ¡­¡±


    Unsure of what would be the right thing to do or say, Hazelmere bowed deeply.


    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m sorry for being mean to you, calling you names, and doing other horrible things!¡±


    The surprise was apparent on Mizette¡¯s face: ¡°Oh?¡±


    Hazelmere lifted her head to look Mizette in the eyes: ¡°I¡¯m not saying I approve of what you are doing, I still think it¡¯s wrong, but that was no way to go about it. I was too stubborn, wasn¡¯t even willing to listen. And for that, I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Mizette¡¯s surprise toned down the venom in her voice: ¡°I¡¯m not asking you to give me your blessing, I¡¯m just surprised you¡¯re so eager to judge others. I thought that you, of all people, would be open-minded about it, if not accepting.¡±


    ¡°I still find it ¡­ disgusting, but I realize I have no authority over your personal matters. I am not your mother, and I don¡¯t get to tell you whom you are supposed to be with, no matter how disgusting I think it is.¡±


    ¡°Disgusting,¡± Mizette shook her head in disbelief, ¡°Hazelmere, you have no idea what you are talking about. I do appreciate the honesty though, but saying it is disgusting just shows you lack experience.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me, but that¡¯s the one thing I don¡¯t lack!¡± Hazelmere frowned, her gentle, peace-seeking expression replaced with a scornful one in an instant.


    That only made Mizette chuckle: ¡°I¡¯m not trying to offend you, I¡¯m just being honest here. Just like you are. You think that having sex with peasants is disgusting, and I¡¯m telling you it¡¯s not. You think it¡¯s disgusting because you lack experience. Now, let me explain. I¡¯m not saying this just to rile you up, I have a logical argument. May I proceed?¡±


    Hazelmere¡¯s frown didn¡¯t go away: ¡°Go on!¡±


    ¡°I bet your number is impressive. I am not saying you are completely inexperienced. But the number isn¡¯t the only thing that counts! You are only fucking one type of guys, meaning that you lack the experience with the others! And you thinking that having sex with a peasant is disgusting is the best proof of it! Think about it this way: when you were a little girl and have found out that people engage in sex, didn¡¯t you find it disgusting? Didn¡¯t you wonder: why would anyone do such a disgusting thing?¡±


    ¡°Yes, I did, but what about it?¡±


    ¡°You thought so because you lacked the experience! The thing you used to find disgusting before isn¡¯t so disgusting anymore because now you have experience with it!¡±


    ¡°That makes no sense! Let¡¯s take the same example you¡¯ve mentioned: have I had sex when I was that age, there¡¯s no way I¡¯d find it pleasant and exciting! Even if I had it every day, there¡¯s no way I¡¯d find it pleasant at that age, no matter how experienced I¡¯d become!¡±


    ¡°Yes, that is true, but only because you weren¡¯t mature enough. You just weren¡¯t ready for it then, just how you aren¡¯t ready to have sex with a peasant right now. Or are you?¡±


    Mizette gave Hazelmere a sly smile, which immediately provoked a reaction. Seeing that made her stop with the teasing immediately.


    ¡°I¡¯m just kidding! I¡¯m just kidding! If you think it¡¯s disgusting, that¡¯s fine! But the point remains, you only think it¡¯s disgusting because you didn¡¯t develop a taste for it yet. You¡¯re too stuck up in your usual ways to grow.¡±


    ¡°That argument makes no sense because you could use it to justify anything! Even the most disgusting things possible! For example, people having sex with the animals, that¡¯s only disgusting because you didn¡¯t develop a taste for it yet! People having sex with their own gender is only disgusting because you¡¯re too stuck up in your ways! You could use that argument to justify any kind of degeneracy!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not the same! You can¡¯t say that having sex with a peasant is the same as having sex with an animal! They may be peasants, but they are still people, for heaven¡¯s sake! There¡¯s a clear line that separates normalcy and degeneracy!¡±


    ¡°And who gets to decide where the line is? You?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s actually a great question! Who gets to decide where the line is?¡±


    ¡°Well, it¡¯s the gods, obviously!¡±


    As soon as those words left Hazelmere¡¯s lips, her expression became doubtful. Her eyes became unfocused, like when people start remembering something.


    ¡°You mean, the church!¡± Mizette responded, ¡°The same church that holds all the mages responsible for the fall? The same church that is doing its best to keep us dependent on others? Do you want to make them the arbiters of what is degenerate? They consider all the mages to be degenerates, just because we can use magic that isn¡¯t holy!¡±


    Hazelmere started shaking her head: ¡°I don¡¯t know anymore! I don¡¯t know! Listen, I¡¯m sorry for being judgmental without listening to your side of the story! I really am! But don¡¯t expect me to accept or like something I find disgusting! If you like doing it, that¡¯s fine! I¡¯m not perfect either! Just please, don¡¯t bring it up when I¡¯m around.¡±


    ¡°Ok, that sounds fair enough. I won¡¯t bring it up, and you won¡¯t either.¡±


    ¡°I promise!¡±


    ¡°But, just one more thing,¡± Mizzete gave Hazelmere a lecherous grin, ¡°my offer still stands.¡±


    ¡°What offer?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m still willing to share,¡± Mizette smiled at her, but this smile was more genuine and less sly than the one before.


    ¡°Urgh! Thanks, but I¡¯m not interested!¡±


    Mizette lifted her hands up in defense: ¡°Fair enough! The offer will remain, so if you ever get to have a change of heart ¡­¡±


    ¡°I appreciate it, but it isn¡¯t necessary! Anyway ¡­ I can¡¯t help but wonder ¡­ how you got into it in the first place? I mean, did you just happen to wake up one day wanting to fuck a peasant, or were you attracted to them since the beginning?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s a much more complicated question than you think.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s ok, I¡¯m willing to listen. Just because I find it disgusting, that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m not willing to understand it.¡±


    Mizette let out a deep sigh: ¡°Ok. But it¡¯s not a happy story.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s ok.¡±


    Mizette shifted in her chair as she brushed her hair away: ¡°You know how we are supposed to stay pure until we become archmages.¡±


    ¡°Of course.¡±


    ¡°And, you also know how our families were overly protective for that same reason.¡±


    Hazelmere nodded her head.


    ¡°So, I didn¡¯t get to interact with the males. I would see them only during the official ceremonies. However, just like every other girl, I was interested.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t tell me ¡­¡±


    ¡°No! No! I did become the archmage, so I didn¡¯t fall for it. The point is that, while my family did their best to protect me from the noble males, they couldn¡¯t keep me away from the servants. Or they just didn¡¯t see them as a threat, I don¡¯t know. Also, the servants weren¡¯t eager to interact with me. Just being caught talking with a lord¡¯s daughter can be a punishable offense. So, they kept as far away from me as possible. But, eventually, I found one that couldn¡¯t run away. He was one of the chef¡¯s assistants, meaning that he had to be in the mansion all the time. So, I started talking with him. He wasn¡¯t attractive, he was as ugly as every other peasant, but he was the one male contact I had at the time. He helped me discover my sadistic tendencies.¡±


    ¡°Sadistic?¡± Hazelmere¡¯s eyebrow rose on its own.


    ¡°Just listen, and I will tell you everything. He was ugly, but he had a quality I have never seen before. He knew that talking with me could get him in trouble, so he tried avoiding me as much as possible. However, being a noble¡¯s daughter, I had plenty of time on my hands, enough to observe the kitchen staff and realize when he had no choice but to be alone. So, I started visiting him every day, at the same time. It wasn¡¯t that I saw him as someone I want to lose my virginity with, it¡¯s that his reactions were priceless. The way he¡¯d shy away from me, the way he¡¯d become flustered and start making mistakes when I¡¯m nearby, the look in his eyes which left no doubt he knew being alone with me is wrong. I loved making him feel uncomfortable. I found that to be very cute.¡±


    ¡°Are you serious?¡±


    Mizette shrugged: ¡°I just enjoy making males feel uncomfortable but in a good way. It is not like I was torturing him or anything. He enjoyed it all. Especially when I started brushing against him and touching him.¡±


    Hazelmere blocked her face with a palm of her hand: ¡°I don¡¯t need to know every detail.¡±


    ¡°It wasn¡¯t about sexual attraction, but about getting a rouse out of him. It was about hearing him beg for me to stop before someone sees us. If I am to be perfectly honest, it was about the feeling of power. I had the power over him, and it felt great. It was never about anything truly sexual. I would just use it to tease him.¡±


    ¡°Move on!¡±


    ¡°Anyway, that lasted for ¡­ almost a hundred years, I think. The kitchen staff is always doing the same things at the same time, so nobody found out about us for a long time. But, one day, the boy was gone.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, gone?¡±


    ¡°He disappeared, never to be seen again. Officially, nobody knows what has happened to him, but I have my doubts. I think my parents found out about what I was doing and, fearing that their promising daughter could lose her virginity, they¡¯ve arranged for the boy to disappear. Can you imagine the shame, your daughter losing her chance at becoming an archmage because she couldn¡¯t control her passions? With a filthy peasant no less. Our family would be the laughing stock for centuries.¡±


    ¡°What that has to do with anything? How did that turn you into a peasant-lover?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t really put it into words, I can¡¯t explain it logically. But I¡¯ll try. You see, fucking peasants goes beyond physical pleasure for me. I think that, for me, it¡¯s an act of revenge, of defiance. My parents took my toy away from me, so I¡¯ll do the exact thing that made them take it in the first place. Sure, I understand they did it for my own good. In the future, I may even do the same thing to my own daughter! I understand it was a logical thing to do, but I still want satisfaction. I feel my family has wronged me, so I enjoy wronging them in turn, by fucking the disgusting, filthy peasants. At least that¡¯s how I rationalize it. I mean, why else would I enjoy it so much?¡±


    ¡°Whoa! Whoa! Are you serious? They took your toy away from you?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s all he was, a toy. I never had any feelings for him. He was there for me to experiment with, to see him squirm. I don¡¯t even remember his name anymore. Although, I do feel sorry it ended that way. I do feel sorry for putting him in danger. But, I was a young and eager fool. I do those things in moderation now.¡±


    ¡°Yes, with four soldiers at once, during a guard duty.¡±


    Mizette chuckled: ¡°That was ¡­ a unique opportunity I couldn¡¯t let pass me by. But I¡¯ve learned my lesson. I won¡¯t do it again. At least not next to a demonic portal. So, does my story please you? Is your curiosity sated?¡±


    ¡°Is that how you feel about Heartwell too?¡±


    Mizette shifted in her seat: ¡°I¡¯m¡­ not sure. These peasant soldiers are different from the servants I was used to. In a good way.¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t tell me much.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve told you, I¡¯m not sure. But you¡¯ll be the first to know once I figure it out,¡± Mizette responded with a smile.


    Hazelmere pondered what she had heard for a while. Then, she sighed deeply: ¡°Truth be told, I had no idea you could be like that. I always saw you as a supportive, motherly character.¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t know the half of it. There are good reasons for why Cybil is never messing with me.¡±


    ¡°What, you are some kind of a bad girl?¡±


    ¡°The worst.¡±

 Chapter 38

    Hazelmere and Mizette talked for a long time. They had a lovely heart to heart moment, until ¡­


    ¡°You¡¯ll do what?¡±


    Mizette¡¯s roar was so loud, Hazelmere thought everyone in the camp had heard her.


    ¡°Calm down, calm down.¡±


    ¡°Are you insane?¡±


    ¡°It can¡¯t be that dangerous. Heartwell got back.¡±


    ¡°Yes, he got back half-dead!¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t go to the portal itself. I will turn around the moment I start feeling my energy draining.¡±


    ¡°Speaking of Heartwell, why not send him? He already has experience with it.¡±


    ¡°No, I have to do this myself. I am the one who ruined everything, so it is up to me to fix it. I must take responsibility if I am to be a leader.¡±


    ¡°Oh, come on! We see the leaders of all sorts avoiding the responsibility all the time!¡±


    ¡°Well, I am not going to be one of them! Someone has to deliver those books, and I can¡¯t ask others to risk their lives for my stupid mistakes! Not anymore!¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, not anymore?¡±


    ¡°I ¡­ I don¡¯t want ¡­¡±


    Hazelmere let out a labored sigh.


    ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯m cut out to be a leader. I don¡¯t have what it takes to just send people into danger. Not anymore. I had it when I¡¯ve sent Peratha¡¯s party into the ruins, and look what happened! I don¡¯t want to repeat the same mistake! And I certainly don¡¯t want to become the kind of person who sees sending people to their deaths as something natural.¡±


    ¡°But, that is what being a commander is all about!¡±


    ¡°And that¡¯s exactly what I¡¯ve said! I don¡¯t think I have it in me.¡±


    ¡°Listen,¡± Mizette moved in her chair to sit face to face with Hazelmere, ¡°you just aren¡¯t used to being in command, that¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°Well, that is the thing. I don¡¯t want to get used to it! I have tried it, and it sucks!¡±


    ¡°Miss Hazelmere, you aren¡¯t a little girl anymore! Now that you finally have some real responsibilities, you don¡¯t get to shove them away just because you don¡¯t like them!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not! Quite the contrary! Maybe you weren¡¯t listening when I said that I will take responsibility for my stupidity! I am not abandoning my position as a commander. I just doubt that I¡¯m the right person for the job. So, if I have no choice but to be a leader, then I will either lead on my own terms or won¡¯t lead at all!¡±


    ¡°That ¡­¡± Mizette started scratching her chin idly, ¡°that actually sounds like something a true leader would say.¡±


    ¡°The point being, I am not good with ordering others to do my bidding. I was never meant to do that. I was never trained for it. So, I will lead the only way I know, by doing things myself.¡±


    ¡°But that is not what the leaders should do! You can¡¯t do everything yourself! That is why the rest of us are here!¡±


    ¡°I know, I didn¡¯t mean it like that. What I mean is, I refuse to push my mistakes and responsibilities on the others, like the other leaders do.¡±


    Mizette laughed while shaking her head.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Nothing, nothing. Now you¡¯re starting to sound like Heartwell, that¡¯s all. Although he is much more practical about it. He says practicality comes with experience.¡±


    ¡°Are you telling me I sound like a peasant?¡±


    ¡°Yes! It certainly looks like you have started developing a peasant¡¯s mindset.¡±


    ---


    Hazelmere spent the rest of the day organizing her excursion to the frozen wasteland, talking with everyone relevant in the camp, making sure everyone knows what to do while she¡¯s gone.


    Especially if it turns out she¡¯ll be gone for good.


    Many people agreed they should return the goodwill the demons have shown but disagreed with the method. They tried dissuading her from doing it herself. Despite it, Hazelmere remained steadfast in her decision. The only person who gave her any sort of encouragement was Heartwell. While talking to him, Hazelmere couldn¡¯t help but think that the expression he had on his face was a peasant¡¯s expression of pride.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    The next day, early in the morning, everyone helped Hazelmere prepare for the grueling trip. As a host of people ran around her, each of them trying to give her advice, she heard something heavy fall on the ground next to her. Turning around, she saw Heartwell standing next to a heap of furs.


    She looked at the furs, then at him, then back at the furs once again.


    Finally, it dawned on her.


    ¡°Do you expect me to carry all of that? Together with the books?¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t survive otherwise.¡±


    ¡°With those on top of me, I will die before I ever start feeling cold! I am a delicate mage, not a warrior!¡±


    ¡°Then, send someone else. There¡¯s no way you¡¯ll get anywhere near the portal without these,¡± Hartwell said as he patted the big furry heap.


    ¡°I can help with that,¡± Cybil said, ¡°I will be back! Don¡¯t go anywhere until I return!¡±


    Heartwell waited for Cybil to get out of the earshot before speaking: ¡°What, she has some sort of harness?¡±


    ¡°I am not a mule!¡± Hazelmere responded, with an edge in her voice.


    ¡°Hmm, speaking of harnesses and mules,¡± Mizette mused, ¡°have we tried approaching the portal with one of those? Why haven¡¯t we tried sending someone on a mule while being covered in the thickest furs possible? Surly, a mule can carry more furs than we can.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve tried that once ¡­¡± Heartwell stopped for a moment, shooting a quick glance at Hazelmere, ¡°once we¡¯ve ¡­ before I set out to place that sound gathering thing. Animals refuse to go anywhere near the cold. As soon as they feel it, they start running back. They pay no attention to their rider¡¯s commands.¡±


    ¡°Why haven¡¯t you told me that before?¡± Hazelmere asked.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t think it was relevant.¡±


    ¡°I would appreciate it if you would tell me such things in the future. Everything you learn about the portal or the cold.¡±


    ¡°I will do that the next time I learn anything.¡±


    After some more time spent in idle conversation, Cybil got back.


    ¡°Well, that took you long enough!¡± Hazelmere teased. Then, she realized there¡¯s a cup in Cybil¡¯s hands, ¡°What is that?¡±


    ¡°It took some time to prepare the ingredients. Here, drink this,¡± Cybil said as she offered the cup to Hazelmere.


    It looked like a thick dirt soup, with occasional chunks of something unidentifiable floating in it.


    ¡°It reeks!¡±


    ¡°Of course it does! It is a potent magical mixture, not a candy!¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no way I¡¯m drinking that. It stinks!¡±


    ¡°You must drink this for the spell to have an effect!¡±


    ¡°What spell?¡±


    ¡°Maybe you have forgotten, but I am an enhancer! I will cast a spell that will give you greater strength and endurance. It is a powerful spell, so it won¡¯t work unless you drink this!¡±


    ¡°That makes sense,¡± Mizette agreed.


    ¡°No, that¡¯s ¡­ why can¡¯t you just cast a regular spell on me, like every other enhancer does?¡± Hazelmere asked.


    ¡°Because,¡± Cybil leaned in, getting in Hazelmere¡¯s face, ¡°I am combining several spells into one! If I cast a regular spell on you, you will use it up quickly. This way, you will get both strength and endurance, and it will last until the next morning! You won¡¯t have to worry about the spell faltering at the worst time possible. And, as an added benefit, your body won¡¯t suffer any consequences for overexerting itself once the spell is gone.¡±


    Hazelmere still hesitated, so Mizette decided to give her some words of encouragement:


    ¡°Oh, come on! It won¡¯t be the dirtiest thing you¡¯ve put in your mouth!¡±


    The reactions to Mizette¡¯s words were immediate. Servants faced away, doing their best to control their laughter, while the mages didn¡¯t bother controlling anything.


    ¡°Whoa! Whoa! Nail you, Mizette, I almost spilled the entire thing!¡± Cybil complained, ¡°Do you have any idea how expensive these ingredients are?¡±


    Mizette was too busy observing Hazelmere¡¯s reaction to notice Cybil complaining, and it certainly wasn¡¯t the one she was expecting. Instead of responding with an offended outburst, Hazelmere got lost in thought. She looked as if she was considering something.


    ¡°Listen, Hazelmere,¡± Mizette said, ¡°Heartwell is right. You won¡¯t get far without those furs, and you can¡¯t carry those furs without Cybil¡¯s spell. So, you will have to either let someone else do it or drink this stinky juice Cybil is offering you. There is no third option. And I don¡¯t think there is a reason to worry about Cybil trying to set you up. She may be petty, and she definitely hates you, but she is not a murderer.¡±


    Hazelmere eyed the cup and its repulsive contents for some time before tearing it out of Cybil¡¯s hands. She started pouring the contents down her throat with a disgusted grimace on her face. With each gulp, her grimace got worse.


    But she persevered, managing to gulp it all down.


    ¡°Bwwaaaahhhhh! It¡¯s disgusting!¡±


    ¡°I will start casting the spell now. Hold still!¡± Cybil got to work as soon as she saw the cup was empty.


    ¡°Is she supposed to glow like that?¡± Heartwell asked.


    ¡°Yes, that means the spell works,¡± Mizette was the one to respond, as Cybil was too busy.


    It didn¡¯t take long for Cybil to finish. As soon as she has finished casting the spell, Hazelmere stopped glowing.


    ¡°Is that all?¡± Hazelmere asked.


    ¡°Have you forgotten that I am an archmage? I know how to speed up the process. More importantly, let us see if it works. Try lifting Mizette up.¡±


    Hazelmere eyes Mizette skeptically: ¡°You think it will work?¡±


    ¡°Well, that is the point! To see if it works!¡±


    ¡°All right, all right ¡­ umm, how am I supposed to do that?¡±


    ¡°Grab her lower thighs and try lifting her up,¡± Heartwell offered, ¡°and Mizette, lean onto her, so you don¡¯t fall on your back.¡±


    ¡°Ok, let¡¯s try.¡±


    ¡°Whoa! It works!¡±


    ¡°Now, you should have no issues carrying those furs with you. And, you also don¡¯t have to worry about fatigue,¡± Cybil stated.


    ¡°Cybil ¡­¡±


    ¡°Yes, what is it?¡±


    Hazelmere suddenly lifted Cybil up in the air.


    ¡°Thanks!¡±


    ¡°What the ¡­ put me down, you goblin!¡±


    ¡°I just want to show my appreciation!¡±


    ¡°You are welcome, now put me down! Just because you have the strength, that doesn¡¯t mean you know how to control it!¡±


    Hazelmere obliged, with a smile on her face.


    ¡°And one more thing!¡± Cybil said while pointing the finger at her, ¡°You are stronger and more durable now, but that doesn¡¯t mean your strength and endurance have no limits! Don¡¯t overestimate your new capabilities!¡±


    ¡°Cybil ¡­ there is one more thing I want to ask from you.¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡± Cybil lifted her nose up in a fake display of irritation.


    ¡°If I don¡¯t return, you are to be the next royal archmage.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s ¡­ that¡¯s not how it works!¡±


    ¡°Someone will have to manage things until a proper replacement is chosen. I want you to act as the royal archmage in the meantime. I want you to promise me that, in front of these witnesses.¡±


    Cybil stared at Hazelmere for a moment with her mouth open: ¡°What are you talking about, of course you¡¯ll come back! You are not going to fight monsters, you are just going to deliver some books! Now go! The sooner you go, the sooner you will return.¡±


    Hazelmere grabbed both of her hands as if her life depended on it: ¡°I want you to promise me!¡±


    ¡°Fine, I promise! Now go!¡±


    ¡°Blushing, blushing!¡± Mizette teased.

 Chapter 39

    Hazelmere set out, carrying a bag full of books, her trusty staff, and a pile of furs, which was at least twice her size. Still, it didn¡¯t bother her, thanks to Cybil¡¯s spell. Satisfied with its effect, Hazelmere hastened her steps, eager to get the job done as soon as possible.


    She was surprised to realize she wasn¡¯t feeling the frost for quite some time. ¡°Must be that the furs are doing their job,¡± she thought. Truth be told, the further away from the camp she was, the better she felt. The heat was unbearable at first, she couldn¡¯t keep her mouth shut due to the constant need to hyperventilate. She huffed and puffed unconsciously ever since she had stepped out of the camp. But now, when she realized she didn¡¯t feel any cold for a while, she also realized that she couldn¡¯t feel any heat either. And, while that made her body feel better, it did unsettle her mind quite a bit.


    The frost started setting on her face first. It was the only part of her body that was completely exposed. Even her hands had some custom-made, improvised, fur gloves. However, there was nothing she could cover her face with. In a desperate attempt to make her face any warmer, she grabbed her long hair, wrapping it around her face as best as she could. It didn¡¯t do much, but it was better than nothing.


    Her hot breath became visible, forcing itself through her covered mouth. It appeared to be fog-like. She remembered Peratha¡¯s words, how that¡¯s not her soul leaving the body. That gave her the resolve to keep going.


    The air she breathed became icy. It started piercing her mouth, nose, and lungs. She felt a small but sharp pain with each breath she took. She tried to relieve the pain by breathing slowly. It was hard for her to do so, with her body being under enormous stress. Even though she didn¡¯t feel any tiredness yet, her body did involuntarily respond to it.


    She reached the half-ice, the soggy one. But, it wasn¡¯t as soggy as before, as when they¡¯ve reached the portal with Peratha¡¯s magic. It was pure white this time and much firmer. Her feet didn¡¯t make any squashing sounds as she treaded over it. It was also evenly spread on the ground as if someone had spread a colossal, white carpet all over the field.


    Her feet and hands started feeling the frost too. It was an unpleasant, numbing sensation, as if her skin was somehow becoming more ¡­ thicker and less agile. It felt as if thousands of tiny needles poked it, not to hurt but for fun.


    At this point, she felt her face freezing slowly. Her movements became slower and slower due to the ever-increasing numbness in her feet. The rest of her body was fine, but that meant little if her feet didn¡¯t work right.


    She paused for a moment to think. Her boots were doing well until she reached the half-ice. Now, upon closer inspection, she realized that they were slowly turning into a liability. Even though the half-ice was relatively hard, her boots absorbed some of the water it was made of, making them heavier. She could also feel the cold water on the skin of her feet in a few places.


    ¡°Well, isn¡¯t that the perfect way to keep the intruders out! The water the ice is made of clings to your feet and soaks into your boots, freezing your feet from within.¡±


    She looked towards the portal: ¡°How long can I go on like this? My body feels fine, but I can¡¯t go back if my feet freeze. And I can¡¯t get my boots off or dry them. Will my feet freeze like my face did? I bet they will. And it will only get worse the closer to the portal I get. I haven¡¯t even reached the proper ice yet!¡±


    ¡°Can they see me from out there? No, it¡¯s too far away. I¡¯m just a small dot to them at this distance, not even an elf would be able to see me. I have to push forward, at least until I can see those ¡­ things, with my own eyes.¡±


    So, Hazelmere went on.


    ¡°This damn ice! Honestly, it¡¯s worse than the solid one! It clings to my body, weighting me down! It drains my energy slowly, without me even noticing it. I¡¯d feel much more at ease if it would start freezing me solid right away, then I¡¯d know I should start running! This way, it makes me think I can keep going. A fool would even think reaching the portal itself is possible!¡±If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    It wasn¡¯t long before Hazelmere noticed she couldn¡¯t feel her feet anymore. The feeling in her nose was long gone, it felt as if an ice cube was in its place, but not being able to feel her feet was a completely different story. However, although she couldn¡¯t feel them, they still worked. That gave her the motivation to continue.


    ¡°If my feet can work even though I can¡¯t feel them, then perhaps the frost isn¡¯t as dangerous as we think? Besides, I must deliver these books. I must make sure they can see me. There¡¯s no way I¡¯ll die without making this right! I refuse to go down in history as the jackass responsible for the second fall.¡±


    As she pressed on, the frost started settling in her calves. With the senses in her feet gone, the pricking and prodding of the frost began moving up, towards the rest of her body.


    Even though that made the alarm bells ring in her mind, it didn¡¯t stop her from moving on. What did stop her was her inability to carry the books any longer.


    It wasn¡¯t the issue of strength or endurance, Cybil did a masterful job with her spell. However, not long after the frost has removed the senses from her feet, it did the same with her hands, making all of her extra strength useless. When she lost the sense of touch in her fingers, she could still hold the books somehow. It took a lot of juggling with her arms and hands, but it was manageable. But now, she noticed her hands are disappearing too. Not literally, of course, but that was exactly what it felt like.


    The bag started slipping away from her grasp, her nonfunctional fingers completely useless to stop it from falling to the ground. She kneeled to pick it up, only to fall face-first into the freezing ice. Struggling, she managed to dig herself out of it, realizing that most of her energy was gone.


    ¡°Wha ¡­ when did it happen? I ¡­ I felt so full of it just a moment ago ... how ¡­¡±


    Looking at the bag made her stop complaining and remember her purpose. Finding the greatest determination she has ever mustered in her life, she hugged the bag with her arms, lifting it off the ground. Then, she shifted it down her arms to her semi-functioning hands. She stood up, with shaky legs.


    She lifted her arms as high as possible (which wasn¡¯t much) and started waving the bag in her hands left and right while facing the portal¡¯s direction. She couldn¡¯t see it, but she knew it was on top of the hill.


    Her hands gave up quickly, dropping the bag to the ground once more.


    ¡°There¡¯s no way I can pick it up again. I can¡¯t even pick myself up anymore. I have to go. There¡¯s nothing more I can do in this frozen hell.¡±


    She turned around and started walking back. Limping actually, because that¡¯s what her movement looked like. The lack of any senses in her feet made her walking unsteady. Instead of walking in a straight line, she waved left and right, which made her progress noticeably slower. She was aware of it but unable to do anything. Her feet cared not for her will in the slightest, they dragged her on their own. Still, Hazelmere was grateful. Even though she couldn¡¯t control them, they still did their best to carry her to safety.


    But, that changed once her legs also became numb. When her legs gave up, she crashed unceremoniously in a heap. It was as if someone had erased the lower part of her body, as if it was never there. Both of her legs became nothing but an unresponsive burden. She tried moving them with her hands, only to remember her hands were long gone.


    In the act of desperation, she started crawling on her arms, using the elbows instead of her feet. Once again, Cybil¡¯s spell proved useful. Without it, there was no way she¡¯d ever be able to move her body like that, especially with all that furs on top of it.


    The progress she made that way was miserable at best. The effort was too great, the gains too small, but there was no other alternative. She elbowed her way through the half-ice desperately, as long as she could, until her arms gave up. Eventually, the ice froze them too.


    She couldn¡¯t feel her legs, nor her arms. Her entire face was also frozen. At this point, she could feel nothing but her ragged breath, as the right half of her face was buried in the soft ice.


    ¡°He ¡­ hehe ¡­ hehehehe ¡­¡± she started laughing out loud.


    ¡°Hahaha ¡­ hahahahaha ¡­¡±


    With the last bits of energy, she clumsily flipped over so her face would look up, towards the sky.


    ¡°He ¡­ he ¡­ I¡¯m such a fool ¡­ I was such a fool ¡­¡±


    There was no sorrow in her voice, nothing but resignation and acceptance.


    ¡°I ¡­ I wasted so ¡­ such a great opportunity ¡­ for what? I ¡­ I had everything I asked for ¡­ for what? What have I ever given in return? What difference did I make? Besides making everything worse.¡±


    After a short pause, she continued.


    ¡°I guess this makes sense. This is what I deserve, a fair punishment. That¡¯s the one thing I can be proud of in my whole life. At least I¡¯ve redeemed myself in the end. At least I tried. That has to count for something in the heavens, right? I¡¯ve removed myself, so someone more competent can take over. I¡¯ve sacrificed myself so the others can live. That has to mean something, right?¡±


    As Hazelmere pondered on everything she went through during the last few moons, she didn¡¯t even notice her consciousness disappear together with her energy.

 Act 3: Chapter 40

    To Hazelmere, it appeared as if she was instantly teleported to a different plane of existence. After a single blink of her tired eyes, the freezing cold was replaced with comforting warmth, while her vision became filled with nothing but the blinding whiteness.


    As her mind struggled to make any sense of it, she heard a soothing voice. She didn¡¯t understand a word of it, although she somehow knew it was talking to her.


    ¡°Did ¡­ did I make it?¡± She asked feebly.


    Her words made the voice speak faster.


    ¡°Have I ¡­ repented for my mistakes?¡±


    The whiteness in front of her started shifting, becoming a blur. Then, the blur started separating itself into several pieces, each of them constituting a separate, blurry object in her mind. The soothing voice never stopped talking, and she started understanding some of its words.


    After a while, the blurry object in the center of her vision started taking shape. With time, the lines became more defined, eventually morphing into a beautiful, pearl-white face. Her mind couldn¡¯t figure out if the face belonged to a male or female, but that didn¡¯t matter since it was way too beautiful for Hazelmere to care. Whomever it belonged to, it was a welcome sight.


    Its lips constantly moved as it spoke something she couldn¡¯t comprehend. She noticed long, golden hair falling to its sides. As her eyes followed the hair, her mind realized it wasn¡¯t just a simple face in front of her. It wasn¡¯t a mirage, it was a person. She realized that once she saw a glimpse of big, white wings hiding behind the golden hair.


    ¡°Am I ¡­ did I make it to the heavens? I must be ¡­ since you¡¯re here.¡±


    The face smiled, revealing the perfect teeth for a moment, before continuing its mystic speech.


    ¡°So ¡­ now what? What becomes of me?¡±


    Right after saying those words, Hazelmere saw a dark hand move the beautiful face away from her sight before her vision was violently shifted to the side, followed by the sharp pain which spread itself over the entire left side of her head.


    Wait ¡­


    Head?


    What¡¯s the point of having a head in heaven? Aren¡¯t the people supposed to lose their bodies and become ethereal once they die?


    All of a sudden, she could understand the voices in her head.


    ¡°What are you doing, you brute! She needs time to recover! Haven¡¯t you ever tried nursing someone back to health?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s nothing a good slap can¡¯t fix, broken heads included.¡±


    Her hand reached for her cheek instinctively. Meaning, she also had a hand. And an arm.


    She turned her head around to look at her surroundings. Soon, everything started making sense.


    Her mind realized she wasn¡¯t in heaven but somewhere familiar. It also recognized the people around her, but it didn¡¯t know right away who they were. There was a pure-white angel, a dark-skinned peasant, three fashionably clothed, pretty females, and one cute female whose clothes covered everything but her face.


    She could feel one of those pretty females pouring the energy into her body.


    ¡°Stop it, you two! She¡¯s moving!¡± The other female barked.


    ¡°See? A good slap works miracles!¡±


    ¡°Move aside! Move aside!¡± The beautiful, androgynous face filled her vision once again, ¡°Are you ok? Can you hear me now?¡±


    ¡°I ¡­ my vision is swimming, and ¡­ my head hurts,¡± Hazelmere responded as her hand cradled her left cheek.


    ¡°Of course it hurts! This ¡­¡± the face looked quite irritated as it let out a deep sigh, ¡°I shan¡¯t talk badly of him. Still, that lamb has much work to do on its character.¡±


    ¡°It worked, didn¡¯t it?¡±


    The beautiful face turned away: ¡°Yes, and who knows what other damage you have caused! Have you ever tried fixing things without breaking something else? You can¡¯t go around slapping people whenever you feel like it!¡±


    ¡°Hazelmere, do you recognize me?¡± One of the females got closer, brushing her hair away as she did so, ¡°It¡¯s me, Mizette!¡±


    ¡°Mizette ¡­ that sounds ¡­¡±


    Hazelmere¡¯s eyes slowly opened wide.


    ¡°What ¡­ what are you doing here?¡±This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    ¡°You aren¡¯t dead, dummy! Galizur brought you back. He went after you, even before you fell.¡±


    ¡°When I¡¯ve realized you went farther than I did, I knew you won¡¯t be turning back. Not unless someone fetches you.¡±


    Hazelmere turned her head towards the voice, seeing a familiar, dark figure.


    It took her a few moments to recognize Heartwell.


    ¡°But, that means ¡­¡± Her eyes started looking for the pretty, pale face in a hurry. Looking at it again, she realized that, while it was androgynous, it belonged to someone she knows.


    ¡°Oh ¡­ it¡¯s you. I saw your wings and thought I went to heaven.¡±


    ¡°Are you disappointed?¡± Galizur asked with his usual, warm smile.


    ¡°I ¡­ honestly, I am in a way. Had I went to heavens, that would mean I¡¯ve managed to fix the wrong I did.¡±


    ¡°No, your suffering isn¡¯t over yet. Meaning, you get to have your responsibilities back. The heavens clearly want you to fix your own mess, not shove it on someone else,¡± Hazelmere didn¡¯t even have to move her eyes to recognize Cybil was the one talking.


    She sank the back of her head in the pillow, exhaling deeply.


    ¡°So ¡­ what has happened? How long was I out of it?¡±


    ¡°Not much, just two days.¡±


    ¡°And who are you?¡± Hazelmere asked, realizing there¡¯s an unfamiliar person sitting right next to her.


    ¡°I am Natle, the healer. What, you don¡¯t recognize me?¡±


    ¡°Natle ¡­ oh, yes, yes ¡­ I do remember. Sorry, I¡¯m just out of sorts.¡±


    ¡°That is understandable. It makes sense that you would sooner recognize the people who are close to you.¡±


    Then, Hazelmere heard something tumble to the ground.


    ¡°Moana!¡± Mizette yelled in panic.


    ¡°She is fine,¡± Natle responded, ¡°she is just exhausted, that is all. A few days in bed, and she will be as good as new.¡±


    ¡°Exhausted from what?¡± Hazelmere asked.


    ¡°She watched over you ever since Galizur brought you back. She made sure your soul didn¡¯t leave the body.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    ¡°She is a very talented archpriestess,¡± Galizur said, in a very respectful voice, ¡°very few mortals can pull that off. Not to mention staying awake for two days straight.¡±


    ¡°Eh?¡±


    A few soldiers walked in, with Heartwell in tow. They picked Moana up, with a lot of care, and took her out of the tent.


    After that, an awkward silence ensued. Hazelmere spoke to break it.


    ¡°So ¡­ Galizur brought me back?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Mizette responded, ¡°although, if he is resistant to the cold, enough to go get you and come back unharmed, I can¡¯t help but wonder why didn¡¯t he go to deliver the books.¡±


    ¡°Miss Hazelmere wanted to repent for her mistakes, and it would be wrong for me to deny her such a chance.¡±


    ¡°Even if that could kill her?¡±


    ¡°She knew the risks. And, while I didn¡¯t want to take her redemption away from her, that didn¡¯t mean I couldn¡¯t give her a hand if she got into trouble.¡±


    ¡°I guess that makes sense in a way ¡­ you did save her life in the end.¡±


    ¡°He even faced off against a big bug that tried to capture you,¡± Cybil said.


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t fight it,¡± Galizur inserted himself, ¡°it came to get you but stopped as soon as it noticed me. It observed me for some time and then crawled away. It didn¡¯t show any hostility at all.¡±


    ¡°Do you think it tried to help me? If it came for me after I¡¯ve fallen?¡±


    Galizur shook his head: ¡°I doubt it. The demons would most likely carve you up to see what is inside and how you taste.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s a bit ¡­¡±


    ¡°It is disturbing, yes, but it is also true.¡±


    ¡°Why did you come to get me, Galizur? I¡¯m not complaining, it¡¯s just ¡­¡±


    ¡°The angels can handle the cold much better than the mortals. Sun¡¯s warmth radiates from within us, giving us resistance against the frost. I doubt it would make the difference near the portal itself, but it was very useful in this situation.¡±


    ¡°But ¡­ why take the risk?¡±


    ¡°I have told you, due to the shift in the balance, you mortals have a key role to play in ending this. And that includes you too. I am not going to give a single mortal to those demons if I can help it.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ thank you.¡±


    ¡°Think nothing of it.¡±


    A soldier barged in, ruining the warm moment.


    ¡°They¡¯re coming, the big one! The big bug is coming!¡±


    ¡°These soldiers always show up at the most inconvenient of times,¡± Hazelmere complained.


    ¡°Which one, the talking one or ¡­¡± Cybil asked.


    ¡°Tis¡¯ the huugee one!¡± The soldier raised his hands up, trying to gesticulate its size, ¡°the one with the big turtle shell on its back!¡±


    ¡°The detachable shell?¡±


    ¡°Yes! That one!¡±


    Hazelmere tried getting up, only to be pushed back onto the bed by Natle.


    ¡°Where do you think you are going?¡±


    ¡°To see what the demons are up to!¡± She answered, with an incredulous look on her face.


    ¡°You aren¡¯t going anywhere in that condition. You will have to stay in your bed for two weeks to recover your lost energy.¡±


    ¡°You want me to stay like this for ten days? While the demons are roaming about!¡±


    ¡°Exactly. You will only do more damage in your current state.¡±


    ¡°She doesn¡¯t need to be on her death bed to do damage. She has proven that several times already,¡± Cybil said with a satisfied grin on her face, clearly waiting for Hazelmere¡¯s reaction.


    Hazelmere responded with a mocking sneer instead of words.


    ¡°Besides, you aren¡¯t in charge right now,¡± Cybil continued, ¡°only once you have fully recovered will you be fit for your station. And I am quite generous with that wording, aren¡¯t I? I am the royal archmage while you are incapacitated, by your own decree. And my first command to you is to lie in that bed until Natle says otherwise.¡±


    Hazelmere pouted for a few moments while clenching the furs covering her with weak hands.


    ¡°Fine! Go and act like the royal archmage while you still can!¡±


    Cybil gave her a half-genuine smile before going outside with the others, leaving only Natle behind.


    ---


    A lot of time passed without anyone coming to bring the news of what was going outside the tent.


    ¡°What is taking them so long?¡± Hazelmere asked nobody in particular, frustration filling her voice.


    ¡°If anything goes wrong, we will hear them screaming,¡± Natle responded.


    ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be out there too? What if someone gets hurt?¡±


    ¡°If someone gets hurt, they will bring them to me. My skills are too valuable to be risked on the front lines. That is also why I wasn¡¯t the one to go and explore those ruins. And you should rest, not worry about what is happening outside. Talking also drains energy, you know?¡±


    Mentioning ruins made Hazelmere settle down for a while. She didn¡¯t try starting any conversation after that.


    The dreadful silence outside the camp turned into a commotion. It started silently at first but got louder with each moment. It felt as if the commotion was moving through the camp, towards Hazelmere¡¯s tent.


    ¡°It looks like we will finally get the answers you seek,¡± Natle said, ¡°and it doesn¡¯t sound like the people are panicking.¡±


    ¡°They aren¡¯t cheering either.¡±


    As the commotion grew in its intensity, Mizette rushed into the tent, carrying something in her hands. She wore a delighted smile on her face, the kind of a smile a child would have when it receives an unexpected gift.


    ¡°Look what I¡¯ve got!¡±

 Chapter 41

    Hazelmere¡¯s tent became filled with the books, effectively becoming one messy library. The books were all over it, arranged into big stacks, wherever there was enough place to put them. All the books the demons have sent were unloaded there, making all the archmages in the camp, and Galizur, flock into the tent, which only served to make everything worse. Still, nobody complained about the cramped conditions. They were too busy inspecting the alien books. And, even though they had no idea what was written in there, they browsed eagerly.


    ¡°You know, this makes me remember the time when I was an apprentice mage,¡± Hazelmere said, ¡°I don¡¯t remember the last time I have opened the books of knowledge with such enthusiasm, even though I have no idea what is inside. These could all be some terrible curses as far as we know.¡±


    ¡°I just can¡¯t get over how good this papyrus is! Look! Look!¡± Mizette flipped the pages like mad, ¡°Look how easy it is to flip the pages! And it¡¯s like ¡­ it isn¡¯t dry at all! There¡¯s no sign of aging anywhere! It¡¯s as if all of these books were written yesterday!¡±


    ¡°What is in your book?¡±


    ¡°There are many symbols here. I think this may be a magical one.¡±


    All the archmages in the tent turned their heads to look at Mizette.


    ¡°What? There¡¯s no way!¡±


    ¡°There is no way they would give us a book on magic! They can¡¯t be that stupid,¡± Cybil agreed with Hazelmere.


    ¡°I don¡¯t know what else it could be. You have some symbols, and you combine them.¡±


    ¡°Maybe those are the letters?¡±


    ¡°It can¡¯t be! There are too many symbols involved in a sequence and too few of them to choose from. There are dozens of them in a single line. You can¡¯t tell me it takes that many symbols to convene a thought.¡±


    ¡°How many different symbols are there in total?¡±


    Mizette flipped the book to its starting page, showing it to Cybil, ¡°A little less than thirty. They are all listed here.¡±


    ¡°That is way too few symbols for a magical system.¡±


    ¡°It is possible if the magic in their world is different. Maybe it is much simpler than ours, much more restricted. Maybe that is why we can¡¯t detect it? It is not as powerful as the magic in our world.¡±


    The other archmages gather around Mizette to take a peek.


    ¡°However, there is very little logic involved. So far, I have only seen those symbols being added to each other. They combine those symbols and put some completely unrelated picture next to them. Like here,¡± Mizette flipped some pages, pointing at the small drawing in the book, ¡°they have combined five of those symbols and put a drawing of some fruit next to it. At first, I thought those symbols help you summon the fruit somehow, but the next pages have some things you simply can¡¯t summon. Like a castle, for example. You can¡¯t summon a castle with a spell! Especially with a system that has less than thirty symbols.¡±


    ¡°Maybe they combine those symbols to describe a single thing?¡± Natle offered.


    ¡°And how stupid would that be? Why would you use five symbols to reference a fruit when you could use just one? Imagine how huge the books would have to be if you would have to write them with such a system. The sheer weight would make them fall apart!¡±


    ¡°This one is quite big. Just look at the size of this thing!¡± Cybil said as she lifted the gigantic book in her hands, with much effort.


    ¡°Holy ¡­¡±


    ¡°What is that thing?¡±


    ¡°You could kill someone with that!¡±


    ¡°This is ¡­ how do I describe it ¡­¡± Cybil paused for a moment, ¡°this isn¡¯t really a book. It is more like a ¡­ gallery.¡±


    ¡°How so?¡±


    ¡°Take a look!¡±


    Cybil opened the book, pointing the opened pages towards the others. As soon as she did that, surprised gasps filled the room.


    ¡°What ¡­ what¡¯s that?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no way someone has painted that! No way!¡±


    ¡°Wait! Wait! Let me get a better look!¡± Mizette dropped the book she had in her hands, turning towards Cybil, ¡°This ¡­ how?¡±


    ¡°I have no idea, but the entire book is full of those ¡­ paintings, I guess,¡± said Cybil as she flipped the enormous pages.


    ¡°That¡¯s too real to be a painting!¡±


    ¡°Can I see it?¡± Hazelmere asked from her bed.


    Cybil and Mizette came closer, sitting next to her.


    ¡°What in the ¡­ what is that!¡±If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    ¡°I have no idea, but each and every one of these paintings is flawless. It is as if you are really looking at that lake. But that is just the beginning. Let me find it ¡­¡±


    Cybil flipped the pages some more. The gigantic pages created weak wind as they moved in front of Hazelmere¡¯s face, brushing the locks of her hair.


    ¡°Look at this!¡±


    ¡°What is that, some kind of a monster?¡±


    ¡°Must be. Those claws are huge!¡± Mizette agreed.


    ¡°Look at the painting next to it, to the left.¡±


    ¡°What is that? It is so small, I can¡¯t even see it!¡±


    ¡°There is some ¡­ tiny thing on the ground.¡±


    ¡°It is an ant,¡± Cybil explained, ¡°if you take a better look, you will realize that is an ant.¡±


    ¡°Oh, it really is one!¡±


    ¡°And this ¡­ ¡®monster¡¯ is, I think, what the small ant looks like from up close.¡±


    ¡°No way! There is no way!¡± Mizette protested, ¡°Ants are small and cute. This one is ugly and has big fangs coming from its mouth.¡±


    ¡°Maybe that is a ¡­ a painter¡¯s vision of how a scary ant would look like? Or maybe that is what the ants are like in hell?¡±


    ¡°Have you ever heard of a painter skilled enough to paint anything like this, with such precision and realism?¡± Mizette didn¡¯t agree one bit, ¡°Look at the shading, it¡¯s perfect! Too perfect!¡±


    ¡°Well, what is it if it isn¡¯t a painting?¡±


    ¡°How would I know? But I dare you to find a mortal who could paint like ¡­¡±


    Mizette got lost in thought all of a sudden.


    ¡°¡­ hmm ¡­ maybe that¡¯s it. Maybe, just maybe, it¡¯s not a mortal who did the paintings.¡±


    ¡°What, you think some demonic god would paint it for us? Seriously?¡± Cybil, as usual, didn¡¯t bother hiding the mocking tone in her voice.


    ¡°Oh, shut up! Wait ¡­ what if ¡­ what if these books aren¡¯t meant for us at all?¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°What if these books are meant for the immortals?¡±


    As if on cue, all the archmages looked at Galizur.


    ¡°You think the demons want us to give these books to the gods?¡±


    ¡°Not just the gods,¡± Mizette responded.


    ¡°You are just taking a wild guess. You have no idea if what you are saying makes any sense,¡± Cybil protested, ¡°you just threw an idea to see if it sticks! But, even if that is the case, we do have an immortal with us here. And more of them are welcome to join us if they want to see the books. Right, Hazelmere?¡±


    ¡°For once, I do agree with you,¡± Hazelmere¡¯s response lacked any emotion.


    ¡°You are agreeing with me a lot lately. Are you sure you are ok? Do you have fever?¡± It seemed as if Cybil¡¯s mocking tone had no intention of changing.


    ¡°Unlike you, I do obey my superiors. Which you just so happen to be until I get well. And, unlike you, I don¡¯t see myself as the smartest person in the world.¡±


    ¡°Well, considering your actions of late, that is pretty much obvious. Wouldn¡¯t you agree?¡±


    ¡°Stop it, Cybil!¡± Mizette responded in an aggressive voice, ¡°You¡¯re in charge for only a few days, and you¡¯re already letting it get to your head! Why don¡¯t you focus on the task at hand?¡±


    ¡°I am, but messing with Hazelmere takes only a small portion of ¡­¡±


    All of a sudden, Cybil stopped flipping the pages of the gigantic book. The only thing she said after that was:


    ¡°Whoa!¡±


    ¡°Now what?¡± Mizette¡¯s irritation was slowly increasing.


    ¡°I ¡­ I think I¡¯ve found something that could be important.¡±


    ¡°You think?¡±


    ¡°See it for yourself.¡±


    Mizette looked back at the book, still held in front of Hazelmere. It showed eight people-like figures. The figures were clearly visible and very detailed, thanks to the size of the book.


    ¡°Who are these people? Do you think they are on the other side of the portal?¡± Hazelmere asked.


    ¡°They don¡¯t look like demons to me!¡± Mizette stated, ¡°They have no horns, or tails, or wings for that matter.¡±


    ¡°They don¡¯t even have any animal parts!¡± Natle pointed out.


    Cybil moved the book aside to take a better look: ¡°Oh! Yes, they really have no animal parts at all! Not the ears, nor the tails!¡±


    ¡°They do have the ears though, but on the sides, like the elves do.¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes! Their ears are so small, I didn¡¯t even see them!¡±


    ¡°The angels also have their ears on the sides of the head,¡± Natle said, ¡°actually, now that I think about it, they look like Galizur in a way. But you can actually tell their gender just by looking at their faces.¡±


    ¡°They don¡¯t have the wings though. And none of these eight have the skin as pale as Galizur¡¯s.¡±


    ¡°I have never said they are angels. I said they have some similarities. The white-skinned ones at least.¡±


    ¡°Hmm ¡­ I think I have seen those ears before,¡± Mizette mused, ¡°ah, oh yes! I think culiars have the same ears these people do!¡±


    ¡°Culiars, like, those domestic animals that walk on two legs?¡± Cybil asked.


    ¡°Yes. The ones the nobles use, to keep the other animals in check.¡±


    Dread appeared on Hazelmere¡¯s face immediately: ¡°Mizette ¡­ don¡¯t tell me ¡­¡±


    ¡°No! No! No! It¡¯s nothing like that! I just ¡­ remembered those animals have such ears! Certainly, you¡¯ve seen some of them! There were a lot of them around when the engineers were building the camp!¡±


    ¡°What are the two of you talking about?¡± Cybil asked, ignorant of what has happened between Hazelmere and Mizette.


    ¡°Can I take a look?¡± Galizur finally spoke.


    ¡°Sure!¡± Cybil shifted the book, so he could see better, ¡°Natle is right. These people are more similar to you than they are to us! Yes, there are some obvious differences, like their males being more muscular than you are, but you get the gist of it.¡±


    ¡°How do we know the angels aren¡¯t muscular when we have never seen Galizur naked?¡± Mizette wondered, ¡°Quick Galizur, strip your clothes off right away! We must see you naked to determine how similar these guys are to angels! The fate of the world is at stake!¡±


    ¡°Mizette!¡± Hazelmere screamed like a mother would at her naughty child.


    While Galizur just laughed at Mizette¡¯s joke: ¡°Let me see if I can find something first.¡±


    Then, he proceeded to examine the painted people in detail.


    As he did so, Cybil started stating the obvious: ¡°They don¡¯t look like demons, and they don¡¯t look like angels. They also don¡¯t look like people, they have no animal parts on them.¡±


    ¡°There are people with no animal parts. Like the elves, hobbits, and dwarves,¡± Hazelmere retorted.


    ¡°They could be, but ¡­ there is no way people can survive in hell, burning or frozen one.¡±


    ¡°Maybe these aren¡¯t the demons on the other side,¡± Natle offered a different explanation, ¡°maybe these are the races the demons have contacted before? After all ¡­ hmm ¡­ that book, Cybil, that book in your hands. What is it about?¡±


    ¡°It is mostly about nature. Plenty of animals, plants, rivers, lakes, forests, mountains, that kind of things.¡±


    ¡°What kind of forests?¡±


    ¡°What do you mean, what kind of?¡±


    ¡°Are those forests frozen?¡±


    ¡°No, of course not! Those are regular, green forests, like everywhere else.¡±


    ¡°In that case, it is safe to assume those forests have nothing to do with the other side of the portal.¡±


    The tent got quiet for a few moments. After a while, Natle continued:


    ¡°Everything on the other side is frozen so, how can there be any lush, green forests out there? The trees on the other side are covered in that strange ice.¡±


    ¡°Ok but, what are you getting at?¡±


    ¡°They are showing us the things that aren¡¯t from their world! They are showing us that they have been to the other worlds before. How else would they know such forests exist? How else would they know how to paint them? Or, whatever they did to create those ¡­ sights. It is probably the same with the people in that book. I bet these are the people they have seen in the other worlds, not the demons themselves.¡±


    ¡°That ¡­ hmm,¡± Cybil considered what Natle has said.


    But, Galizur¡¯s spirited yell interrupted her.


    ¡°I¡¯ve found it!¡±

 Chapter 42

    ¡°What did you find, Galizur?¡± Hazelmere asked.


    ¡°I¡¯ve found it! I did!¡±


    ¡°Ok, but what?¡± Mizette joined Hazelmere in asking.


    Galizur let out a long sigh of relief before explaining.


    ¡°I have found the mark of a demon. These are the demons, there is no mistake about it.¡±


    ¡°Where is the mark? Because I can¡¯t see it anywhere.¡±


    ¡°Here!¡± Galizur placed his index finger on one of the creatures in the book.


    ¡°What, a leg? We have legs too, Galizur.¡±


    ¡°No, not the leg itself! What do you see on it?¡±


    ¡°Hmm ¡­¡± Mizette got her head closer, squinting her eyes, ¡°the ¡­ the hair?¡±


    ¡°Yes! It¡¯s the body hair!¡±


    ¡°Is body hair the mark of a demon?¡± Hazelmere wondered.


    ¡°Maybe we should have asked Moana to come here? Her insight could be useful,¡± Cybil said.


    ¡°You know she likes isolation, and we don¡¯t need her with Galizur nearby,¡± Mizette retorted, ¡°an angel certainly knows more about the demons than a priestess. Besides, she needs rest.¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t get my response. Is body hair the mark of a demon?¡± Hazelmere asked again.


    ¡°It can be,¡± Galizur responded.


    ¡°But ¡­ wouldn¡¯t that mean that we are the demons too?¡± Hazelmere¡¯s voice became very shy.


    ¡°No, that is not ¡­ it is more complicated than that. You have the other parts that mark you as the people, like wolf ears and tails.¡±


    ¡°The dwarves don¡¯t have them, and they are the hairiest people in the world,¡± Cybil pointed out.


    ¡°Let me explain. Can I?¡±


    ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    ¡°Usually, it is very easy to recognize a demon. Horns, devilish tails, bat-like wings, claws and fangs, tentacles, these are all demonic marks, and most demons have several of them. There are also a few lesser-known marks, like the body hair. But, different demonic races have different combinations of those. Some may not have fangs, others may not have wings, and so on. However, there is one race of demons that is different. This race has only a single demonic mark, and for a good reason.¡±


    ¡°And what reason would that be?¡±


    ¡°To blend among the people easily. This race loves meddling in the mortals¡¯ affairs and is the most prosperous when it has the other races to feed off.¡±


    ¡°I thought all the demonic races do that. Isn¡¯t that why they are constantly trying to conquer us?¡±


    ¡°All the other demonic races want to conquer and dominate the mortals, but this race is different. This race lacks the physical strength most other demons possess, so they are very rare in the demonic armies. They mostly support them from behind and never fight on the front lines. However, just because they aren¡¯t as strong as their brethren, that doesn¡¯t mean they are any less dangerous, quite the contrary. To survive in hell, they had to develop some special skills. That is why these demons are the most cunning and deceitful creatures you can ever come across. Unlike the other demons, these value the intelligence and wisdom far more than the strength.¡±


    Mizette chuckled: ¡°Now, that is funny! I have never heard of such a demon.¡±


    ¡°Oh, you certainly did. Have you ever heard of vampires?¡±


    The smile disappeared from Mizette¡¯s lips immediately: ¡°Yes, I have.¡±


    ¡°There is a good reason for why they can seduce the mortals so easily. They are just one clan of this demonic race. I have told you that these demons have only a single demonic mark on them. The vampires have fangs, while everything else about them is perfect. And that is so they can walk among the mortals unnoticed. They find the possibility of being discovered exhilarating, a strange and perverted pleasure like many other demonic pleasures.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t the vampires undead?¡± Cybil asked.


    ¡°Yes, they are. But that is not how they came to be. They used to be regular, living demons. But, as I have said, this demonic race values intelligence and knowledge the most. So, while experimenting with magic, they found a way to become immortal by becoming undead. Well, partially undead, since they have managed to retain some mortal traits.¡±


    ¡°And will you finally tell us what this demonic race is called?¡± The irritation in Mizette¡¯s voice left no doubt that her patience was wearing thin.


    ¡°They are cubus demons.¡±


    ¡°Cubus?¡± Mizette¡¯s face twisted in surprise.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Like ¡­ succubus?¡±


    ¡°That is how their females are called, while their males are called incubus.¡±


    ¡°Like ¡­ sex demons?¡±This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    ¡°That is not what they truly are, but the mortals do call them like that. Lust is just one of the many tools at their disposal. But it is the reason why they have only a single demonic mark on their bodies. To make them more attractive to the people, so they would have a much harder time refusing their suggestions. And, that is what makes them different from you. Yes, most mortal races do have body hair, just like these demons do. But, you also have some other imperfections that mark you as the people. These demons don¡¯t. Everything else about them looks divine. Well, depending on the clan. This clan has body hair, the vampires have fangs, others have horns, and so on. Although ¡­ I must admit this demonic mark is the most deceitful out of all that I have ever seen.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°When you look at the females presented here,¡± Galizur pointed at the page, ¡°it appears as if they don¡¯t have body hair at all. The males do, but the females don¡¯t. I doubt that is the case, I think they just got rid of it. You mortals have several ways of doing so, so it is only reasonable to assume these demons can rid themselves of their body hair too.¡±


    ¡°They do have some of it near the genitals,¡± Hazelmere pointed out.


    ¡°Indeed, they do,¡± Galizur agreed.


    ¡°Are there any more of them?¡± Mizette asked, ¡°Flip the pages a bit. There may be more in the back.


    ¡°Oh, there are. But they are all similar. Their colors are the only real difference.¡±


    ¡°And some facial features, but that is it. None of these look like a different race. Flip the pages some more,¡± Mizette insisted.


    ¡°No, that is all of them. There are no more people here. I mean, demons! All we have are these different ethnicities of the same variety.¡±


    ¡°Is it possible there is only one race living out there?¡± Hazelmere wondered.


    ¡°Maybe they are only showing us what we want to see?¡± Natle said, ¡°Maybe they want us to get a favorable opinion of them and let them in. I bet that is also why there are all those colorful sights in this book, even though we can see their world is a frozen hellscape.¡±


    ¡°That would make sense,¡± Galizur agreed, ¡°if cubus demons are involved, there has to be some trickery involved too. Although, I would still expect the other demonic races to march through the portal.¡±


    ¡°You said these cubus demons are manipulative. Maybe they have manipulated their way to the top of the hierarchy? Maybe they are preventing the others from attacking?¡± Cybil offered.


    ¡°That is possible. And, truth be told, cubus don¡¯t appreciate the extermination of other races. After all, you can¡¯t manipulate or seduce the dead. If what you have said truly is the case, it would make sense for them to try a peaceful approach.¡±


    ¡°That almost sounds ¡­ good?¡± Mizette¡¯s face developed a questioning frown.


    To which Galizur responded solemnly: ¡°Whatever is the case, this will either go much better than our last contact with the demons or much worse. The fact that they have given us this many books is encouraging, but maybe they are only trying to get our guard down. Having to deal with the cubus demons makes everything unpredictable. Which is why all the races of Greadinall must work together!¡±


    ¡°Of course!¡± Hazelmere¡¯s response was very enthusiastic.


    ¡°It is imperative that your Emperor realizes just how dangerous the situation is! He must allow the other races to join us! The cubus demons are famous for turning the people against each other, and if your Empire decides to engage with them on its own, there is a very real possibility that the demons will turn it against the rest of Greadinall! We must not allow that!¡±


    ¡°What?¡± That caught Hazelmere by surprise.


    Galizur approached her, grabbing her shoulders firmly and looking her straight in the eyes.


    ¡°You must go to the palace as soon as you get well! You must convince the Emperor to cooperate with the rest of the continent! You must warn him of the cubus demons! You must tell him they look like the regular people, these ones especially! However, there is nothing regular about them! They are as devilish as any other demonic race! You must warn him not to believe in anything they might say!¡±


    ¡°Slow down, Galizur! What has gotten into you?¡± Mizette said as she landed her hand on his left shoulder.


    ¡°That explains why they aren¡¯t attacking! They know there are other races in this world. They have seen other worlds similar to ours! They have shown it to us in that book! That is why they are sending books! They are trying to manipulate your Emperor into siding with them!¡±


    ¡°Slow down, Galizur!¡± Mizette repeated herself, ¡°They haven¡¯t told us anything yet! They may attack us tomorrow for all we know!¡±


    ¡°No, they won¡¯t! They won¡¯t attack you!¡±


    ¡°Then, why are you so upset? I have never expected to see an angel acting like this.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m ¡­¡± Galizur closed his eyes, exhaling slowly, ¡°I am just starting to realize what this is all about. They won¡¯t attack now. They will do it later, once they have your Empire on their side. They will act peacefully with you so they could manipulate your nobles. And once they succeed, they will start spreading their tentacles all over Greadinall. They will be peaceful as long as they can get what they want through manipulation. As soon as that fails, they will attack. That is what the cubus demons would do.¡±


    ¡°Have you had some experience with them before?¡±


    ¡°No, but that is how a smart demon would act. And there is no doubt that the demons on the other side are quite intelligent. You have said it yourself, they are acting in a very academic way. They know what they are doing.¡±


    ¡°And what would they want from us?¡± Hazelmere asked.


    ¡°The same all demons do, they want to dominate. That is the single most important rule in hell, and I don¡¯t believe the frozen hell is different. But, the cubus demons have much more tools at their disposal besides an old-fashioned conquest.¡±


    ¡°But, do we know the cubus demons are truly the ones in charge?¡± Cybil wondered.


    ¡°You are the one who has proposed that!¡± Mizette raised her voice in annoyance.


    ¡°Proposed, not claimed. Yes, they are showing us what we want to see, there is no doubt about that. They haven¡¯t shown us any horrific aspects of hell. Maybe that is why only the cubus demons are shown in the book? Maybe they think showing the other races dwelling there would scare us? If they have dealt with the other worlds before, they have already seen the response the people have when they see them. Maybe the cubus demons aren¡¯t in charge, but are merely the diplomats?¡±


    ¡°That would imply quite the consideration on the part of their leadership, and only the cubus demons would be crafty enough ¡­¡±


    Galizur stopped mid-sentence, staring at the empty space for a while. Nobody dared to interrupt him.


    ¡°Hmm ¡­ maybe I was overthinking it. You may be right again, Cybil. After all, the demons are ruled by the devils, and the devils are much more intelligent than the demons. It would make sense for a devil to use such a strategy. But, that is irrelevant to the problem we are facing. The fact remains that the cubus demons are out there, and they can manipulate your nobles into doing their bidding. That is why your Emperor must let the other races join us here! Hazelmere, please, as soon as you get better, seek an audience with the Emperor and explain the situation to him. He must realize he will be the main target for the demons and that he will need the help of all the other races to protect his sanity.¡±


    ¡°That sounds scary, until you realize they can¡¯t take a single step into our world,¡± Cybil pointed out.


    ¡°There is no doubt in my mind that they will eventually find a way,¡± Galizur retorted.


    ¡°Can¡¯t someone go instead of Hazelmere?¡± Mizette asked, ¡°Who knows how long it will take for her to recover completely.¡±


    ¡°It will take her two weeks to get her strength back and another week to get well enough to travel,¡± Natle responded.


    ¡°I am not sure the Emperor will take anyone but the royal archmage seriously, which is why Hazelmere has to go. I will go right away, to notify the heavens about this,¡± Galizur said as he started moving towards the exit, ¡°I will be back as soon as we conclude what our next course of action is, and let you know.¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Galizur!¡± Hazelmere said in a somewhat cheerful voice.


    ¡°Get well soon,¡± he gave her another one of his genuine smiles before leaving. Although, it was darkened by the apparent worry this time.

 Chapter 43

    Galizur left the same day, determined not to waste any time. Hazelmere, on the other hand, had no choice but to wait for three weeks to recover her energy fully. She wanted to go sooner, but both Mizette and Cybil would reprimand her as soon as she started talking about it, each in her own way. At least she was surrounded with books on all sides, which proved to be far more interesting than anyone hoped, even though nobody had any idea what was written inside. The lack of any understanding was compensated by the fact that there were plenty of disturbingly realistic paintings and magnificent sights to look at.


    On the fifteenth day, Natle finally agreed that Hazelmere was ready for the trip. She wasted no time, bringing Vukasin and a small host of soldiers with her. It went as usual: as soon as she would reach the palace, the familiar, well-rounded guards-commander would greet her and take her to see the Emperor as soon as he was available. And, just like the last time, she was taken to the throne room. But, there was one huge difference this time.


    The royal advisor, Rowena, wasn¡¯t wearing simple clothes and a slave collar anymore. She was standing right next to the Emperor, dressed in a luxurious dress and decorated with all kinds of garments.


    As Hazelmere approached, Rowena gave her a confident smirk. There was no hostility in it, only the pride that stems from one¡¯s confidence in their abilities.


    ¡°Ahoy, royal archmage!¡± Rowena said in a loud, official voice, ¡°What brings you here? Hopefully, you aren¡¯t bringing us bad news?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it is nothing that poses an immediate danger, but it is bad news nevertheless.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Rowena extended her arm, ¡°Well, please, state your case to his majesty.¡±


    Hazelmere bowed respectfully before she started.


    ¡°We have learned more about the demons on the other side. In a surprising gesture of goodwill, they have sent us their books. In those books, some of their forms are painted.¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Both Rowena¡¯s face and voice acted exaggerated surprise.


    ¡°There was an angel in our camp who has helped us identify what kind of demons these are. He is confident these are the cubus demons.¡±


    ¡°And that changes the situation, how?¡±


    Hazelmere noticed the Emperor hasn¡¯t said a word so far. He was slumped in his throne, looking uninterested, as if he could fall asleep at any time.


    Still, she knew it wasn¡¯t her place to point anything out.


    ¡°The cubus demons are the most intelligent demonic race. While the other demons focus on strength, the cubus demons focus on knowledge and cunning. The gifts they have sent us are proof of it. We expected the demonic armies and instead got the demonic books ¡­¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s in those books?¡± Rowena interrupted her in the middle of the sentence.


    ¡°It¡¯s¡­ each book is different, and those books are written in a language we don¡¯t understand.¡±


    ¡°Maybe someone with the knowledge of the demonic language could help?¡±


    ¡°Umm ¡­ are there people who know the demonic language? I have never heard of them.¡±


    ¡°The inquisition certainly has some. I bet knowing the demonic language comes in handy when dealing with their magic. Maybe they could help?¡±


    ¡°That would be much appreciated! If they could send someone, that would be a great help!¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no way they¡¯ll agree to that. It¡¯s too dangerous, which is why you¡¯ll have to send all those demonic books to the palace.¡±


    Hazelmere gave Rowena a perplexed look.


    ¡°But ¡­ but we are right in front of the demons! Surely, having some inquisitors with us would help us deal with them!¡±


    ¡°The purpose of the inquisition is not to fight on the front lines but to discover and fight the demonic corruption within the realm. Their skills would be wasted in your camp. Since we¡¯re facing a possibility of the demonic invasion, their lives are too valuable to be put at risk.¡±


    ¡°Surely, the inquisition¡¯s knowledge of the demons would help us understand them and their motives better!¡±


    ¡°Which is why you¡¯ll send all the books you¡¯ve received to the palace so that the experts can take a good look at them! Any useful information they find will be delivered to you as soon as possible.¡±


    Hazelmere hesitated before agreeing: ¡°Understood. I will send those books to you as soon as possible.¡±


    ¡°Excellent! Is there anything else you need?¡±


    ¡°Yes, there is one more matter to discuss.¡±


    ¡°Please, go on ahead!¡±


    ¡°There is an angel in our camp. He has been indispensable to me, offering good advice and unique insight when needed. He thinks that, considering what we have learned recently, the other races¡¯ armies must join us as soon as possible. He argues that, since we are dealing with the cubus demons, they will try to divide the people of Greadinall, making their conquest easier. He thinks these demons may deceive us with tempting offers, which may trick us into fighting the other people for them.¡±


    ¡°But, isn¡¯t that exactly what¡¯s happening right now?¡± Rowena¡¯s face became stern all of a sudden, ¡°Isn¡¯t that exactly what has been happening for several centuries now? Haven¡¯t all the other races of Greadinall turned their backs on us, uniting against us in an unjust war?¡±


    ¡°But ¡­ this is different ¡­¡±


    ¡°If that angel of yours can convince the heavens to send the angelic army to help, we¡¯ll gladly accept it! We¡¯ll accept them with open arms! However, if the angels refuse to help us, we can hardly consider them our friends, can we? If they prefer to hide on top of that mountain, while the fate of the world hangs in the balance, then how can we take them seriously? Tell that angel to either bring the angelic army with him or to get lost because, if they aren¡¯t willing to help, then they clearly don¡¯t have our best interests in mind. Isn¡¯t that right, your majesty?¡±The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Certainly,¡± there was no change in the Emperor¡¯s expression at all.


    ¡°As for the other races,¡± Rowena continued, ¡°do you honestly think it would be wise to let the armies of our enemies in? Do you really think they¡¯ll just help us against the demons and then return peacefully?¡±


    ¡°But, as you have said, the fate of the world ¡­¡±


    ¡°Are there any demonic armies approaching at the moment?¡±


    ¡°No.¡±


    ¡°Not only that, but you¡¯ve just told us they¡¯ve sent you books! Would you send books to the people you want to invade? Maybe the people on the other side aren¡¯t as dangerous as we think? After all, they¡¯ve shown no hostility towards us yet, isn¡¯t that right?¡±


    ¡°But, we are talking about the demons here! They may be only doing it to trick us!¡±


    ¡°And what have the high-elves been doing all these centuries, if not indulging in trickery? Isn¡¯t that how they¡¯ve turned everyone else against us? Even if that¡¯s true, and the people on the other side are trying to trick us, they¡¯re still better than the high-elves! At least they¡¯ve sent us some gifts. As for those gifts, the inquisition¡¯s experts will study those books in detail and determine how much of a threat the other side really is.¡±


    ¡°But, the angel himself said ¡­¡±


    ¡°Have the angels had any goodwill towards us, they¡¯d have forced the peace in the entire Greadinall! They¡¯d stop our enemies from attacking us! Alas, that¡¯s not the case. Not only that, they haven¡¯t done a thing to help us! They talk and talk, demanding that we do as they will, while making no demands whatsoever from our enemies! I¡¯ll consider what that angel of yours has to say once his side starts showing it¡¯s willing to negotiate, instead of making one-sided demands! As far as we know, he may be sent to your camp to sabotage us! Tell him that, unless his side changes its attitude, he isn¡¯t welcome in the Empire! There¡¯s no way we can consider those who have sided with our enemies to be our friends! Tell him to fly off, back to the heavens, and not to return until the angels force the peace all over the continent! Then, we may consider letting the other races in, as long as the heavens have some good guarantees to offer.¡±


    ¡°Why are you so ¡­¡±


    Suddenly, Hazelmere stopped talking and focused on thinking. Rowena, for her part, said nothing. She waited for Hazelmere to compose her thoughts coherently, with the nose high up and a stern, almost reprimanding, look on her face. She looked at Hazelmere in the same way a teacher looks at those students who are obviously out of their depth.


    The Emperor did nothing but look at Hazelmere with bored, tired eyes.


    ¡°What has happened at the summit?¡± Hazelmere finally asked.


    ¡°What summit?¡±


    ¡°There was a summit to which all the rulers of Greadinall have been summoned. The angel told me about it. What has happened there to make you so ¡­ irritated?¡±


    ¡°Oh, that summit. Who cares? Nothing would happen there beside them plotting against our Emperor.¡±


    ¡°Wha ¡­ excuse me for asking such an obvious question, but have you participated in the summit, your majesty?¡±


    ¡°No, and why would I?¡± The Emperor responded, ¡°I¡¯m not a fool to jump into their trap.¡±


    ¡°Trap?¡±


    Rowena cleared her throat: ¡°It¡¯s so convenient for our enemies to hold such a summit in the high-elven lands, where they can do as they please. It was clearly a trap, designed to lure his majesty in, imprison him there, and then carve up the Empire the way they see fit. They¡¯d then claim they did it to protect all of Greadinall, presenting themselves as the heroes. How can we trust them when they¡¯ve started a new offensive as soon as they¡¯ve heard about the portal opening?¡±


    ¡°But ¡­ clearly, we must all work together! Certainly, a unified Greadinall has much better chances of fighting off these demons than a divided one! Yes, they didn¡¯t attack us yet, and they have sent us gifts, but the negotiations can go sour at any time! We have had that happen before, with the people who are much closer to us than these demons! Therefore, we can¡¯t write the possibility of demonic invasion yet!¡±


    ¡°As I¡¯ve already said, if the heavens force the peace, we will welcome the other races. But, they¡¯ll have to come here to negotiate! The high-elves have fooled us too many times! It¡¯s their own fault for making the other races mistrustful of them! Their deplorable actions have made the other races question their honor and their promises! Therefore, if they want to negotiate, they have to come to us because we have no intention of going to them, just to be fooled once again!¡±


    Hazelmere hanged her head low.


    ¡°I see ¡­ you are right to be mistrustful of the high-elves.¡±


    ¡°Meanwhile, the angels do nothing! Not only that, but everything suggests they¡¯ve sided with the high-elves once again! That¡¯s why we can¡¯t trust them either!¡±


    Hazelmere raised her head, looking at Rowena with conviction: ¡°But, surely, the heavens ¡­¡±


    ¡°Then why do they refuse to force the peace? Both ours and hosagian forces are getting weaker with each passing day, losing soldiers to each other instead of fighting the real enemy! How will the ongoing conflict between our realms help us fight the demons? The angels are perfectly fine with that, which is why we can¡¯t trust them anymore. And you shouldn¡¯t either!¡±


    ¡°There has to be some explanation! Maybe they need time to force peace? Maybe they have been trying to do it the whole time while the other races, the elves for sure, are doing their best to sabotage their efforts?¡±


    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, they didn¡¯t even bother to let us know. So far, we¡¯ve received nothing from them but one ultimatum after the other. That¡¯s why I want you to give them an ultimatum in return, to the angel in your camp. Tell him to either bring the angelic army with him or to get lost! Considering the complete lack of goodwill on their part in these uncertain, critical times, the angels aren¡¯t welcome in the Empire! If they become reasonable again, we¡¯ll gladly accept them back. But they haven¡¯t done a single thing for us so far! They did nothing to make us think they are our friends and have done everything to prove they¡¯ve sided with our enemies!¡±


    ¡°But, Galizur has been indispensable to me! He even risked his own life to save mine!¡±


    ¡°A person at your station should be motivated by reason, not emotions!¡±


    ¡°What I am saying is that, considering he has risked his own life to help the timkik royal mage, we can hardly consider him to be our enemy!¡±


    ¡°Hmm ¡­¡± for once, Rowena made a pause in her rhetoric, ¡°perhaps some angels disagree with what the heavens have been doing. They¡¯re supposed to be just and reasonable creatures, so I bet a lot of them realize that the direction the things are going isn¡¯t right. Still, we can¡¯t write off the possibility that he¡¯s an agent sent to spy on us, or to sabotage us even. Having the people who refuse to side with us near the portal is asking for trouble, even if they¡¯ve shown us goodwill. Until the heavens themselves prove they are on our side, we can¡¯t trust the angels. Not a single one of them! Because, while they are just, they are also zealously obedient to the heavens, and they¡¯ll do whatever the heavens want, even if they disagree with it. Which is why I want you to kick that angel out of your camp!¡±


    Rowena cleared her throat all of a sudden: ¡°I apologize, your majesty. I meant, we want him out.¡±


    The Emperor nodded his head slowly: ¡°That¡¯s granted.¡±


    ¡°Have I understood you right? Are you really telling me we can¡¯t trust the heavens?¡± Hazelmere¡¯s tail rose in alarm.


    ¡°What have they done to earn our trust?¡±


    ¡°Well ¡­ we are talking about the heavens here!¡±


    ¡°Whose side are you on, Hazelmere?¡±


    ¡°Wha ¡­ what do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Are you on the side of the Empire or the side of its enemies?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I just want to stop the demons from murdering us all!¡±


    ¡°Then you¡¯d do well to listen to his majesty¡¯s orders because, what the heavens are doing right now, or rather what they aren¡¯t doing, is only weakening the Empire! And only the Empire is strong enough to stop a demonic invasion! But we can¡¯t stop it if we do as the high-elves demand and submit to their will. And make no mistake: they are the ones in charge, not the heavens! For some reason, the heavens have sided with them and won¡¯t explain why! This¡¯s why, to stop the demonic invasion, we have no choice but to do things on our own! Is that clear?¡±


    Hazelmere lost the plot somewhere in the middle.


    ¡°I ¡­ I guess I don¡¯t see the bigger picture.¡±


    A satisfied grimace appeared on Rowena¡¯s face: ¡°I¡¯m glad you understand. Clearly, you¡¯re the royal archmage for a very good reason.¡±


    ¡°Yes ¡­ that¡¯s for sure ¡­ well, ok ¡­ I have nothing else to report.¡±


    ¡°Good. In that case, you¡¯re dismissed.¡±

 Chapter 44

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Hazelmere?¡± Vukasin asked as they traveled in the cart. They¡¯ve been on the road for quite some time and expected to reach their camp soon.


    ¡°Nothing ¡­ nothing is wrong,¡± Hazelmere responded flatly.


    ¡°I don¡¯t remember seeing you so dejected before. You¡¯ve been quiet ever since we¡¯ve left the palace. I thought you¡¯d recover on the road but, we¡¯re almost at the camp and you still look as if your soul has been sucked away. What¡¯s troubling you so much?¡±


    Hazelmere let out a deep sigh: ¡°I ¡­ I don¡¯t know anymore. I just can¡¯t catch a break. Bad things keep piling on top of me.¡±


    ¡°Now, that¡¯s not true! The demons have sent a new batch of books, even though you¡¯ve torched the first one! How can you consider that to be a bad thing?¡±


    That drew a weak smile on her face: ¡°Yes, you are right about that one.¡±


    ¡°See! Good things are happening too! And we still haven¡¯t been attacked, even though several moons have passed! I don¡¯t know why you see only the bad things, but we¡¯ve been very successful so far, even though we had some serious blunders. Yes, we¡¯ve lost an archmage in the ruins, but now we know there are monsters below us and have taken the measures to secure our camp against them. And we¡¯ve also maintained peaceful contact with the demons on the other side. The safety of our camp and delaying the invasion are our real objectives, and we¡¯ve achieved them completely!¡±


    ¡°Thanks Vukasin, I appreciate it.¡±


    ¡°And yet, that¡¯s not what¡¯s troubling you.¡±


    Hazelmere didn¡¯t respond to that.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like prying, so I won¡¯t bother you about it anymore. But the others in the camp shouldn¡¯t see you like that. They may think things are much worse than they are. And that may cause your subordinates to doubt you.¡±


    Hazelmere straightened up and started arranging her hair, much more out of habit than out of any real need.


    ¡°I will keep that in mind.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I can see the camp ahead! We¡¯ll be there soon!¡±


    Hearing that, Hazelmere took a deep breath.


    However, as they approached the camp, a frown formed on Vukasin¡¯s face.


    ¡°Something¡¯s wrong,¡± he said.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Something isn¡¯t right.¡±


    ¡°What makes you say that?¡±


    ¡°There are some unfamiliar voices in the camp, very deep, harsh, and borderline hostile. Can¡¯t you hear them?¡±


    Hazelmere¡¯s ears moved slowly as she concentrated.


    ¡°Oh, yes, I can!¡±


    ¡°Coach! Stop!¡± He yelled as he started hitting the front of the carriage with his fist, ¡°Stop!¡±


    The coach obeyed immediately.


    ¡°I¡¯ll go and take a look with the soldiers. Whatever is inside our camp is making a terrible noise, and I don¡¯t feel like taking any risks,¡± Vukasin said as he exited the carriage. He slammed the door shut, preventing any further conversation.


    Hazelmere considered coming with him, but then remembered her magic wasn¡¯t very useful in combat and would only be a burden to the soldiers. Clenching her fists, she decided to stay inside.


    It wasn¡¯t long before the door opened, and Vukasin got back in.


    ¡°I was worried the demons might have attacked the camp, but everything is fine. It¡¯s just that our guests are making quite a ruckus.¡±


    ¡°Our guests?¡±


    ¡°The dwarves have arrived, to take a look at the constructs.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡±


    Hazelmere got lost in thought for a moment.


    ¡°Ohh! That¡¯s great news!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve told you good things are happening too,¡± Vukasin said with a smile.


    ---


    The new arrivals have increased the liveliness in the camp tenfold, for better or worse. Everyone seemed to be in a rush, although, Hazelmere had no idea what they could be so busy with.


    Her first hint was an almost maniacal roar coming from the distance.


    ¡°Not like that, you daft cunt! That¡¯s not how you make a damn plank! What you want me to do with that thing now? Gimme that!¡±This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.


    Hazelmere followed the deep, zealous voice. It sounded as if a sore-throated priest was screaming at a heretic.


    It led her to a group of her soldiers, all of them holding various tools in their hands, the kind of tools Hazelmere couldn¡¯t recognize. She recognized Kortan among them, thanks to his unusually broad shoulders.


    ¡°You¡¯ve asked me to make you some planks! And I did! What¡¯s wrong with those?¡± Kortan complained. Right next to him stood a dwarf, his height barely up to the soldier¡¯s chest. However, what he lacked in height, he compensated with his girth. His chest, shoulders, and arms were unbelievably thick, his belly almost perfectly round. He exemplified the timkik ideal of a well-rounded body. But, unlike the timkik nobles, he didn¡¯t achieve it by getting obese. He was well-rounded due to his large muscles and short size. Although, the perfect roundness of his belly indicated that, even though he was quite muscular, it wasn¡¯t all muscle.


    He had a long, thick beard, which grew all the way to his groin. At first glance, it looked as if it was a mess but, upon closer inspection, one would realize it was woven in all kinds of complicated patterns. A large, bulbous nose dominated his face, since most of it was hidden behind the massive beard. However, despite the impressive beard sprouting from his lower face, the top of his head was bare. He was completely bald.


    ¡°I¡¯ve told ya to make me some planks, expectin''  to get some real ones! Not this useless shit!¡±


    ¡°Well, what¡¯s wrong with them?¡±


    ¡°See this? Seee this?¡± The dwarf roared, pointing at the plank in his hand, ¡°See how bent it is?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not bent!¡±


    ¡°Moradin¡¯s balls it isn¡¯t! Look ¡®ere, you daft elf! See how you¡¯ve bent it for three hairs?¡±


    ¡°Well, it has to be bent a little!¡±


    ¡°No, it doesn¡¯t!¡± The dwarf threw the plank on the ground as if it was his worst enemy, ¡°You¡¯re just shit engineer! Can¡¯t make a simple plank right!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not an engineer at all! I used to do some woodwork back in his village, and that¡¯s it. I just wanted to help!¡±


    The dwarf looked at Kortan, seething with murderous rage. He considered what Kortan has said for a few moments.


    ¡°Don¡¯t make anythin'' if you don¡¯t know how to do it right! Stop wastin'' wood if you can¡¯t even make a stupid plank!¡±


    With those words, the dwarf turned around and left. A small host of fellow dwarves followed after him, grumbling as they went.


    ¡°What was that about?¡± Hazelmere asked Kortan once the dwarves were out of the earshot.


    ¡°Beats me! We asked him if we can help him somehow, so he told us he could use some planks to build a workshop in the camp. He insisted we make just a few of them and, if he¡¯s satisfied with them, then we¡¯ll make some more. Clearly, he wasn¡¯t. But I have no idea why! What is he expecting me to do, make him a perfectly straight plank? There¡¯s no such thing!¡±


    ¡°We should go and talk to the dwarf,¡± Vukasin suggested, ¡°having an angry dwarf nearby can get really messy.¡±


    ¡°I agree.¡±


    Due to the small dwarven stature, Hazelmere and Vukasin caught up with the dwarves very quickly.


    ¡°Excuse me, sir?¡±


    The dwarves turned around, visibly irritated.


    ¡°What do ya want?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a ¡­ I am sorry I couldn¡¯t introduce myself before. I am the person in charge of this camp, Hazelmere is my name. I was away, had to report to the Emperor, so I couldn¡¯t greet you properly. I would like to redeem that now.¡±


    The bald dwarf nodded his head respectfully: ¡°I¡¯m Brarhumir Wyvernshield, this lad¡¯ ere is Voson Silverhelm, this one¡¯ ere is Katmig Ingotchin, that one is Umikkorlim Warmcoat, and that one is Nuvrom Greystone.¡±


    ¡°Nice to meet you,¡± Hazelmere did her best to put on an as convincing smile as possible.


    ¡°Now that we¡¯ve been introduced, is there somethin'' you need from us, or do ya have a bad ¡®abit of gigglin¡¯ like that for nothin¡¯?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m a ¡­ I appreciate you coming here to help us, which is why I am hoping I could help you in return. I couldn¡¯t help but hear the conversation you had before. What is it that you need? Maybe I can help with that?¡±


    Wyvernshield let out an irritated grunt while grabbing the top of his head.


    ¡°You can¡¯t help me, nor can any other sod in this damn camp! Did you know that the soldiers in your camp can¡¯t make a simple plank?¡±


    ¡°I ¡­ wasn¡¯t aware of it.¡±


    ¡°Well, now you know! Your soldiers are shit! Lazy, careless bastards!¡±


    ¡°I have heard you need planks to build a workshop?¡±


    ¡°Aye! Can¡¯t make me workshop without some planks, can I? And I can¡¯t work without havin¡¯ a proper workshop set up! But don¡¯t you worry about that! Me and me lads will take care of it. We¡¯ll just need a few days more to make what we need, cause your soldiers are useless!¡±


    ¡°I am sorry to hear that.¡±


    ¡°Nothin'' for you to feel sorry about, it¡¯s not your fault. It¡¯s not a mage¡¯s job to teach people how to make the damn planks!¡±


    ¡°You know I¡¯m a mage? I don¡¯t remember mentioning that.¡±


    ¡°The feathery git mentioned it.¡±


    ¡°The feathery git?¡±


    ¡°Ah, he must mean me,¡± a soothing voice came from behind Hazelmere.


    She didn¡¯t even have to turn around to recognize whom it belonged to. Galizur showed up next to her soon enough.


    ¡°I have taken the liberty of briefing your guests on our situation. I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡±


    ¡°No, of course not!¡±


    ¡°I must say, they are a very strange bunch, even for the dwarves. Especially their leader.¡±


    ¡°I ¡­ I am confident you don¡¯t mean anything bad with it?¡±


    ¡°No, of course not! For example, I have never seen a bald dwarf before. There is nothing wrong with it. It is just, unusual.¡±


    ¡°The gods were very generous with me, movin'' all the hair from my head to my balls. Wanna see?¡±


    As usual, Galizur smiled at the remark and carried on the conversation as if the dwarves weren¡¯t there: ¡°You see, the dwarves see their hairiness as the proof of their masculinity. That is why they are so obsessed with their beards. The thicker the beard, the more masculine they think they are. The same goes for their body hair. They see the other, fairer races as less masculine.¡±


    ¡°Say what ya will, featherhead, but if that weren¡¯t true, your females wouldn¡¯t be enterin'' the mountain so often.¡±


    Galizur¡¯s smile only deepened at the obvious offense, but that was exactly what Hazelmere expected from a peaceful angel. What she didn¡¯t expect though, is for the dwarf to become calm. Wyvernshield was fuming out of his ears just a moment ago, but now it appeared as if he was in perfect control of his emotions. There wasn¡¯t even the slightest hint of irritation or anger in his voice, or his mannerisms, even though his words were as venomous as possible.


    Hazelmere decided to act before that could change.


    ¡°Oh, Galizur, it¡¯s so great you¡¯ve found me! I have to tell you something really important! We must talk right now, before something happens!¡±


    She wrapped her arm around his, not waiting for his answer.


    ¡°In the meantime, I will let you dwarves do what you do best. I will make sure you can work in peace, uninterrupted. If you need anything, don¡¯t hesitate to ask! Even though our abilities are nowhere near yours when it comes to engineering, we would like to help however we can.¡±


    Wyvernshield crossed his arms before nodding proudly.


    ¡°All right then, I will see you later! I must talk to Galizur right away. Bye!¡±


    Hazelmere turned around and started dragging the angel away from the dwarves.

 Chapter 45

    Hazelmere entered her personal tent with Galizur in tow. She wasted no time:


    ¡°Can I please ask you to promise me something?¡±


    ¡°You can ask, but I can¡¯t promise I will promise it.¡±


    ¡°¡­ fair enough. Can you, please, promise me you won¡¯t bicker with the dwarves.¡±


    ¡°Ok, I promise. Despite their many flaws, they are also the children of the gods. I have nothing against getting along with them.¡±


    ¡°Then, why did you start that argument?¡±


    ¡°What argument?¡±


    ¡°Maybe I got the wrong idea, but it looked as if you were trying to tick their leader off.¡±


    ¡°That is certainly not what I had in mind. Although, it doesn¡¯t take much to tick a dwarf off.¡±


    ¡°First you said the dwarves consider the hairiness to be the proof of masculinity, and right in the next sentence you said that it is funny how their leader is bald.¡±


    ¡°That is not what I said.¡±


    ¡°Yes, it is!¡±


    ¡°No, it isn¡¯t. And your order is completely wrong. First, I said that I have never seen a bald dwarf before, and then I started talking about their culture. I didn¡¯t say it is funny, I said I have never seen one.¡±


    Hazelmere clicked her tongue: ¡°Details! The point is, you¡¯ve connected the two way too easily.¡±


    ¡°You are talking as if it is my fault their leader is bald. All I did was reach a logical conclusion.¡±


    ¡°And you have framed it in a way that implies their leader lacks masculinity!¡±


    ¡°There is no reason to get angry, miss Hazelmere. The dwarf himself said that the gods were generous enough to compensate him for the lack of hair. If that is true, then I don¡¯t see how his culture can question his masculinity. After all, he is leading the other dwarves. They wouldn¡¯t follow him if his masculinity was questionable. You are thinking too hard about this, miss. No offense has been taken on their part.¡±


    ¡°Regardless, I want you to promise me you won¡¯t start any fights with the dwarves!¡±


    ¡°I have already promised you that.¡±


    ¡°Although,¡± Hazelmere¡¯s ears and tail fell slowly, ¡°I don¡¯t think you will have the chance to start anything.¡±


    ¡°Did something happen?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve ¡­ I have had an audience with the Emperor. We talked about many things.¡±


    ¡°Is something wrong?¡±


    ¡°He wants you out of this camp.¡±


    ¡°Wha ¡­ why?¡±


    ¡°He said you should either ¡­ no, his advisor said you should either bring the angelic army with you to help us or leave. I know you don¡¯t have such power, you don¡¯t get to choose where the angelic army will go, but they didn¡¯t care. They want you to send a message to the heavens and ask for the angelic army to be deployed here.¡±


    ¡°But ¡­ that makes no sense!¡± Galizur looked passionate about something for once, ¡°That was supposed to be decided at the summit! All the kings have gathered there to decide how the armies will be deployed! Surely, your Emperor jests! The angelic army can¡¯t be sent anywhere without the common agreement!¡±


    ¡°Our Emperor didn¡¯t go to the summit.¡±


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°He was worried it could be a trap to capture him. He and his advisor were very displeased with the location of the summit. In the high-elven lands, our enemies can do as they please.¡±


    ¡°Where else was it supposed to happen, up in the heavens themselves? Your mortal kings wouldn¡¯t survive up there!¡±


    ¡°He says that, if you want to negotiate, you must come to him.¡±


    ¡°That is absurd! It is his realm that is the most endangered! People who need help don¡¯t get to dictate the terms of it!¡±


    ¡°The way he sees it, the rest of Greadinall is as hostile towards our Empire as the demons are. With the exception that the demons have actually sent us some books. Twice.¡±


    ¡°So, that is how he sees it,¡± Galizur almost sounded dejected, ¡°when a child misbehaves, a parent has no other choice but to reprimand it. However, it seems that your Emperor is spoiled beyond belief. What he is doing is extremely foolish.¡±


    ¡°Still, it is hard for me to make a convincing argument when the demons are sending us gifts instead of threats.¡±


    ¡°We aren¡¯t threatening him!¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it like that! It is hard for me to convince him he should let the other armies join us while the hosagians are attacking us as we speak. Oh, yes! How could I forget it! He and his advisor have said they have nothing against the other armies joining us if the angels force the peace between our Empire and its enemies. If you do that, then he will negotiate.¡±The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    ¡°Hmm ¡­¡± Galizur stroked his hairless chin, ¡°that sounds good on papyrus, but it is much more complicated to achieve in practice.¡±


    ¡°His advisor claims the heavens can do it. She says that, without the peace treaty, it makes no sense to let anyone in. And, as much as I hate it, I have to agree with her on that one. We can¡¯t just let the hosagian armies into our lands without making peace with them first.¡±


    ¡°We can demand from the other nations to stop attacking you, but there is no guarantee they will oblige. They may pretend to agree while raiding your territories behind everyone¡¯s back. Achieving peace is much harder than it seems. You don¡¯t get to say ¡®it is peace now¡¯ and everyone drops their weapons all of a sudden.¡±


    ¡°The point is, we can¡¯t let our enemies in, which is why the Emperor would like the angelic army to come. He will have no complaints with that.¡±


    ¡°Once again, it is not that simple.¡±


    ¡°I know, you don¡¯t get to decide yourself.¡±


    ¡°It is not about me. Sending our army to help you could be seen as betraying the rest of Greadinall.¡±


    ¡°How so? You are sending an army to fight the demons, not the other nations!¡±


    ¡°Thanks to which your Empire can focus all of its forces on the other nations. Right now, it has to keep a reserve in case the demons invade.¡±


    ¡°AArrrgghh!¡± Hazelmere let out an irritated grunt, sitting down while cradling her face in her hands, ¡°None of this makes sense! The entire world is in danger, and everyone is only thinking about nailing the other side!¡±


    ¡°I share your frustration, but that is how it is. You mortals aren¡¯t the most logical creatures. Your Emperor won¡¯t change his position until the demons invade, but then it will already be too late.¡±


    ¡°But, will they invade though? We keep assuming all these things about them, yet we didn¡¯t have a single confrontation with them. Even after shooting the arrows at them, or burning their books, they didn¡¯t retaliate.¡±


    ¡°That is how smart demons get you. They pretend to be your allies, your friends, but they will eventually stab you in the back.¡±


    ¡°You said these cubus demons aren¡¯t interested in exterminating the other races.¡±


    ¡°They aren¡¯t interested in exterminating them through slaughter. They prefer to do it through corruption, by slowly swallowing the entire civilizations, twisting and subverting them how they see fit. We know that, in Slainall, the cubus demons have tricked some other races into joining them. Now, those who have joined them are fighting their own kin.¡±


    ¡°That is what I am talking about! What if they have no intention of invading but are trying to get on our good side so they would ally with us? After all, that is what you have said is the most likely scenario, before I went to see the Emperor.¡±


    ¡°That sounds like it is not such a bad thing, until you realize all the decision making power will be in their hands. It is certainly better than being exterminated, but the end result isn¡¯t any different from the military conquest. Your Empire would lose its agency in both cases.¡±


    ¡°What I don¡¯t get is, if there really is a chance of that happening, if there is a chance that these demons may trick us into joining them and turn us against you, then isn¡¯t it in your best interest to force the peace as soon as possible? Isn¡¯t it in the best interest of the entire Greadinall to show how its nations aren¡¯t interested in harming our Empire and are actually our friends?¡±


    ¡°That ¡­¡±


    ¡°I mean, who would you rather fight: the demons or the demons and the timkiks? If what you have said about these demons is true then, wouldn¡¯t you think that unifying the entire continent has no alternative?¡±


    ¡°It is not that easy. And I have already told you why.¡±


    ¡°Then, why don¡¯t you convince the other races? Yes, our Emperor and his advisors are stubborn, but isn¡¯t the same true for our enemies? Hosagians especially! No matter how much they hate us, they certainly hate the demons more.¡±


    ¡°And that is why I have told you that the mortals aren¡¯t very good with the logic. We are trying, but you mortals are too selfish, too greedy. You won¡¯t listen to reason, both your side and your enemies. So, what are we supposed to do, force all the nations of Greadinall into submission? That is not how the heavens work, that is something the demons would do.¡±


    ¡°Ok, but, now what? No matter how much I hate the stubbornness of my Emperor, how am I to explain it to him that the demons, who are sending us gifts, are the greater threat than the people killing us as we speak?¡±


    Galizur sighed, his big wings lowering themselves as he did so: ¡°We are just going in circles now, and I am starting to think that this conversation is just a waste of time for both of us. I understand you are reasonable and want to stop the demons as much as the heavens do. But this is much bigger than you and me, and you aren¡¯t the person who needs convincing.¡±


    ¡°I am just trying to explain that the situation everyone else has created is making it impossible for me to construct a valid argument.¡±


    ¡°Yes, I know. And I am not in a better position either. However, I am glad to see that the timkik royal archmage is a logical person who understands where the true danger lies.¡±


    Hazelmere¡¯s ears started twitching: ¡°I ¡­ thanks.¡±


    ¡°However, it looks like that is exactly why you have no power at all.¡±


    ¡°If it were up to me, I would never summon the portal in the first place! I protested, but nobody listened!¡±


    ¡°I believe you. You do look like someone who isn¡¯t obsessed with power. Which is why I have wondered for quite some time: how did you get such a privileged position? All the royal archmages are aggressive people who are only interested in obtaining more power and influence. And yet, here you are, even though you lack such a predatory mindset. But, everything is slowly starting to make sense. The truth is that you don¡¯t really have any power, do you? You have nothing but blame and responsibilities.¡±


    ¡°Well ¡­ that isn¡¯t necessarily true,¡± Hazelmere shifted in place while twiddling her thumbs, ¡°I can give orders to people which they must obey. It¡¯s just that nothing good ever comes out of it.¡±


    ¡°I see ¡­¡± Galizur turned around and started walking towards the exit, ¡°you don¡¯t feel comfortable with the power your position entitles because you are too pure for it.¡±


    A twisted smile appeared on Hazelmere¡¯s face: ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯m pure. That¡¯s certainly not how I would describe myself.¡±


    ¡°A person¡¯s purity isn¡¯t defined by the filthiness of their body, it is defined by the cleanliness of their soul. Even a filthy, dark-skinned slum-dweller can be pure. You mortals have a twisted, superficial understanding of it. Everything is skin-deep for you because you are carnal, emotional creatures.¡±


    Reaching the exit, he turned around to take a last look at Hazelmere: ¡°But, that may be their worst mistake. Maybe the gods are playing their own game and have placed you here for a reason. Whatever the case may be, I am not welcome here anymore and should therefore go back. It appears that both you and I may be in a similar situation. After all, nobody told me your Emperor didn¡¯t show up at the summit, even though I was in the heavens recently. I need to go back and see what is going on. Creatures of light, like me, don¡¯t appreciate being kept in the dark.¡±


    ¡°You will always be welcome here Galizur, no matter what anyone else says. I am starting to understand just how little I know, but the one thing I know is that I need all the help I can get. No matter what his majesty says, I won¡¯t refuse the help of the heavens, even if it is coming from an unofficial source.¡±


    Galizur gave her his characteristic, gentle smile: ¡°Understanding our ignorance gives birth to our wisdom. I will get to the bottom of this and, once I do, I will return to deliver my findings to you. You can consider that to be proof of my trust in you.¡±


    Hazelmere bowed her head slightly: ¡°Thanks Galizur! Once again, you will always be welcome here.¡±


    ¡°Good luck.¡±


    ¡°And may the good gods be ¡­¡±


    Hazelmere started laughing in the middle of the sentence, covering her mouth with her hand.


    ¡°Well, I guess the good gods are always with the angels.¡±

 Chapter 46

    All the archmages gathered in the main command tent. All the books the demons have sent were moved there, as soon as Hazelmere recovered from her chilling excursion in the ice. The archmages were still examining the books in detail while making all kinds of wild assumptions about the things they saw inside.


    ¡°I am wondering something.¡±


    ¡°Go ahead, Mizette,¡± Hazelmere said.


    ¡°Is there any point to this anymore?¡±


    Most of the mages looked at her.


    ¡°I mean, we have examined all the books we have received, several times already. I don¡¯t see what we can find that we haven¡¯t found before. We came up with all kinds of hypotheses, but we have no idea if any of them make sense! We can¡¯t test them because we can¡¯t cross into their world! So, I am wondering if examining these any further will do us any good, or if we are just wasting our time here!¡±


    ¡°Well, we got nothing better to do until the dwarves set up their workshop,¡± Hazelmere answered.


    ¡°I know, it¡¯s just ¡­¡± Mizette let out a sigh while rolling her eyes, ¡°this isn¡¯t what I imagined fighting a demonic invasion would look like. Don¡¯t get me wrong, I am not complaining! I would rather browse alien books over and over again than fight blood-thirsty demons. It¡¯s just ¡­¡±


    ¡°Kind of a letdown?¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    ¡°Can you imagine future generations studying about this?¡± Cybil joined the conversation, ¡°Can you imagine all the kinds of wild tales the bards will come up with? And then, the valiant soldiers and powerful mages kept the demons at bay for several moons, without receiving any help! For several moons, they didn¡¯t give a single beard to the demons, buying the precious time for the armies of Greadinall to unite and kick the demons out for good!¡±


    ¡°While suffering no casualties at all!¡± Mizette added.


    ¡°Well, that is not the case. We did lose Peratha,¡± Hazelmere pointed out.


    ¡°Oh, that makes it even better! As the mages fought the demons pouring in through the portal, the underground horrors struck them from below! They didn¡¯t know there were underground dungeons below them, filled with monstrous, demonic vermin! So, the mages had no choice but to fight on two fronts, fighting the enemies coming from both outside their camp and from within!¡±


    ¡°And then, on one night, the demons sent a giant, flying, buzzing bug to attack our heroes as they were asleep. But our heroes woke up on time, fighting the demonic bug off! And once they did, they found the mage who was supposed to warn them of the approaching danger, having sex with four soldiers at once!¡±


    ¡°Oh, go nail yourself Hazelmere!¡±


    Everyone in the tent burst into laughter.


    ¡°All jokes aside,¡± Cybil restarted the conversation, ¡°what we say has happened won¡¯t matter one bit. The bards will come up with their own, alternative history, and that is what will eventually be taught in the universities.¡±


    ¡°You certainly know your bards well, Cybil,¡± Mizette teased.


    ¡°Listen ¡­ just listen to her!¡± Cybil didn¡¯t sound as angry as she sounded betrayed, ¡°Just a moment ago, she was all like: go nail yourself! And now she is doing the same thing to someone else!¡±


    ¡°We have all heard about your ¡­ bard adventures. They aren¡¯t known for their secrecy, you know. I would expect the daughter of a prestigious family to know better.¡±


    ¡°Of course I know better! Say what you will, but the daughter of Zegrath house gets only the best! We all know the bards are the best romancers! You are just jealous because you can¡¯t get one and, therefore, have to resort to filthy peasants!¡±


    ¡°Oof!¡± Strangely enough, Hazelmere looked quite satisfied with her rival¡¯s retort.


    ¡°I just like doing whatever I want with them. If I tried doing the same things to a noble, I would end up in a dungeon.¡±


    ¡°That is not something to be proud of!¡±


    ¡°You are trying too hard, Mizette,¡± Hazelmere said as she shook her head sarcastically, ¡°I don¡¯t know what you are trying to achieve, but this isn¡¯t the Mizette I know. You are clearly trying too hard, for whatever reason.¡±


    ¡°Quite the contrary, that is exactly the way she is!¡± Cybil responded, ¡°You just never got to see it, for some reason. But I do agree she is trying too hard. I guess that, with Peratha gone, she has to step up her own game. Make up for all that douchery we have lost.¡±


    ¡°Excuse me! May I come in?¡± A deep voice came from the outside.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it


    ¡°Hmm ¡­¡± Mizette¡¯s voice turned suggestive in an instant, making the other mages roll their eyes.


    ¡°What? Don¡¯t you think a hairy dwarf would be a step up from the filthy peasants?¡± She jested.


    ¡°Come in!¡± Hazelmere responded, eager to end the current conversation.


    The bald dwarf walked in, looking very surprised with what he was seeing.


    ¡°I¡¯ve heard some other races don¡¯t mind their leaders bein¡¯ females, but this is ridiculous,¡± he commented.


    ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Hazelmere asked.


    ¡°I¡¯d expect your command tent to have some males in it, some soldiers at least! It¡¯s as if I¡¯ve walked into an elven tent!¡±


    ¡°Oh! Indeed it does, it is just that we aren¡¯t using it as a command tent right now. We have received all kinds of books from the demons, and the other tents simply aren¡¯t large enough to serve as a make-shift library. The reason why there are so many females in this tent is that we, the mages, are too busy studying these books.¡±


    ¡°The demons have sent you books?¡± Wyvernshield¡¯s mustaches almost started dancing.


    ¡°Yes, all these books are the gifts from the demons,¡± Hazelmere said while waving her hand around the room.


    ¡°We have also selected a few books we think you may find interesting,¡± Natle approached the dwarf, holding five books of varying sizes in her hands, ¡°we think these are about the demonic constructs. There are also two books about their runes, something we couldn¡¯t make any sense of and are hoping you will have more luck with.¡±


    ¡°After all, the dwarves are famous for their runecraft,¡± Hazelmere added.


    ¡°Aye, the runes! If a dwarf can¡¯t make any sense of it, nobody can!¡± Wyvernshield accepted the books with much care, as if he was taking a newborn in his hands.


    ¡°I was ordered to send these books to the Emperor¡¯s palace as soon as possible,¡± Hazelmere continued, ¡°however, I have decided to hold on to them for a little bit longer, so you would have a chance to take a look. Consider that to be proof of my goodwill, since I am taking a considerable risk by disobeying a direct order from the Emperor. After all, you took a considerable risk coming here, near the demonic portal, and I want to show how much I appreciate that.¡±


    Every mage in the tent gave her a surprised stare. Hazelmere responded to them with a single, cute wink.


    ¡°Disobeyin¡¯ one¡¯s superiors ain¡¯t wise,¡± Wyvernshield pointed out.


    ¡°No, it is not. This is the first time I have ever done it. My reasoning is simple, postponing my task for a week or two won¡¯t make much of a difference to his Majesty, but it can make all the difference to you. I have no intention of refusing his Majesty¡¯s order, I am just postponing it for a while.¡±


    ¡°I see,¡± the dwarf responded as he looked at the book covers with astonishment, ¡°these ¡­ what are these? Are these paintings ¡­ can¡¯t be. It¡¯s too accurate, even for a dwarf ¡­ but then ¡­¡±


    ¡°We have no idea either. We are hoping that, together, we will be able to uncover these mysteries.¡±


    ¡°In a way ¡­ it makes sense ¡­¡±


    ¡°It does?¡± Hazelmere¡¯s voice lost its official tone in an instant.


    Wyvernshield finally averted his eyes from the books to look at her: ¡°I¡¯ve taken a ¡­ liberty to examine the ¡­ container in front of the camp, while my lads were busy constructin¡¯ the workshop. Ah, yes, I almost forgot!¡± He straightened up, ¡°I¡¯ve come here to tell you our workshop is done, and we can start examinin¡¯ what you have! These books are a good start.¡±


    ¡°You were saying something about how those paintings in the books, or whatever they are, make sense?¡±


    ¡°They are in the books too?¡± Wyvernshield¡¯s eyes shone in an instant.


    ¡°Yes, but you will have plenty of time to examine them later.¡±


    ¡°Ah, yes, sorry about that, we dwarves get excited easily. Even though we¡¯re yet to examine these books, I can tell, just by lookin¡¯ at their covers, that these are made by the same people who made that big container.¡±


    ¡°There is no denying it but, what is the connection?¡±


    ¡°The precision is ¡­ unreal. That container, I bet it looks unimpressive to you. But, those who know a thing or two about smithin¡¯ can tell you it¡¯s a work of art. Sure, its aesthetics are disgustin¡¯. It¡¯s way too simple, but the way they¡¯ve put it together is ¡­ really somethin¡¯.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Have you noticed that its sides are melted together?¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Its sides are made in the simplest possible way. Those are simple, straight metal panels. But the way they are put together is a dream come true for any smith! Takin¡¯ an already processed metal and meltin¡¯ it together with such precision is impossible! Or, it should be impossible. How can they focus such an enormous heat with such precision is beyond me! They¡¯ve managed to melt only the edges and nothin¡¯ else! And they even tried hidin¡¯ it! They¡¯ve tried to polish those melted parts as best as they could, although ¡­ ¡®mm ¡­ I guess it makes sense to do it if you¡¯re dealin¡¯ with someone you don¡¯t trust. I guess that hidin¡¯ your secret techniques is more important than personal honor. But, why would they send you such a masterpiece in the first place? They could¡¯ve easily sent you some regular container. Unless ¡­¡±


    ¡°So, I take it you are quite impressed with that huge chunk of metal?¡±


    ¡°I-I don¡¯t know how to explain it! I understand what they did, but I have no idea how they have managed to pull it off!¡±


    ¡°Ah yes, the story of our camp,¡± Cybil commented.


    ¡°Anyway, my point is that whatever is on the other side is workin¡¯ with impressive precision. There¡¯s no way we can emulate any of it. That¡¯s the connection between the container and these ¡­ paintings, or whatever they are. And gods help us if we have to face that precision in a war. I don¡¯t even want to imagine how accurate their ballistae and catapults are. On that note, I understand we¡¯re supposed to be dealin¡¯ with the demons?¡±


    ¡°That is correct.¡±


    ¡°I find that hard to believe. I¡¯m not an expert in demonology, but the demons aren¡¯t known for their precision or discipline, as far I know. And there¡¯s no way some undisciplined, horned gits could ever construct such a thing, or create these books.¡±


    ¡°Apparently, we are dealing with the cubus demons here. I am not an expert myself, but Galizur, the angel, told us these demons have a knack for tricking the others in to join them. So, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised to learn they have some dwarves working for them.¡±


    ¡°The feathery lady-boy told you that?¡±


    ¡°Umm, yes. Not the part about the dwarves working for them, that is our assumption. As you have said it yourself, the demons are naturally chaotic creatures.¡±


    ¡°I guess the angels would know more about the demons than anyone else. Still, I find it hard to believe. I¡¯ll have to take a look at the portal myself to confirm.¡±


    ¡°We have a magescope observing the portal. You can use it whenever you want.¡±


    ¡°Nah,¡± Wyvernshield waved his hand dismissively while holding the books in the other, ¡°I¡¯m not usin¡¯ that magical crap! We have somethin¡¯ much better! We¡¯ll just need some time to set up the mechanism.¡±


    ¡°The mechanism?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll see!¡±

 Chapter 47

    ¡°What is that thing?¡± Mizette asked while staring at the huge contraption. The dwarves worked on it hurriedly while the archmages stood around, watching the big, strange, mechanical thing. Heartwell, Vukasin, and a few other soldiers joined them too.


    ¡°That ¡­ is our farscope,¡± Wyvernshield answered, sounding quite proud of himself.


    ¡°And I suppose it is similar to our magescope?¡±


    ¡°No. Tis¡¯ much better.¡±


    ¡°How?¡± Cybil joined the conversation, ¡°How can it be better when it is so ¡­ unwieldy?¡±


    ¡°It wastes no energy, and it can take a closer look.¡±


    ¡°It uses a bit of energy to move the scope and its parts around,¡± one of the dwarves remarked.


    ¡°Shut up and get back to work! Talkin¡¯ mouth stop hands from workin¡¯!¡±


    ¡°I guess that explains all those carriages you brought with you,¡± Hazelmere noticed.


    ¡°We have a thing for everythin¡¯. Just can¡¯t set everythin¡¯ up right away, it takes a lotta time.¡±


    ¡°When will it be ready to use?¡±


    ¡°The lads are makin¡¯ some final adjustments. It won¡¯t be long. Must make sure everythin¡¯ works perfectly.¡±


    ¡°Certainly.¡±


    ¡°Honestly, this is as alien to me as those demonic constructs are,¡± Mizette said.


    Hearing that, Wyvernshield grunted: ¡°I¡¯ve always found it funny when I saw the stupefied faces of the other races when they had to deal with the dwarven engineerin¡¯. Now, I finally get to understand them, and it¡¯s both exhilaratin¡¯ and terrifyin¡¯ at the same time. I can¡¯t wait to get my hands on one of those constructs you¡¯ve been talkin¡¯ about.¡±


    ¡°They are very good at running away.¡±


    ¡°Aye, I bet they are.¡±


    ¡°All ready, boss!¡±


    ¡°All right, let¡¯s see what they¡¯ve got out there.¡±


    ---


    Wyvernshield sat on the big, mechanical construct for quite some time, without saying a single word. He was clearly doing something with the machine though. The big tube on top of it was separated into several segments, all of which had different sizes. As Wyvernshield tinkered with the machine, those segments rotated and moved, sometimes independently, sometimes in unison with another segment.


    The only sound coming out of him was an occasional: ¡°hmm ¡­¡±


    Finally, Hazelmere ran out of patience.


    ¡°Umm, can you see the portal?¡±


    ¡°hmm ¡­ yes.¡±


    ¡°Clearly?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    A long, awkward moment passed. One of the dwarves approached Hazelmere, but she failed to notice him due to his short stature. So, he yanked her dress gently to get her attention. Then, he motioned with his hand for her to bend over so that he could whisper in her ear.


    ¡°Our boss immerses himself in his work very easily. That makes him one of the best artisans, since he is so dedicated to his work, but it also makes it impossible to talk to him as he¡¯s workin¡¯. It can sometimes be infuriatin¡¯ but, as long as you don¡¯t interrupt him, you¡¯ll get him at his best.¡±


    ¡°So, I should wait for him to finish his work?¡±


    ¡°Yes! You can¡¯t hurry up a work of art. It takes time.¡±


    ¡°All right,¡± Hazelmere said with a sigh, sitting on the ground and cradling her chin with both hands.


    After quite some time, Wyvernshield finally moved away from the contraption, rubbing his eyes.


    ¡°So?¡± Apathy replaced the lack of patience in Hazelmere¡¯s voice.


    ¡°That has to be one of the ugliest things I¡¯ve ever seen,¡± the dwarf commented, making Hazelmere frown,¡± whoever made those things has no sense of aesthetics whatsoever.¡±


    ¡°So?¡±


    ¡°That shows us the people on the other side are concerned with nothin¡¯ but efficiency. When a true artisan is creatin¡¯ somethin¡¯, he puts his heart and soul into the thing. There¡¯s no soul in anythin¡¯ out there. It¡¯s as if some soulless drones made those.¡±This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    ¡°That could make sense,¡± Cybil said, ¡°since we can¡¯t detect any energy coming from the other side. If there¡¯s no energy, then there can be no souls either.¡±


    Wyvernshield¡¯s tired eyes opened wide: ¡°What!¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t detect any energy on the other side,¡± Cybil repeated herself.


    ¡°That¡¯s ¡­ that¡¯s impossible! The constructs can¡¯t move without the energy! There can be no life without the energy, mortal or immortal!¡±


    ¡°True,¡± Hazelmere agreed, ¡°which is why we think the other side has some other, completely alien form of energy. The only reasonable explanation is that there is energy out there, but it is so different from the energy in our world to the point we are unable to detect it.¡±


    ¡°What a time to be alive!¡± Wyvernshield stroked his long beard enthusiastically, ¡°Are you tellin¡¯ me there could be an energy form we¡¯re completely unaware of?¡±


    ¡°We can¡¯t take that seriously boss, not until we set up ¡­¡±


    Wyvernshield cut his subordinate off in the middle of the sentence, ¡°go and set it up right now! Start workin¡¯ on it right away!¡±


    ¡°Aye, boss!¡± The dwarves rushed to their carts at once, their short legs making slow progress, even at the maximum speed.


    ¡°Let¡¯s get back to the topic at hand,¡± Hazelmere said, ¡°what can you tell us about the portal and the things near it? Can you reach any conclusions?¡±


    ¡°I can reach many conclusions, all of which would be wrong! Conclusions are meaningless if we can¡¯t test them! However, I can tell you one thing for sure.¡±


    ¡°And that is?¡±


    ¡°Those ¡­ constructs, I guess, near the portal. Those short things. They¡¯re set up in a defensive position, no doubt about it. They¡¯re set up in a way that helps them cover each other. Which makes me think those are some kind of ranged, defensive emplacements.¡±


    Hearing that, a proud smile settled on Heartwell¡¯s face.


    ¡°But, no soldiers are handling them,¡± Hazelmere pointed out.


    ¡°Aye, that¡¯s strange. The logical explanation would be to say those are some kinds of rudimentary constructs, but that begs the question: where are their cores? Construct cores are huge.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, we have reached the same conclusion.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s what makes me think they¡¯re feedin¡¯ them the energy from a distance somehow. Probably with those black threads that are goin¡¯ through the portal.¡±


    ¡°We think the same thing,¡± Mizette stepped up, ¡°the golems they have sent had the same black threads attached to them. We also think that is how they are feeding the energy to their constructs.¡±


    ¡°Threads ¡­ although, that¡¯s stupid ¡­ if those really are the defensive emplacements. Those threads can be torn easily.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s not stupid if it¡¯s just the first line of defense,¡± Heartwell said, ¡°or if those are used for observation.¡±


    ¡°Hmm ¡­ that makes sense ¡­ but why wouldn¡¯t they have soldiers actin¡¯ as sentries instead? Why use costly constructs for such a dispensable purpose?¡±


    ¡°We think it is tied to our inability to detect the energy on the other side,¡± Hazelmere answered, ¡°the demons may be unable to detect our energy too, which means they are either too concerned to cross the portal themselves or are simply unable to do it at all.¡±


    Mizette nodded her head: ¡°After all, we can¡¯t cross the portal. It drains our energy as soon as we get close to it. They are probably having the same difficulties, which is why they are relying on constructs.¡±


    ¡°I see ¡­¡± Wyvernshield got back to stroking his long beard, but without enthusiasm this time, ¡°it makes sense to rely on the constructs in that case. And, since those constructs are costly, they¡¯ve probably armed them with some kind of flame-throwers to protect themselves. You don¡¯t need precision to use those effectively, and you can just attach them to the damn things. Although, those things are too small but ¡­ it looks like those demons know how to engineer small constructs. Perhaps, they also know how to engineer small weapons.¡±


    ¡°Flame-throwers?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a kind of weapon we dwarves have, very effective in the underground tunnels. It¡¯s not a weapon of choice on the surface, but constructs can use it, I guess. It requires no finesse to be handled properly.¡±


    ¡°What, it ¡­ like, throws flames?¡± Hazelmere looked more than confused.


    ¡°Aye, it¡¯s like your ¡­ flame jet spell, I think?¡±


    ¡°You can recreate a spell with a weapon?¡±


    Wyvernshield smiled from ear to ear: ¡°Anythin¡¯ you mages can do can be recreated with some proper engineerin¡¯! However, I¡¯m just takin¡¯ a wild guess here! There¡¯s no way we can know for sure, not unless we see it up close.¡±


    ¡°Regarding that, I have an idea,¡± Natle said.


    ¡°You think you know how to approach a portal?¡± Hazelmere asked her.


    ¡°No. But, maybe, there is no need to approach it in the first place. The demons have sent us books, right?¡±


    ¡°What about it?¡±


    ¡°Maybe they will be willing to send us something more?¡±


    ¡°What are you getting at?¡±


    ¡°The last time we have sent them books, they have sent their own books in return. So, maybe, if we send them some of our trinkets, they will send us some of their own. If we send them, let us say, a regular iron sword, maybe they will send their own sword to us.¡±


    ¡°It does appear they are interested in trade,¡± Cybil agreed.


    Hazelmere raised her voice slightly: ¡°If you are volunteering to go to the portal yourself, then I may consider it! I am not going back there again!¡±


    ¡°But, do we need to send anyone?¡± Natle continued, ¡°We have a huge container right here, we can fill it up with the things we want to send. I bet that whatever has brought the container here can also pick it up and take it back across the portal.¡±


    ¡°Hmm ¡­ interesting,¡± Cybil nodded her head, ¡°that way, the dwarves can see the big construct from up close.¡±


    Hearing that, Wyvernshield¡¯s eyes shone instantly: ¡°So, let me check if I¡¯ve understood you correctly. You¡¯ve sent them books, and they¡¯ve sent you their books in return?¡±


    ¡°They have sent us all the books you have seen in the command tent. We have sent them fifteen regular books and got a small library in return.¡±


    ¡°In that case, I have some dwarven trinkets I¡¯d like to send! I¡¯m really curious to see what they¡¯ll send in return for some dwarven tools!¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t you think you are getting ahead of yourselves?¡± Mizette said with a frown, ¡°Ok, we will fill the container with some trinkets, but how do you intend to call the big thing to pick it up? It is not like we can communicate with them!¡±


    ¡°We will just wave at the portal while pointing at the container,¡± Natle said in a level voice.


    That only made Mizette¡¯s frown deepen: ¡°Are you serious? The portal is too far away, there is no way they will see us waving at them!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know if it will work, but it is a great opportunity to check just how good their observation capabilities are. If they see us, we will start some more trade with them and confirm they have some impressive sight. And if they don¡¯t, we won¡¯t lose anything. If nothing happens, we will know for sure that they can¡¯t see what is going on in our camp.¡±


    ¡°Besides, the dwarves will be busy setting up their equipment for quite some time, so it is not like we have something better to do,¡± Cybil agreed.


    ¡°Hmm ¡­ ok. When you explain it like that, it actually makes sense since we have nothing to lose.¡±


    ¡°Soo ¡­ we are to gather some trinkets and put them in the container? Everyone agrees?¡± Hazelmere asked.


    ¡°Why not.¡±

 Chapter 48

    ¡°Ok, is that it?¡± Hazelmere asked.


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t look like much,¡± Mizette commented.


    ¡°Well, we don¡¯t have much to offer. Half of our gifts are actually the dwarven trinkets.¡±


    ¡°I wanna see how much sense those demons of yours will make out of these dwarven instruments. If they can get one-quarter right, that means there are some real engineers out there,¡± Wyvernshield didn¡¯t bother with hiding his dwarven pride, ¡°will you be sendin¡¯ them some magical stuff?¡±


    ¡°We have considered it but have decided against it. There is too much risk involved. We don¡¯t want them knowing how the magic works in our world.¡±


    ¡°Aye, I can understand that.¡±


    ¡°So ¡­ I guess we can start waving?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll leave that to you people. The dwarven hands are too short, and I¡¯ve plenty of work to do,¡± Wyvernshield said as he started leaving.


    ¡°We will let you know if we see a construct approaching.¡±


    ¡°Please do.¡±


    ---


    Hazelmere, Mizette, Natle, Heartwell, and Vukasin stood in front of the container, waving at the portal. At first, the mages were very energized and enthusiastic about it, but their enthusiasm started waning with time. Meanwhile, Heartwell and Vukasin were never excited about it to begin with and waved like two puppets from the very start.


    ¡°Why do we have to be here?¡± Heartwell complained.


    ¡°Because, five is the number of the gods,¡± Hazelmere responded.


    ¡°But, why do we have to be here? Why can¡¯t I get some soldiers to wave for us? Honestly, I¡¯m starting to feel like a fool here.¡±


    ¡°Because we are the representatives of our world. Three best archmages and two best soldiers.¡±


    ¡°Just because we¡¯re in charge, that doesn¡¯t mean we¡¯re the best,¡± Vukasin said.


    ¡°I know, I am just kidding. People in charge must take responsibility.¡±


    ¡°Something is coming!¡± The mage sitting near the magescope interrupted the conversation with her alarmed voice, ¡°it¡¯s a big one!¡±


    ¡°The one with the container?¡±


    ¡°Yes, it looks like it!¡±


    ¡°I guess that means they can see what we¡¯re doing in our camp. And we¡¯re beautiful targets out here,¡± Heartwell pointed out, a bit of worry in his voice.


    ¡°We will go back into the camp once it gets closer, don¡¯t worry. Oh yes!¡± She turned towards the guards at the entrance, ¡°Go and tell the dwarves that the construct is coming! A big one, most likely!¡±


    The two soldiers nodded at each other before one of them ran into the camp.


    ¡°Yeap! It is that giant bug, most definitely!¡± The magescoper confirmed.


    It didn¡¯t take long for it to get into view. Its size made it very easy to spot. Its many weird legs crawled over the ground with much speed.


    Wyvernshield and his dwarves weren¡¯t taking their time either. They arrived at the gates almost at the same time the construct came into view. Wyvernshield immediately hopped onto his bulky farscope and started turning it around.


    ¡°My gods, it¡¯s fast! It¡¯s so fast, I can¡¯t focus the mirrors properly! It leaves the focus in mere moments!¡±


    ¡°It sounds as if you¡¯re excited, not worried,¡± Heartwell jested.


    ¡°He¡¯s probably both,¡± one of the dwarves commented, ¡°how big is it, boss?¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t tell! It moves too fast! Its legs are a blur! But I can tell it¡¯s definitely some kind of a construct!¡±


    The big bug raced towards them and, thanks to its high speed, it wasn¡¯t long before it reached the camp.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    ¡°Ok, everyone, get inside!¡± Hazelmere shouted.


    ¡°I¡¯m stayin¡¯ here! I want to inspect it from up close!¡± Wyvernshield protested in a manner that clearly stated there would be no question about it.


    ¡°Ok, you can stay if you want. Everyone else, get behind the palisade!¡±


    Timkiks rushed to get back inside the camp. As they did so, Mizette noticed something.


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you coming with us?¡±


    ¡°No. I will stay here to welcome our guest,¡± Hazelmere responded.


    ¡°A guest? Are you crazy! It¡¯s an oversized, metal, bug-construct! I don¡¯t think it cares for your greetings!¡±


    ¡°If they can see our camp, then I am certain they will appreciate the gesture.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve gone insane! Heartwell! Why aren¡¯t you stopping her! Aren¡¯t you supposed to keep her safe?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll trust her on this one since it looks like she knows what she¡¯s doing. Besides, she has the dwarves with her. If anyone knows how to handle constructs, it¡¯s them.¡±


    Mizette finally got back into the camp, shaking her head left and right in disbelief as she walked.


    ¡°Hmm ¡­ I expected it to be bigger,¡± Wyvernshield complained.


    ¡°What?¡± Hazelmere turned towards him with a confused look on her face.


    ¡°I thought it would be bigger,¡± he repeated himself while pointing at something.


    The mechanical bug was close, just a few more moments separated it from them. Hazelmere only now became aware of its roaring.


    Hazelmere straightened up, clearing her throat. She ran her hand through her hair before checking if her canine ears were in the proper position.


    The thing slowed down as it approached while at the same time lowering the volume of its roar, as if it was trying to reassure them. Finally, it stopped some distance away.


    ¡°Oh? Well, would you look at that!¡± Wyvernshield commented.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m willin¡¯ to bet my left jewel it has stopped exactly twenty-five beards in front of us.¡±


    ¡°So?¡±


    ¡°Twenty-five? Five times five? Five, the number of the gods?¡± He sounded like a teacher, trying to lead his student to a logical conclusion.


    ¡°Oh?¡±


    ¡°This thing knows exactly what it¡¯s doin¡¯. Which is good, I guess. Even though they¡¯re comin¡¯ from hell, they still recognize your gods.¡±


    ¡°I ¡­ I guess it is.¡±


    Hazelmere approached the big thing carefully. Strangely, it didn¡¯t look like an insect from up close.


    ¡°Umm ¡­ hello?¡±


    The construct remained silent.


    ¡°Thank you for coming here. I truly appreciate it. I am very ¡­¡±


    Hazelmere stopped mid-sentence, becoming frozen like a statue in an instant. She realized the dwarves wasted no time and were already all over the alien construct. Some of them were even poking it.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about them, do go on,¡± Wyvernshield encouraged her, ¡°keep it busy while my boys examine it.¡±


    ¡°Umm, yes, as I was saying ¡­ I appreciate the books you have sent us. Sorry about the first batch we burnt, we didn¡¯t mean to do that ¡­¡±


    ¡°Oi, boss!¡± One of the dwarves inspecting the thing yelled.


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°It got no thread, but I¡¯ve found its gas hole!¡±


    ¡°So, it¡¯s generatin¡¯ energy through combustion.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s a beautiful gas hole!¡± Another dwarf added, ¡°Very neat, very clean! It¡¯s a bit too small, but it has an outstandin¡¯, perfectly-round shape!¡±


    ¡°But I can¡¯t tell what it¡¯s burnin¡¯! It¡¯s definitely not coal, nor koh!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m comin¡¯ to smell it myself,¡± Wyvernshield rushed with great haste.


    Hazelmere gave an uncertain smile to the construct: ¡°Anyway! We¡¯ve, umm ¡­ we have decided to, give you some gifts! Considering how considerate you were, we were hoping we could continue trading. Hopefully, we will learn more about each other that way.¡±


    ¡°Oi! Its legs are a never-endin¡¯ road!¡± Another deep voice was heard from behind the construct.


    ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Followed by another one.


    ¡°Look at its legs boss! It¡¯s a never-endin¡¯ road! Its wheels are movin¡¯ on top of these links, with the links actin¡¯ as a road!¡±


    ¡°Nail me sideways, you¡¯re right! It¡¯s basically wearin¡¯ the road like socks!¡±


    ¡°I bet those links don¡¯t last long though. Too much wear.¡±


    ¡°Soo ¡­ hopefully, we can continue our friendly relations,¡± the sourness of Hazelmere¡¯s smile increased with each moment, ¡°this isn¡¯t much, but please, take it as a sign of our goodwill.¡±


    She bowed respectfully to the construct, stepping aside.


    The construct roared to life once again and started turning around, as if it was about to leave.


    ¡°Wait! Wait!¡± Hazelmere started panicking, ¡°Can you tell me what¡¯s wrong? Are the gifts not to your liking?


    As the construct turned around, Hazelmere finally saw that its entire section was missing, a huge chunk of it. Then she remembered that the container was originally a part of its body.


    Once the construct has turned its back to the container, it started moving backward, slowly.


    The dwarves stopped poking it and instead just observed what it did, without saying a word.


    When the rear end of its linked legs came close to the container, something opened on the top of the construct. From inside of it came out a neatly arranged, connected stack of thin, but long, metal bars. The bars started twisting in the air, eventually arranging themselves in a pattern. In just a few moments, those metal bars arranged themselves into a big, skeleton-like hand.


    ¡°You¡¯ve gotta be kiddin¡¯ me,¡± Wyvernshield commented, not even trying to pick up his jaw from the floor.


    The skeleton-like hand grabbed the container with its thin fingers, showing practiced finesse as it did so. It lifted the entire container before putting it onto the construct¡¯s back. As soon as its body was complete once again, a loud clacking sound echoed from within it.


    With that, the construct roared once again and left. It wasn¡¯t long before its silhouette became small enough to fit into a nail.


    ¡°So, did you ...¡± Hazelmere turned towards the dwarves, only to stop mid-sentence.


    Seeing the dwarves, she had no idea what to say. They resembled statues, pale and immovable, with only a single expression on their faces.


    ¡°Umm ¡­ are you ok?¡±


    ¡°Boss ¡­ that¡¯s impossible.¡±


    ¡°I know.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s impossible.¡±


    ¡°I know!¡±


    ¡°It has to be some kind of an illusion.¡±


    ¡°Then, why isn¡¯t the container here!¡±


    ¡°I ¡­ it¡¯s too thin to support that mass! And it has too many joints to be strong and reliable!¡±


    Suddenly, Wyvernshield rushed for the camp¡¯s entrance, his face a textbook example of frustration. Even his big nose turned red from irritation.


    ¡°I know!¡±

 Chapter 49

    A few days have passed without any response from the other side. What¡¯s worse, Wyvernshield locked himself up in his workshop and was showing no intention of ever leaving it. His helpers were constantly busy, erecting new dwarven structures and contraptions all over the camp, but their leader was nowhere to be seen.


    After a week, Hazelmere finally decided to do something. She approached the workshop, which was now dominating the entire camp. It was three times bigger than the command tent and was entirely made out of wood. It was a very orderly, symmetrical structure, where nothing looked out of place. It had big windows, but all of them were shut tight for the last few days.


    Hazelmere used the door knocker to announce her presence. It was a thoroughly decorated hammer attached to the door.


    ¡°May I come in?¡±


    There was no response, so she knocked again. When she heard no response for the second time, she opened the door. To her surprise, it wasn¡¯t locked.


    As soon as she was in, a deep voice started raging:


    ¡°Haven¡¯t I told ya not to ¡­¡±


    She saw Wyvernshield standing in front of a large wooden desk, with papyrus sheets all over it. He was staring at her with blood-shot eyes, holding a big hammer in his raised hand, looking as if he was about to throw it at her.


    But instead, he lowered his hand and started rubbing his eyes. Hazelmere noticed that his beard, which has always been the only neat thing about him, was now an entangled mess.


    ¡°You¡¯re too tall and too thin to be a dwarf. What do you want?¡±


    ¡°I was just getting worried. I have heard you haven¡¯t left your workshop for a week.¡±


    Wyvernshield let out a labored sigh, dropping the hammer on the ground while returning to the table. Hazelmere realized the papyrus sheets weren¡¯t only on top of the table. A lot of them were under it too.


    ¡°I don¡¯t get it. It makes no sense at all.¡±


    ¡°What is it that you don¡¯t understand,¡± she said while approaching the table.


    ¡°How can such a thin, fragile-looking hand lift something several times its size?¡±


    ¡°Maybe it was magical in nature?¡±


    Wyvernshield gave her a tired look.


    ¡°Remember, just because we can¡¯t detect any magic in those things, that doesn¡¯t mean it doesn¡¯t exist,¡± she added to her case.


    ¡°It generates the energy through combustion, so why ¡­ but then again ¡­ could ¡­¡±


    A part of Wyvernshield¡¯s vigor returned.


    ¡°It used alien fuel to generate energy. The fuel could have some magical properties. But ¡­ in that case ¡­¡±


    ¡°There are so many things we don¡¯t understand about the other side. So many, we had to ask some other race for help.¡±


    ¡°Aye, you didn¡¯t call for me because it was easy to understand, I get that. It¡¯s just that, I¡¯ve never imagined it could be so ¡­¡±


    ¡°Alien?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think that describes it properly. The Sun elves eatin¡¯ nothin¡¯ but the plants, even though they can, is alien. This is on a completely different level. But one thing is for sure. Whatever is on the other side can¡¯t be evil.¡±


    That made Hazelmere¡¯s ears twitch: ¡°What makes you say that? I mean, you have seen the hell, didn¡¯t you? There is nothing but a frozen wasteland out there. What could survive out there besides the beasts and the demons?¡±


    ¡°Then, how did those wastelanders manage to create such a fine construct?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you are trying to say.¡±


    ¡°That construct is the proof there¡¯s a civilization out there, highly skilled in engineerin¡¯. Do you really think some evil creatures would bother advancin¡¯ their civilization to the point where they can create such intricate constructs?¡±


    ¡°We know each demonic race has a civilization of its own. That is nothing new.¡±


    ¡°And how many of them are into engineerin¡¯?¡±


    ¡°Well ¡­ we are talking about the cubus demons here! I have told you, they like tricking people into joining them and that some dwarves could be on their side.¡±


    Wyvernshield looked over the many notes on the table, with a serious look on his face.


    ¡°Are you tellin¡¯ me I¡¯d be able to create similar beauties if I¡¯d join these demons?¡±


    Realizing her mistake, Hazelmere¡¯s eyes opened wide. The dwarves never really cared about the gods, the angels, and the demons. The only things they care about are their craft, their family, and, above all, their ancestors. She immediately realized that Wyvernshield wasn¡¯t joking.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    ¡°Uhh ¡­ no! No! These demons are tricksters, we can¡¯t trust them!¡±


    ¡°But can you trust the other races of Greadinall? Can you trust the elves?¡±


    ¡°It ¡­ it¡¯s not the same! The demons are evil!¡±


    ¡°Oh, yeah! All those books they¡¯ve given you for free are soo evil.¡±


    ¡°They are probably trying to get on our good side so they could trick us later!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve told you that whatever is on the other side can¡¯t be evil. Evil is destructive by its very nature. Evil doesn¡¯t make constructs.¡±


    ¡°Demons have scholars of their own! Their societies would crumble thousands of years ago if they were only interested in destruction!¡±


    ¡°And what do their scholars do? They study magic, which is given to them by their gods. They aren¡¯t capable of creatin¡¯ anythin¡¯ on their own. It¡¯s too much of a bother! It¡¯s too much work, and there are no emotions involved.¡±


    He looked at her with determined eyes.


    ¡°You don¡¯t understand what I¡¯m sayin¡¯. Please, understand that I¡¯m not tryin¡¯ to be offensive. You¡¯re a good host, a respectful one, and I want to be respectful in return. And, among the dwarves, tellin¡¯ the truth is the ultimate sign of respect. So, please, understand that I¡¯m not sayin¡¯ this out of malice, quite the contrary.¡±


    He made a short pause before continuing.


    ¡°Spellcraft is a laughable profession.¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Hazelmere tilted her head in surprise.


    ¡°You mages are workin¡¯ with the tools the gods have created for you. You¡¯re takin¡¯ the easy route. The level of knowledge and discipline needed for a mage to work his ¡­ her craft is nothin¡¯ when compared with engineerin¡¯.¡±


    ¡°Are you serious! I had to stay a virgin for hundreds of years! Do you think that didn¡¯t take much willpower?¡±


    ¡°I guess that is a serious issue when it comes to your race, but some other races are much better at handlin¡¯ their desires and emotions, stayin¡¯ rational.¡±


    ¡°Says the dwarf who stays locked inside his workshop for five days and wants to throw a hammer at anyone who dares to disturb him!¡±


    Wyvernshield paused for a while before responding: ¡°I guess our races have different passions. However, I¡¯m not tryin¡¯ to argue here. I¡¯m tryin¡¯ to make a point.¡±


    ¡°Well, you¡¯re doing a terrible job at it!¡±


    ¡°I understand you will find this offensive, and I know why. Nobody likes it when others demean their profession, I get it. But, what I¡¯m tryin¡¯ to say is that creatin¡¯ constructs requires a much higher level of patience, discipline, and above all, passion than spellcastin¡¯. And that¡¯s a fact. There¡¯s no way the evil demons would have any of it.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve told you, several times already, that those demons may have some dwarves on their side!¡±


    ¡°And I¡¯m telling you it¡¯s not the dwarves who have made that construct.¡±


    ¡°What makes you say that?¡±


    Wyvernshield let out a deep sigh while wiping his face with his hands.


    ¡°I¡¯ve been thinkin¡¯ these last few days ¡­ thinkin¡¯ about what kind of people it takes to make that thing. And the more I¡¯m thinkin¡¯ about it, the more I¡¯m convinced it¡¯s not the dwarves. You see ¡­ we dwarves are extremely proud of our work. We see it as the main purpose of our lives. Takin¡¯ useless raw materials and turnin¡¯ them into somethin¡¯ useful and wonderful, what greater purpose could a person have? And these constructs I¡¯ve seen do resemble some of it. But there¡¯s a major difference.¡±


    He used his fingers to accentuate the point.


    ¡°Their constructs have a disturbin¡¯ lack of aesthetics, both the big one and the ones near the portal. While magnificent in function and extremely useful, their constructs lack a personal touch of the one who has made them. They lack identity. It¡¯s as if those were put together as fast as possible, considerin¡¯ nothin¡¯ but their functionality. And that¡¯s not how any dwarf would treat his craft! We spend years, decades, sometimes centuries turnin¡¯ our work into a work of art! If somethin¡¯ has to be made, then make it as beautiful as possible! We take pride in it! That¡¯s why there¡¯s art in artisan! But these people don¡¯t care! They are only concerned with usefulness, and it pisses me off! That¡¯s how I know the dwarves aren¡¯t behind this. There¡¯s no way any dwarf would ever make somethin¡¯ so sterile!¡±


    Then, he slumped a bit.


    ¡°However, I can¡¯t deny their skill. Regardless of the differences in our philosophy, I can¡¯t deny that they¡¯re the only ones besides the dwarves capable of makin¡¯ constructs. And I¡¯m very conflicted about it. I want to meet those people to congratulate them on a job well done and share ideas with them. But, on the other hand, I want to punch them in the face for makin¡¯ their constructs so lifeless, so ¡­ soulless.¡±


    ¡°Maybe the trinkets they send will be different?¡±


    ¡°You think they¡¯ll send them? I understand it takes time for them to respond since I gave them some things that are very hard to figure out, but they have no reason to respond the same way.¡±


    ¡°I am confident they want to maintain the good, friendly relations we have. These demons aren¡¯t warlike and, who knows, maybe they are scared of us as much as we are scared of them? That would explain why they are so curious about us.¡±


    ¡°Aye, that makes sense. It¡¯s just ¡­ I¡¯ve never been so conflicted in my whole life.¡±


    ¡°Maybe you should try reading more of their books? It is about time we send them to the palace, but I can hold on to them for one more week if necessary. Maybe those books will help you understand those demons better. Then, we can share our opinions and see if we can come to a conclusion.¡±


    ¡°Aye, I¡¯ll do that. I¡¯ve been tryin¡¯ to figure out how they¡¯ve done it through the math, but maybe I¡¯ll get a better understandin¡¯ if I go through their books.¡±


    ¡°If it is the math you are interested in, they have sent us a book on their math. It starts very simple but gets insanely complicated a few dozen pages in, to the point you can¡¯t make any sense of it.¡±


    ¡°You have a book on their math?¡± Wyvernshield bristled with vigor once again.


    ¡°Yes. Unlike us, they use a system based on tens. They are using a combination of ten symbols to construct the value they are trying to express. That way, they can easily construct any possible value, and those values are also very easy to understand. But, they are using far more operators than necessary. They are using those operators to calculate the values that make no sense, so we didn¡¯t really get invested in it. Those values have no application in real life, they are academic at best ¡­¡±


    All of a sudden, Wyvernshield grabbed her dress, a little below the shoulders, and started shaking her ferociously. His short stature made it very hard for him to do so, he had to climb on his fingers.


    ¡°And why didn¡¯t you give me that book!¡±


    It took Hazelmere a few moments to recover from the surprise: ¡°Aaa ¡­ there¡¯s nothing interesting in it! I¡¯ve told you, their mathematics are academic at best!¡±


    ¡°You mages are even bigger jackasses than I thought! You¡¯re all clueless! You have no idea!¡±


    He released his grip as suddenly as he had grabbed her, running for the exit with his short steps.


    ¡°Quickly! Show me where it is!¡±


    Hazelmere was still in shock after Wyvernshield had left the workshop. She took a moment to rearrange her dress.


    ¡°Quickly, you dull nail!¡± She heard him scream from the outside.


    ¡°So much from handling emotions and staying rational,¡± she grumbled.

 Chapter 50

    ¡°Not so long ago, you went to see why Wyvernshield has holed up in his workshop, right?¡± Cybil asked Hazelmere, who was observing the portal through the magescope.


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°So ¡­ why have all the other dwarves joined him now? I thought you were supposed to get him out of there, but now all the dwarves are hiding from us. They have even stopped building those weird contraptions of theirs. How did you do that?¡±


    Hazelmere let out a sigh as her ears went flat on top of her head.


    ¡°I gave him the book on demonic mathematics.¡±


    ¡°The one that makes sense but has no point?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that one. Ever since then, the dwarves refuse to leave the workshop. They are obsessed with it. Wyvernshield tried explaining why that book is awesome, but I still don¡¯t get it. After a while, he dismissed me with: you mages have no idea.¡±


    ¡°Even though the dwarves can be extremely intelligent, they aren¡¯t known for being wise.¡±


    Hazelmere gave Cybil a cautious grin: ¡°Are you trying to make me feel better?¡±


    ¡°Of course not. I am just stating the obvious. Anyway, still nothing on the other side?¡±


    ¡°Nothing. Not even after several weeks have passed.¡±


    ¡°Maybe we have sent something we shouldn¡¯t have?¡±


    ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    ¡°Different cultures have different taboos. Maybe the dwarves have sent something the demons find offensive?¡±


    ¡°And what could the demons possibly find offensive?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know! But, for example, if they had sent us a book with the paintings of naked angels, we would probably find it offensive. If the priests would learn of it, they would be outraged. I bet Moana would faint if she would see such a painting.¡±


    Hazelmere shook her head lightly: ¡°Why would they send us naked angels?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, that is the first thing that came to my mind! With them being sex demons and all. The point is, we can be certain that our sensibilities are different. So, maybe the dwarves have sent something the demons don¡¯t appreciate.¡±


    ¡°I have inspected all of their trinkets. And, while I have no idea what most of them do, I am certain it is nothing to be offended about.¡±


    ¡°What about the weapons? We have sent them some basic weapons, didn¡¯t we? What if sending a weapon is seen as a declaration of war in hell?¡±


    Hazelmere¡¯s tail and ears shot up in horror: ¡°Do you think that could be the case?¡±


    ¡°I bet they just need more time.¡±


    Turning around to identify the male voice, Hazelmere saw Heartwell and Mizette standing next to her.


    ¡°I bet they have to report to their palace, just like we do,¡± Mizette continued where Heartwell has started, ¡°and moving through frozen hell can¡¯t be easy. Also, there is no way they have trinkets at the ready, so they are probably waiting for their ruler to send some gifts.¡±


    ¡°What a coincidence for both of you to arrive at the same time,¡± Cybil commented.


    ¡°We were very busy this morning,¡± Mizette¡¯s response had an odd melodic quality to it.


    ¡°I don¡¯t need to know. I am not your mother.¡±


    ¡°Well, you asked!¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t! I just stated the obvious.¡±


    ¡°Anyway, I wouldn¡¯t worry too much,¡± Heartwell ignored the playful spat, ¡°of course, we should be ready for anything, but I¡¯m confident they just need more time.¡±


    ¡°I have never realized it but, sending a weapon can really be ¡­¡±


    ¡°You are worrying over nothing,¡± Mizette said as she ruffled Hazelmere¡¯s hair, ¡°you are letting Cybil get the better of you. You know how much she enjoys messing with you.¡±


    ¡°I am just considering all the possibilities, including the unpleasant ones.¡±


    ¡°Why are you always such a downer?¡± Mizette frowned exaggeratedly.


    ¡°Somebody has to be real here.¡±


    ¡°Ok, knock it off, both of you!¡± Hazelmere commanded.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.


    Both Mizette and Cybil looked at Hazelmere with surprised looks on their faces. Then, back at each other. Then, back at Hazelmere.


    ¡°If you say so, boss.¡±


    ---


    It took two more weeks, but the big construct did return. And it returned with a load of gifts. There were so many of them, the dwarves had to construct a temporary storage facility in a single day just to store them.


    Since the command tent was filled with the books, the gifts couldn¡¯t be delivered there. So, until the dwarves have constructed the storehouse, Hazelmere and her retinue examined the gifts in the open. Wyvernshield was also with them, too eager to wait until the storehouse is finished.


    ¡°What are all these things?¡± It almost sounded like Mizette was complaining.


    ¡°I think I found something you¡¯d be interested in,¡± Heartwell said, as he was giving some boxy thing to Wyvernshield.


    ¡°What is ¡­ knives?¡±


    ¡°I guess that¡¯s what¡¯s in the box.¡±


    ¡°And why would a box have a handle?¡±


    ¡°How would I know that?¡±


    ¡°What is that?¡± Hazelmere straightened her neck to take a better look.


    ¡°There¡¯s a paintin¡¯ of knives on the box. Hold on ¡­ this box is too light!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s definitely not made out of wood,¡± Heartwell commented.


    ¡°What in the rocks is this thing? Is this even a box?¡± Wyvernshield¡¯s voice was a strange mix of both irritation and excitement.


    As Wyvernshield struggled to open the strange boxy thing, the others turned their attention elsewhere.


    ¡°There is another weird box here.¡±


    ¡°There are too many boxes all around! These demons are putting everything in the boxes!¡±


    ¡°At least they are keeping everything tidy and well arranged,¡± Natle noticed.


    ¡°This one is very small. And, unlike the others, it looks like a regular box.¡±


    Cybil opened the small, wooden box, finding a weird contraption inside.


    ¡°Ok, it doesn¡¯t store anything. It has some kind of a ¡­ roller, I guess? And some small metal parts.¡±


    ¡°Is that some kind of a handle on the side of it?¡± Hazelmere asked.


    ¡°These demons really like their handles,¡± Mizette grumbled.


    ¡°Yes, there is, but you can¡¯t carry it with it. The handle is too small.¡±


    Cybil grabbed the small handle with her thumb and index finger.


    ¡°Oh, it looks like it isn¡¯t stuck in place. It can move around.¡±


    As Cybil started turning the handle, the box started making pleasant, musical notes. Surprised to hear them, she stopped.


    ¡°What was that?¡±


    ¡°Is that like ¡­ a musical instrument?¡±


    ¡°I ¡­ I don¡¯t¡­ I guess it could be a self-playing instrument because all you can do is turn this handle.¡±


    As Cybil continued turning the handle, the notes combined into a soothing melody.


    ¡°Ohh! I see what it¡¯s doing!¡± Cybil exclaimed excitedly.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Come and see this! See, look at this! See these little metal things next to the roller?¡±


    ¡°Ok.¡±


    ¡°And do you see these bumps on the roller itself?¡±


    ¡°Yes, they are quite obvious.¡±


    ¡°Look what is happening when I turn the handle! The bumps on the roller lift the metal thingies up, and then they fall back, producing sounds! The different lengths give different notes!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s¡­ that¡¯s so clever!¡± Hazelmere got the expression of an amazed child.


    ¡°Wait, wait, wait!¡± Mizette outstretched her hand towards the box, ¡°so, there is no magic involved at all?¡±


    ¡°None at all! The movement of the handle is all it takes!¡±


    ¡°But, then again, that is how all the musical instruments work,¡± Natle pointed out.


    ¡°None of them play notes on their own though.¡±


    ¡°I finally got it!¡± Wyvernshield yelled. Looking at him, everyone saw he has finally opened the strange, black box.


    ¡°That¡¯s a very useful way to seal a box,¡± he continued, ¡°that way, it won¡¯t open even when you¡¯re carryin¡¯ it sideways. But what¡¯s this? Hmm ¡­¡± he started letting out uncontrolled sounds of excitement as he inspected the knives, ¡°this is some good metal! It¡¯s¡­ hard, durable, flexible, and lightweight! It looks like its properties are similar to orichalcum.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve found another thing you may find interesting,¡± Heartwell said, as he lifted an alien sword up in the air.


    ¡°What kind of sword is that?¡± Vukasin wondered out loud, ¡°It¡¯s too thin and too long! And what is that massive thing just below the blade?¡±


    ¡°Hmm ¡­¡± Heartwell tested the sword, swishing it through the air, ¡°it¡¯s long but fast. And it¡¯s very light for its size. I guess the thin blade helps reduce its weight. And the thing below the blade is some sort of shield, I guess. It goes around your hand, protecting it.¡±


    ¡°Why is it hollow then?¡±


    ¡°To reduce the mass,¡± Wyvernshield responded, ¡°but, to make it durable enough to take a hit you¡¯d have to have ¡­ give it to me! Let me get a closer look!¡± He extended the palm of his hand, as if he expected his demand to be fulfilled immediately.


    ¡°Let me try something first,¡± Heartwell said, after which he grabbed the blade carefully and started bending it sideways.


    As soon as he saw what Heartwell was doing, Wyvernshield started raging like mad.


    ¡°You¡¯ll break it, you jackass!¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s the purpose of a sword that breaks easily?¡± There was no emotion in Heartwell¡¯s voice.


    ¡°What in the ¡­¡± Vukasin looked at what Heartwell was doing to the sword in amazement. He bent the blade so much, its tip faced Mizette who stood next to him, ¡°is that even metal?¡±


    ¡°It certainly feels like one,¡± after saying that, Heartwell released his grip on the blade. It immediately shot back to its original position.


    ¡°No way ¡­¡± the rage in Wyvernshield¡¯s voice was replaced with awe.


    Heartwell did the same thing again, with the same result.


    ¡°Has it lost some of its elasticity or strength?¡± The dwarf asked.


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like it. It still feels the same.¡±


    ¡°How ¡­ why? Why would you use a bending sword?¡± Vukasin still couldn¡¯t get to grips with it.


    ¡°I know why, ¡¯tis because that sword was designed to fight heavily armored foes,¡± Wyvernshield spoke like a wise elder who knew his time has come.


    ¡°How so?¡±


    ¡°If you use a blade on a well-armored opponent, there¡¯s a good chance you¡¯ll break or bend it. That¡¯s why we dwarves love hammers. Blades are too brittle to handle the stress necessary to defeat good, durable armor. However, it looks like these people have found a solution. They made their blades elastic so that, when it hits the armor, it will bounce back undamaged. That¡¯s also why the blade is so thin. It reduces the area which makes contact with the target, focusin¡¯ all of its piercin¡¯ power on the tip.¡±


    ¡°Like a spear?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but only on the tip. The rest of it works like a regular sword. Also, havin¡¯ a thin blade makes it easier to control the sword and hit the enemy¡¯s armor¡¯s weak points. Especially since this looks like a one-handed sword.¡±


    ¡°What about cutting? Won¡¯t that make the blade worse at cutting unarmored foes?¡± Heartwell asked.


    ¡°Exactly!¡± Vukasin agreed, ¡°You¡¯ll rarely have to fight a well-armored opponent. Most of the enemies are regular soldiers, who have leather armor at best.¡±


    ¡°It looks like the people on the other side aren¡¯t concerned with fightin¡¯ unarmored opponents,¡± Wyvernshield concluded, ¡°anyway, gimme the thing! I wanna touch it myself!¡±


    ¡°Speaking of touching ¡­¡± Mizette said in a suggestive voice, ¡°I think I have found something just for that.

 Chapter 51

    ¡°That¡¯s ¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a bit too much ¡­¡±


    ¡°Is that even possible?¡±


    ¡°Clearly, the artist took way too much freedom when he was painting those!¡± Hazelmere pointed her index finger accusingly at the ¡®book¡¯ in Mizette¡¯s hands, ¡°There¡¯s no way those are real!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m as confused as you are,¡± Heartwell said, ¡°but aren¡¯t they supposed to be sex demons?¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s no way anyone could walk with those blobs on their chest!¡±


    Mizette held the book with the thin cover opened with both hands, showing its contents to everybody: ¡°Hmm, that is a good point. Gods only know how heavy those are. Maybe that is what this harness is all about, ¡°she pointed with her thumb at the shoulders of a demonic female painted on the page, ¡°see this black harness?¡±


    ¡°The one that¡¯s so conveniently semi-transparent in the chest area?¡±


    ¡°Yes. See how its straps go around the shoulders? I guess the harness lifts some of the weight up.¡±


    ¡°That is actually very useful,¡± Cybil gave small nods of appreciation.


    ¡°Aye, our females use somethin¡¯ similar,¡± Wyvernshield agreed, ¡°it¡¯s a real pain to take it off though.¡±


    ¡°No, no, no!¡± Hazelmere protested intensely, ¡°Sex demons or not, I don¡¯t care! There¡¯s no way that¡¯s an accurate portrait of a real person!¡±


    ¡°Why not?¡±


    ¡°Just ¡­ just look at her! There¡¯s no way a mortal could have those proportions! There¡¯s no way a real person could have both those gigantic tits and a thin waist!¡±


    ¡°And those well-defined hips,¡± Heartwell added.


    ¡°This is clearly the artist¡¯s idea of an ideal female! And, as an idea, it¡¯s great, I¡¯ll give him that. But there¡¯s no way that¡¯s a real person!¡±


    ¡°It looks very real to me, though.¡±


    ¡°And that is not the only one,¡± Mizette said as she started flipping the pages. Each page contained a different female with unique physical traits. Even their poses and the emotions they showed were different, ranging from the impression of pure elegance to maximum sluttiness.


    ¡°Not all of them are over the top. Some of them are quite modest,¡± Mizette pointed out.


    ¡°I can¡¯t help but think this is what the elves would look like if they weren¡¯t such pansies,¡± Wyvernshield said, ¡°and if they had some meat on their bones.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ve seen an elf before?¡± Vukasin asked.


    To which the dwarf responded with a grunt: ¡°Aye. I had the ¡­ displeasure of meetin¡¯ a few of them. For all their many flaws, the wood elves are the best carpenters.¡±


    ¡°Are they as beautiful as everyone says?¡±


    ¡°They are pretty ¡­ if you like the skinny ones, with no cheeks. If you like them skeleton-like. But any allure they might have is gone as soon as they start talkin¡¯. This though,¡± he pointed at the book in Mizette¡¯s hands, ¡°this is more to my likin¡¯.¡±


    ¡°These are the demons!¡± Hazelmere protested, ¡°Besides, why are we still looking at it! Put that ¡­ thing down! There are so many other, interesting things to look at in this pile!¡±


    ¡°I am very disappointed there are no males in this book,¡± Mizette said as she flipped the book one more time before putting it down, ¡°it isn¡¯t fair to have only the females in it.¡±


    ¡°Do you think they are as big as their females?¡± Cybil asked playfully.


    ¡°Now, that is an idea worth considering! Can their males walk in a straight line, due to constant swinging?¡±


    ¡°Are you out of your minds? I keep telling you, those are the demons! Exaggerated fantasies of sex demons, taken to the extreme! Moana! Tell them that lusting after sex demons is sinful! We¡¯re supposed to fight them, not ¡­¡±


    ¡°What is the pause for?¡± Cybil teased with a grin on her face.


    ¡°And besides, aren¡¯t we trying to delay the invasion while learning as much as we can about them?¡± Mizette developed the same grin on her face, ¡°If that means taking one for the team, or a few of them, I wouldn¡¯t mind doing my part to protect Greadinall from these exaggerated demons.¡±


    ¡°Anyway, back to business!¡±


    ¡°Before we move on, there is one thing that confuses me.¡±


    ¡°What is it, Cybil?¡±


    ¡°I get it that the people on the other side are supposed to be demons. In a way, it would make sense for them to send us something like this if that is the case. But, I thought the cubus demons are supposed to be clever tricksters?¡±


    ¡°Galizur says they are.¡±


    ¡°Then, why would they blow their cover like this? Don¡¯t you think they are revealing their nature too soon? Wouldn¡¯t it make more sense for them to wait some time before revealing they are the sex demons? If they are as clever as Galizur says, wouldn¡¯t they try to deceive us somehow, give us a false lead?¡±If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡°Yes, that is a good point,¡± Mizette agreed, ¡°they threw their massive tits on us without any provocation. So far, we have been trading the same kind of goods. We send them books, and they send us their own books back. We send them a sword, and they give us their own sword. This is the first time they gave us something we didn¡¯t send. Unless ¡­ dwarf! Was there anything sexual in those gadgets you have sent?¡±


    Wyvernshield¡¯s big mustaches twitched in annoyance: ¡°Of course not! Proper people keep such business private!¡±


    ¡°Could they have misunderstood it somehow?¡± Cybil offered.


    ¡°We didn¡¯t send them any books this last time, though.¡±


    ¡°Oh, no!¡±


    ¡°What is wrong, Hazelmere?¡±


    ¡°Oh, no!¡±


    ¡°What is it!¡±


    ¡°Something tells me you know why they have sent us the naughty book,¡± Cybil said.


    ¡°I ¡­ I ¡­ but, there¡¯s no way! It¡¯s too soon! There¡¯s no way they¡¯d understand ¡­¡±


    ¡°What did you do!¡± Cybil¡¯s voice turned impatient.


    ¡°I¡¯ve ¡­ Galizur told me ¡­¡±


    ¡°What did you do!¡±


    ¡°When we were selecting the books I¡¯ll give to the demons, Galizur said I should also include my favorite book. He said the gods would look favorably upon me if I give up something I appreciate.¡±


    Cybil facepalmed tiredly: ¡°And I bet your favorite book is an erotic one.¡±


    Hazelmere hung her head low, looking at her own feet.


    ¡°I am starting to understand why the two of you are such good friends. You are truly made for each other,¡± Cybil commented while looking at Mizette disapprovingly.


    ¡°But ¡­ that makes no sense,¡± Mizette responded, with confusion painted all over her face.


    ¡°What makes no sense? They have been sending us the same things we would give them ever since we started our little trade!¡±


    ¡°What makes no sense is for them to understand what is in the book!¡±


    ¡°Exactly!¡± Hazelmere lifted her head, ¡°I thought there¡¯d be no harm in it since they don¡¯t know our language! We have no idea what is in their books so, how can they know what¡¯s written in ours?¡±


    ¡°Were there some illustrations in that book?¡± Cybil asked.


    ¡°No! There was nothing but text! Galizur was the one to point that out! He said its contents are unimportant because they won¡¯t understand it anyway!¡±


    ¡°But ¡­ but ¡­¡± Now the Cybil was the one to lose her composure.


    ¡°Now, that is worrisome,¡± Natle said as she stroked her chin, ¡°especially since we didn¡¯t give them anything to learn our language with. Now we know that the book Mizette thought was about magic was actually describing their language. After all, their books are written with those symbols. And yet, we still haven¡¯t figured out what is written in any of their books. How would they have any chance of understanding our books without such a tool?¡±


    Cybil composed herself quickly: ¡°First of all, are we seriously considering these demons are capable of deciphering our language in such a short time?¡±


    ¡°That sounds impossible.¡±


    ¡°Then, could this be nothing but a coincidence?¡±


    ¡°That is always a possibility, but it would be way too convenient.¡±


    There was a short pause as everyone considered what was said so far. Moana used that chance to give her input finally.


    ¡°Umm ¡­ what if ¡­ the demons have ¡­ the devils ¡­ on their side?¡±


    The mages looked at her suspiciously.


    ¡°I mean ¡­ we have the angels ¡­ they help us sometimes ¡­ the demons have the devils ¡­ they help them too ¡­ maybe the devils have ¡­ helped them ¡­ understand ¡­¡±


    ¡°The devils?¡±


    ¡°Yes ¡­ what the angels are to us ¡­ the devils are to demons ¡­ although ¡­ they are too few ¡­ in numbers ¡­ but far more capable ¡­¡±


    ¡°Correct me if I am wrong, but a devil is something between a mortal and a god? They are some sort of demi-gods, right?¡± Cybil asked.


    Moana nodded her head shyly.


    ¡°I thought the devils are just evil gods?¡± Hazelmere said.


    ¡°No ¡­ the devils are lesser than the gods ¡­ not as strong or capable ¡­ but far more capable than the mortals ¡­ far smarter ¡­ far more cunning ¡­¡±


    ¡°And, these devils are helping the demons?¡±


    ¡°They can ¡­ if they feel like it ¡­ if it suits them ¡­¡±


    ¡°I think we¡¯re gettin¡¯ sidetracked here,¡± Wyvernshield raised his voice, ¡°you¡¯re all talkin¡¯ about the things you can¡¯t prove! Maybe they have a devil on their side, maybe they don¡¯t. What matters is that they¡¯ve sent us the gifts back.¡±


    ¡°That is ¡­ that is a valid point,¡± Hazelmere agreed.


    ¡°What matters is that these people, whatever they are, are interested in trade. And it doesn¡¯t look like they¡¯re cheapskates. Meanin¡¯, there¡¯s a lot of profit to be made! Look at this! Look at this beauty!¡± Wyvernshield started yelling as he swung the strange, black bow around, ¡°Look at the rollers on this thing! Look at how easy it is to knock an arrow with it! A toddler could do it! Do you have any idea how much coin you could sell this thing for?¡±


    ¡°I think the nobles would pay much more for those painted females,¡± Heartwell said.


    ¡°Aye, the nobles would spare no money to get their hands on that kind of book! Maybe we should ask those demons for some more! It would make all of us so rich, we¡¯d swim in the gold!¡±


    That got Hazelmere furious.


    ¡°That¡¯s ¡­¡±


    However, she froze in place before letting a second word out. Her furious look slowly started diminishing, eventually morphing into a satisfied one.


    ¡°Oh, no,¡± Cybil commented, ¡°she has something on her mind. And that is never a good thing.¡±


    ¡°No, I¡¯ve just ¡­ the dwarf is right. We could profit greatly out of it. They would always give us much more value than what we would send.¡±


    ¡°Aye!¡± Wyvernshield smiled from ear to ear.


    ¡°Are you ¡­ are you implying we should trade with these demons?¡± Mizette asked, ¡°It makes some sense to get a few things from them, to understand them better, but a full-on trade ¡­¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m ¡­ I am considering it. I haven¡¯t reached a definitive conclusion yet, but it is worth considering. After all, our empire is struggling at the moment. The war has drained our coffers dry.¡±


    Hazelmere¡¯s face brightened up in an instant.


    ¡°Not only that,¡± she lifted her index finger up to accentuate the point, ¡°but we could fulfill our original role that way! Think about it! We have summoned this portal to get the cattle and resources from the other world! And, although we can¡¯t cross to the other side, we can achieve that same goal through trade! That way, we would turn this portal from a failure into a majestic success!¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that how the demons get you?¡± Cybil pointed out, ¡°Besides, just a few moments ago, you were the one saying we should fight them!¡±


    ¡°No, that is not what I was saying ¡­¡±


    ¡°That is literally what you said!¡±


    ¡°Now, now, Cybil, calm down,¡± Mizette said while getting in between them, ¡°that was something completely different. Back then, we were talking about sex demons with abnormally huge tits. And, looking at poor Hazelmere here, it is easy to understand why she felt threatened by them.¡±


    Hazelmere looked like a fish out of the water, unsure if she should feel grateful or offended.


    ¡°You worry too much, lass. A little trade hurt nobody. And it¡¯s not like those demons can cross the portal. Besides, tradin¡¯ with them makes it far less likely for them to invade. You don¡¯t start wars with your trade partners. Trade has always brought the people together, since the dawn of time!¡±


    Hazelmere cleared her throat: ¡°Anyway, that is not my choice to make. This requires an authority much higher than mine.¡°


    ¡°That is true.¡±


    ¡°So, I will send some of these gifts to the palace, together with the letter explaining what our options are. The Emperor should make the decision. It is up to his majesty to decide, not us.¡±


    ¡°You should also ask him for some more stuff to send to the other side. There¡¯s only so much we can give up in this camp,¡± Wyvernshield pointed out.


    ¡°That is a good idea! I will do that.¡±

 Chaper 52

    Several moons, at least half a year, have passed since Galizur left the camp near the portal. After reporting everything he saw and heard there to the heavens, emphasizing the Emperor¡¯s demands, he was relieved of his task. With nothing better to do, he spent his days roaming the heavens, trying to find anyone who could know something more about the portal and anything related to it.


    To his surprise, the information was very scarce. His fellow diplomats were oddly clueless about the subject. That was a new one, since the heavens were always very knowledgeable about what was going on in Greadinall. All its races would gladly share the information with the heavens, hoping to earn their favor. However, this time, everyone was eerily silent. It seemed as if every nation had a plan of its own, and wasn¡¯t willing to share it. Some were even so arrogant to claim there¡¯s no need for them to tell anything since the heavens see everything anyway.


    That was hardly the case, but it was an elegant way to get the mortals to confess their sins. Making them think that somebody is always watching made them much more talkative. However, it seemed as if the mortals got wiser about it.


    And what made it so strange was that all of them got wise about it at the same time. In other words, someone had a hand in it.


    The logical culprit would be the high elves. Seeing themselves as superior to every other mortal race, they never liked that they needed permission to do anything. They¡¯ve been doing their best to undermine The Timkik Empire for centuries, with the excuse being that the timkiks were too selfish and incompetent to rule Greadinall.


    The heavens agreed. After all, the high elven logic made sense, and their arguments were solid.


    It all started slowly and in a small way. Creating special, minor tariffs for the timkik merchants who wanted to sell outside of their homeland. Making it slightly harder for the timkik church to project its influence outside the Empire¡¯s borders. But, with each new century, the high elves got progressively more aggressive. Not directly, it never got to the point where the high elves would directly challenge The Timkik Empire, but every century they¡¯d find a new way to chip away a small piece of timkik strength.


    Sensing that the Empire¡¯s strength was slowly waning, the hosagian kingdom rose, demanding that the land that timkiks took from it a few millennia ago be returned. So, the war started, which lasted for several centuries now.


    The high elves joined the hosagians but were unwilling to send their own to die in a war. So, they supported the hosagians from a distance, with coin, resources, and a few of their highly-skilled, veteran mages and Pegasi knights. Their navy also played a significant role, especially during the siege of Qalo, supplying the city through the port.


    Their involvement stabilized the war, making it impossible for any side to win, draining both timkiks and hosagians in the process. The heavens realized what the high elves were doing but didn¡¯t seem to care about it. After all, the mortals have every right to play their games, just how the heavens play their own.


    And now, with their biggest mortal competitors exhausted, it seemed as if the high elves were trying to limit the influence of the heavens, the only force remaining in their way to dominate all of Greadinall. At least that¡¯s what some angelic diplomats have concluded.


    However, the others disagreed, with Galizur being one of them. Cunning as the high elves are, there was no way they would ever trick timkiks into opening a portal to hell. Yes, the high elves are cunning and unforgiving, but they¡¯d never risk another fall just to obtain more power. They aren¡¯t fools, far from it. What would be the point of spending centuries carefully navigating through the obstacles, only to have the demons ruin everything when they pour through the portal? In Galizur¡¯s mind, the high elves have invested way too much to make such an uncertain, stupid gamble. After all, they¡¯re known for their meticulousness. Taking risks is simply not their style.


    So, someone else was pulling strings in this case. And what concerned Galizur the most was that whoever was behind the portal could also be behind the discord the high elves have created among the mortals.


    In other words, the portal could be just a tiny portion of a much, much bigger plan.


    But, putting that thought aside, the mortals have finally reached an agreement. It took them many moons to do so, but they did it in the end.


    The agreement was that there would be no agreement. The Timkik Empire has rejected the heaven¡¯s proposal, hosagian and high elven kingdoms have rejected the timkik proposal, while the rest of Greadinall couldn¡¯t care less about what was going on.


    And, what that meant was that at least three-quarters of its people weren¡¯t interested in opposing the demonic invasion at its early stage. While timkiks, hosagians, and the high elves had a major influence over the continent, that didn¡¯t mean they were the most numerous. They were just the loudest and the most aggressive.


    The situation would be alarming if not for the fact that the timkik Emperor didn¡¯t come crawling on all four during this time, begging for help. Expecting exactly that, the heavens have created a plan where the hosagian army, with some high elven and angelic support, would swoop in to contain the demonic hordes. The idea was that, once the demons have started invading, the other nations would realize the danger they¡¯re in and would mobilize their armies. The plan also counted on the fact that the remnants of the timkik military would also join the fight. After all, their own homes would need some liberating.


    But, the moons passed, without any news of the demonic hordes reaching the heavens. Not only that, there were no further requests from the timkik Emperor. You¡¯d expect the ruler in such an epic pinch to be far more vocal and concerned about it but, instead, the timkik government went completely silent.


    So, since no information was reaching the heavens, Galizur was sent once again to examine the portal. The excuse was very simple. Officially, he was to report how the interracial summit went to the portal-garrison commander. That way, even if timkiks were to complain about the unannounced visit, Galizur would present it as a goodwill gesture from the heavens. After all, one doesn¡¯t share useful information with enemies.


    ---Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Galizur didn¡¯t have to land to realize that things have changed dramatically. First of all, there was no camp anymore! In place of the small camp with shaky palisade and ragged tents now stood a small town! Even from above, he could see its streets bustling with activity. Not wanting to spook the people, he landed some distance away, deciding it would be more prudent to approach the town on foot.


    Before he has reached the town itself, he noticed two familiar faces approaching him, the dark-skinned military commander and his lighter-skinned knight companion.


    ¡°Ahoy!¡± The commander said heartily while raising his hand in greeting. Galizur gave him a deep nod as an answer, ¡°I take it you want to speak with the royal archmage?¡±


    ¡°Indeed, can you please take me to her? I have some information she will find useful.¡±


    ¡°Please, come with us.¡±


    Taking a better look at the commander, Galizur noticed that he was wearing some strange armor. It glittered in the sun, meaning it was made out of metal, but it wasn¡¯t the plate armor he was used to. As strange as it sounds, it appeared as if the small pieces of metal were weaved together into an armor piece. However, he decided not to comment on it yet.


    ¡°Just the two of you came to escort me? I would expect you to have some more soldiers with you.¡±


    ¡°You didn¡¯t come here to cause trouble, didn¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°Of course not.¡±


    ¡°Then, the two of us will do.¡±


    As they approached the town, Galizur realized that most of the houses were made in a very simple manner, from wood. He couldn¡¯t notice a single solid structure.


    ¡°Where did all these houses come from?¡± He asked, ¡°I wasn¡¯t here for a long time, but not so long for the houses to just pop up all over the place.¡±


    Heartwell barked a small laugh: ¡°The dwarves are to blame. Once they saw the trinkets the other world has to offer, they rushed to settle here. Most of the people in the town are dwarves.¡±


    ¡°Trinkets?¡±


    ¡°As it turns out, these demons are as good at creation as they are in destruction. But, Hazelmere will tell you more about it. I¡¯m just a simple grunt, entrusted with your safety.¡±


    Looking around, Galizur realized that what Heartwell was saying was true. Almost every second person he saw on the street was a dwarf. And it looked like all of them were busy, going about their business in a rush, not paying much attention to an angel who has descended from the heavens.


    ¡°We even have a market here now,¡± Heartwell said, ¡°if you follow the clamor, you¡¯re bound to find it. A lot of merchants from all over the Empire come here to trade. Dwarven merchants too.¡±


    ¡°So, people aren¡¯t worried about the portal? About the demonic invasion?¡±


    ¡°Not at all.¡±


    ¡°I take it there are some good reasons for such enthusiasm?¡±


    ¡°Yeah, there are several of them. But our commander will explain it much better than I can. She¡¯s far more eloquent than a simple peasant like me.¡±


    They continued along the dirt-paths which acted as the streets, connecting the houses into neatly arranged rows. Even though everything about the town was simple, the orderly arrangement made it clear the dwarves have had a significant part in its construction.


    The town was tiny, so it didn¡¯t take long for them to reach their destination. It was a warehouse-sized building, looking far sturdier than the buildings surrounding it. It wasn¡¯t made from stone, but the wood was clearly of the far more durable sort. It also had two floors, making it resemble a decently successful tavern in a way, putting aside the difference in size. Galizur noticed some very interesting details on it, like the Empire¡¯s coat of arms, surrounded by several dwarven ones. He was also surprised to see that such a building, made from wood, had glass windows on it.


    With perfectly transparent glass at that. Something Galizur hasn¡¯t seen on the biggest, most luxurious mansions.


    Entering the building, Galizur was greeted with more strange sights. There was an unfamiliar big, round object, high on the wall, with numbers arranged on its edges. Some strange, vertically placed, white tables, with all kinds of differently colored words written all over them. A big mirror with a perfect reflection, so perfect Galizur had to stop for a moment to check if another angel is in the building.


    And, the strangest of it all were the people rocking in their chairs, everywhere around him. Some of them rocked themselves back and forth as if possessed, while the others would spin around. After some time, Galizur realized the people were perfectly fine. They were just sitting in some weird chairs.


    ¡°Oh ¡­¡±


    ¡°Oh, no ¡­¡±


    Galizur realized what that meant but maintained his composure. He remembered Hazelmere warning him about this, and he did his duty reporting that to the heavens, stressing the logical argument the timkik mage has presented him with.


    However, while the heavens were too busy sorting out the mortals¡¯ disagreements, the demons have clearly opted not to waste any time and act as soon as possible.


    ¡°That explains why the dwarves got so invested in this place. And why they aren¡¯t afraid of the portal,¡± he thought, ¡°as long as their greed is satisfied, they are fearless.¡±


    Heartwell and Vukasin led him to the upper floor. The stairs didn¡¯t creak as they climbed them, confirming that this place was built with durability in mind.


    ¡°So, they are here to stay.¡±


    Passing through the corridor, his escort led him into a very spacious, bright room decorated with a lot of furniture.


    The furniture looked quite alien. The table and the chairs were too thin to support their own weight, let alone anything else, while the two sofas left the impression of elegant ¡­


    ¡­ nothingness.


    Two white tables stood vertically, with all kinds of scribbles on them, identical to those on the ground level.


    ¡°Welcome! Welcome!¡± Cheerful Hazelmere greeted him, not giving him the time to take a better look around the room, ¡°I was eagerly awaiting your return!¡±


    ¡°Ahoy,¡± Galizur responded politely, ¡°I am glad for such a warm welcome, but I feel bad for making all of you take the time of your day just to greet me.¡±


    There were quite a few people in the room. Not counting Hazelmere, Heartwell, and Vukasin, four archmages, an archpriestess, and three dwarves were also present.


    ¡°Oh, we would be here anyway! We are here all day, every day, examining the things from the other side!¡±


    ¡°So, the demons aren¡¯t sending just the books now?¡±


    ¡°Yes! They became far more generous. Of course, we are sending some of our own gifts in return, like you have suggested we should do!¡±


    ¡°No, I didn¡¯t¡­¡±


    Galizur remembered, how he was the one to encourage Hazelmere to send some books to the demons as a sign of goodwill, saying that the goodwill the demons have shown should be returned.


    It has certainly bought the heavens the time they desperately needed, but he never expected it to backfire like this.


    ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Hazelmere asked.


    ¡°No, I just ¡­ I am just surprised by how the things are playing out.¡±


    ¡°We are surprised too! We can¡¯t believe it! For a bunch of frost-dwelling demons, these people certainly have a lot to show! And teach!¡±


    ¡°Teach?¡±


    ¡°Yes! The dwarves are obsessed with their mathematics! Especially the ones that calculate the behavior of objects! I heard that the dwarves have a racial affinity for math, but it looks like these demons have them beaten.¡±


    Galizur looked at the present dwarves uncertainly.


    Wyvernshield just shrugged: ¡°Just like the lass says. They have a far better numerical system based on tens and have far superior logical operators.¡±


    ¡°They can even calculate the trajectory of celestial beings!¡± Another dwarf couldn¡¯t keep his mouth shut.


    For the first time, Galizur¡¯s face showed the slightest of frowns. His big wings rose slightly.


    ¡°What did you say?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t take it the wrong way, the lad is just too enthusiastic. We aren¡¯t sure about that yet. We¡¯re still experimentin¡¯ with those equations.¡±


    ¡°Need I remind you that the demons are famous for their deceit?¡±


    ¡°Aye, which is why we¡¯re testin¡¯ everythin¡¯ they claim.¡±


    Hazelmere jumped between Galizur and the dwarves, an uneasy smile on her face.


    ¡°Anyway, I take it you bring us some news? What is going on with the other nations? Will they be coming to help?¡±


    The joyful enthusiasm in Hazelmere¡¯s voice made it easier for Galizur to forgive the insulting implication.

 Chapter 53

    The more Galizur talked, the more Hazelmere¡¯s enthusiasm was replaced with disappointment.


    ¡°So ¡­ that is how it is,¡± She said dejectedly.


    ¡°That is how it is.¡±


    ¡°We are on our own.¡±


    ¡°That is right.¡±


    Wyvernshield¡¯s reaction was the exact opposite though. Slapping his knee with his hand, he started laughing loudly, in his deep voice.


    ¡°That¡¯s perfect! That means everythin¡¯ belongs to us!¡±


    ¡°What belongs to you, dwarf?¡± Galizur asked in a stern voice.


    ¡°The trade rights, of course! If the other nations have no intention of comin¡¯ here, that means we¡¯ll be the only ones to trade with the other side!¡±


    ¡°Goods?¡± The angel looked at Hazelmere questioningly.


    ¡°Ah, yes! We have developed friendly relations with the demons. Of course, we don¡¯t believe anything they say, but that isn¡¯t stopping us from trading with them.¡±


    ¡°What do you trade?¡±


    ¡°Anything that comes to mind, really. From the simplest of baubles to complex furniture, tools, and weapons.¡±


    ¡°I have noticed strange chairs and vertical tables.¡±


    ¡°Those chairs are amazing!¡± Hazelmere¡¯s eyes beamed all of a sudden, ¡°They are so comfortable, you could spend a whole day in them without getting your back sore! We have recently received a brand new batch, so even the people on the ground floor can enjoy them now!¡±


    ¡°And they can change their size easily, making them useful for both short and tall folk,¡± Wyvernshield added.


    ¡°What have you given to the demons in return?¡±


    ¡°A chairs of our own!¡± Hazelmere said it as if it should¡¯ve been obvious, ¡°We send something to them, and they send us their equivalent back.¡±


    ¡°And their equivalent is always far superior,¡± Wyvernshield commented.


    ¡°If it is superior then, what do they get in return?¡± Galizur asked.


    ¡°Uhh ¡­¡±


    Everyone in the room started looking at each other uncertainly, and a lot of head-scratching was involved.


    ¡°Do you honestly think the demons would do anything if it wouldn¡¯t benefit them somehow?¡± Galizur pushed his point further, ¡°Do you think they would do anything for your benefit alone?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but ¡­ it is not like they are asking for anything,¡± Hazelmere said weakly.


    ¡°That is how it always starts!¡±


    ¡°The feather-boy doesn¡¯t understand how the economy works!¡± Wyvernshield said, pointing his outstretched hand towards Galizur, ¡°His folk got nothing to trade up there in the heavens but the clouds! So, let me teach you something, friend! A product¡¯s worth isn¡¯t decided by a thing¡¯s usability alone, ¡¯tis much more complicated than that! For example, one of the things affecting the price is rarity! Even the useless things have worth if they¡¯re rare! Take diamonds, for example! You can¡¯t do anything with them and yet, they¡¯re one of the most expensive things in the world! Or gold! You can¡¯t do anything with the gold! You can use it for decoration at best, and even then it¡¯s used for decoration only because it¡¯s rare! Now, what do you think, how rare the goods from an alien world are? Would you think they¡¯re even rarer than gold?¡±


    ¡°Do you honestly expect me to ¡­¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s why the people trade in the first place, you dimwit! If the things were as you say, one side would always get the shitty end of the stick! And if that¡¯s the case, why would the losing side trade in the first place! Your feathery mind fails to understand that, in trade, no one is losing! People trade the things they have in abundance for the things they don¡¯t have or are lackin¡¯! And, thanks to the wisdom of your gods, different regions have different resources available! That¡¯s why the thing that is cheap as dirt in one part of the world is a luxurious commodity in the other!¡±


    ¡°That is ¡­ I ¡­ I have never considered that ¡­¡± Hazelmere was visibly stunned.


    But Galizur was not: ¡°That makes sense, until you realize you are trading chairs for chairs, tables for tables. It is just that theirs are of superior quality, as you have said yourself. Or did I get it wrong?¡±


    As soon as he has finished that sentence, his expression changed slightly.


    ¡°Or ¡­ first of all, I would like to confirm something. You have sent them chairs, and they gave you their own chairs in return, right?¡±


    ¡°Yes, but that¡¯s not only the case with the chairs. I don¡¯t know why you¡¯re so obsessed with the nailed chairs, but the same applies to any other thing we¡¯ve traded,¡± Wyvernshield responded.


    ¡°Ok, so ¡­ what is with those vertical tables over there?¡± Galizur pointed at the two strange tables, ¡°What good are the vertical tables for? You clearly can¡¯t put anything on them, so ¡­ are you also taking some of their useless things? Could it be that the demons aren¡¯t the only ones taking useless things?¡±


    ¡°No, no, no,¡± Hazelmere waved her hand in dismissal, with a big smile, ¡°those aren¡¯t tables, although I can see why you would confuse them. Those are writing boards.¡±


    ¡°You mean, notification boards?¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    ¡°Uhh ¡­ yes, it can be used like that too, but you can do much more with this one. Let me show you.¡±


    Hazelmere approached the white table and took some small, tube-like object that was sitting on its bottom. She uncorked one side of it with a pop, revealing a small, colored, pointy tip.


    ¡°You see, you can write on it like this,¡± she said as she scribbled some random words, ¡°and, once you no longer need this written, you just erase it like this.¡±


    She grabbed a handle on the table itself, detaching it with ease. Then, she started moving the handle all over it, with the written words disappearing without a trace as the handle crossed over them.


    ¡°I thought the purpose of that handle was to hold the table,¡± Galizur commented.


    To which Hazelmere responded with an innocent smile: ¡°Why would a table need to be held in the first place?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, I have never seen a vertical table before.¡±


    ¡°Well, it is not a table. It is a board. And the handle is used to hold this thing,¡± she said, detaching the handle once again and pointing it at Galizur, revealing the even, black surface hiding below, ¡°you could move this eraser without the handle, but it is much easier with it.¡±


    ¡°These people don¡¯t have a knack for art, but the things they make are incredibly practical.¡±


    ¡°A dwarf complimenting someone else¡¯s creation?¡± Galizur said in a tone that made it uncertain whether he was serious or not.


    ¡°We dwarves have many compliments to give. However, the other races can¡¯t make anything that¡¯s worth two kobold shits, so there¡¯s nothing to compliment! But these people on the other side are different from the rest of you rabble. They have a proper civilization with proper foundations. They don¡¯t need us to build it for them, like the rest of y¡¯all!¡±


    ¡°The demons can¡¯t be people, they are vermin. Their only purpose is to ruin what the others have created and disturb the balance.¡±


    ¡°These are! I don¡¯t know if they¡¯re demons or not, but I know for certain they have created far more than the rest of your races combined! And a race obsessed with creation can¡¯t be evil!¡±


    ¡°You have looked through the portal, haven¡¯t you dwarf? Are you going to tell me, with a straight face, that anything but the demons can exist in that frozen, desolate wasteland?¡±


    ¡°Guys, guys, calm down!¡± Hazelmere jumped in, ¡°There is no need to fight! After all, had the demons wanted to invade us, they would have already done so! And there is also a good chance they can¡¯t cross the portal, even if they wanted to! Yes, we must stay vigilant, but the demons haven¡¯t given us a single reason to worry about ¡­ so far.¡±


    ¡°That is because they are trying to fool you! You shouldn¡¯t trust the demons, that misplaced trust has doomed thousands of people before you! While the dwarves have convinced you to focus only on the profits, the demons are gathering information about this world!¡±


    ¡°And we¡¯re gathering information about them too!¡± Wyvernshield countered, ¡°We¡¯ve got far more information on them than they¡¯ve gotten on us! Besides, take a look at this!¡±


    The dwarf jumped out of his seat, moving towards Heartwell.


    ¡°See this! See this armor!¡± He prodded the armor the dark-skinned commander had on him, repeatedly, ¡°Do you have any idea what kind of armor this is?¡±


    ¡°Of course not. I am not a blacksmith.¡±


    ¡°This armor is far more efficient than any other armor anyone else has come up with! And it takes an awful lot of time to make it! Come and see it! Come and see it for yourself!¡±


    Even though Galizur lacked any enthusiasm, he approached the dwarf.


    ¡°Look at this thing!¡± Wyvernshield said while pinching the armor, ¡°See how flexible it is? Do you know of any metal armor so flexible? Well, what¡¯s making it flexible? This right here! Get your feathery head closer, and take a good look. Can you see these small metallic bits? Do you realize how this armor is made? These small parts are linked together, with a lot of painstaking effort and over a long period of time, to provide the wearer with the best possible, most flexible kind of armor!¡±


    ¡°That is nothing new. I am not a blacksmith, and yet even I know that is how mythril armor is made. It is woven like a cloth.¡±


    ¡°And what that tells to your pillowy brain? What does it tell you when the people on the other side are making their armor the same way the elves are making theirs? For their nobles, no less!¡±


    Hazelmere jumped in, once again, because Galizur and Wyvernshield got too close to each other for her comfort.


    ¡°Unfortunately, our dwarven friends aren¡¯t the best diplomats, but they are right. What he is trying to say is that the demons on the other side have shown they will go to great lengths to ensure the safety of their people.¡±


    ¡°The demons aren¡¯t people! You can¡¯t treat them like the other races of Greadinall! The Sun elves did that, and the whole world paid for it! It is too much of a risk! We won¡¯t survive another fall!¡±


    Hearing the harsh tone of an angel¡¯s voice, Hazelmere¡¯s eyes went wide for a few moments as her ears rose in alarm. Everyone else in the room, including the dwarves, went quiet as the aura of dead seriousness engulfed the room.


    Still, Hazelmere mustered the courage to continue.


    ¡°But ¡­ but the demons can¡¯t invade us. They can¡¯t cross into our world. And, if they would, it is not like our Empire alone could stand up to them. We have no other options but to please them, hoping that will dissuade them from crossing into our world. You are the one who has advised me to do that.¡±


    Galizur¡¯s wings slumped: ¡°I¡¯m¡­ I am sorry. I understand. It is just that there is way too much at stake.¡±


    ¡°I am fully aware of that. I have been dealing with that for almost a year now.¡±


    ¡°The lass is right. Even if those people are evil as you say, they have no reason to cross the portal as long as they get what they want. Meaning that there¡¯s no alternative to trade! It¡¯s in everyone¡¯s interest! It fills our coffers, and it keeps the demons at bay!¡±


    ¡°But they could send you tainted or cursed items. They have plenty of tools at their disposal to spread chaos, even if they can¡¯t cross the portal themselves.¡±


    ¡°We are checking everything, both with the mages and with the priestesses. Of course, more help is always welcome,¡± Hazelmere extended her hand towards Galizur, ¡°we will gladly accept any help the heavens can offer. With some angels here, we can ensure there is absolutely no way any demonic corruption can take place.¡±


    ¡°But your Emperor wants the angelic army to help him.¡±


    Hazelmere averted her eyes as her ears and tail fell slightly: ¡°¡­ yes.¡±


    ¡°My lady! My lady! My lady!¡± An unknown timkik barged through the door, ¡°The messenger wants an immediate audience with you! He says it¡¯s urgent!¡±


    ¡°Now? We have a guest here!¡±


    ¡°It says it¡¯s urgent!¡±


    ¡°The messenger ¡­ who is it?¡± Galizur pondered out loud.


    ¡°It is the messenger from the other side. It is a talking construct the demons are using to communicate with us. So, we call it the messenger.¡±


    ¡°A very simple and ugly looking but extremely complicated creation,¡± Wyvernshield commented, ¡°it has the strange cuteness some ugly females have. The ones who are ugly but still cute and pleasant to be around.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t care for your tastes, dwarf.¡±


    ¡°Anyway, the messenger is far more important than this feathery drama queen! Let¡¯s go and see what it has to say!¡±


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you come with us?¡± Hazelmere put her best smile on, pressing the palms of her hands together, ¡°That way, you can see it for yourself!¡±


    ---


    ¡°Greetinggsss!¡±


    A person-sized, insect-like lump of metal greeted them in a disturbingly childish voice. It waved its unsettlingly thin arm like a puppet.


    ¡°Ahoy, messenger!¡± Hazelmere took a small bow in front of the construct, to which it replied with a bow of its own, ¡°I heard you have some urgent matter to discuss.¡±


    ¡°Yass! Us finally be prepare to arrive!¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡±


    ¡°Is it always talking like that?¡± Galizur asked Cybil.


    ¡°Its understanding of our language is terrible, but at least it knows it well enough to communicate. Unlike us, who can¡¯t say a single proper word in their language. It tried teaching us, but it didn¡¯t work out.¡±


    ¡°Quiet! Something big is about to happen,¡± Wyvernshield hushed them from below.


    Galizur noticed the bewildered look on Hazelmere¡¯s face. She was supposed to converse with the thing, but no words came out of her mouth. Her twitching ears and swishing tail reflected her internal conflict.


    Finally, she spoke: ¡°Umm ¡­ I am not sure I understand. Can you repeat that one more time?¡±


    ¡°Us arrive with peace. No need to scare.¡±

 Epilogue

    It stood there, at the edge of the worlds ¡­


    Well, stood isn¡¯t the right word since it has no legs ¡­ but who cares.


    It stood there, at the edge of the worlds, fulfilling its purpose. Observing unseen and protecting the mortals from their own foolishness. It arrived the moment it sensed the magic build up. A declining empire decided to open a portal to some other world, hoping plundered resources will shift the tide in its favor. These people decided to put the whole world at risk to erase their own mistakes, a choice the mortals love making when they don¡¯t perform well.


    But it didn¡¯t stop them, as it had no right to do so. Still, it wasn¡¯t worried. It knew such an undertaking is massive in scope, which means many things can, and will, go wrong. It was ages since the last time someone dared to do something similar, and back then it was done by the people who were far more competent than this rabble. There was no doubt in its mind the spell will fail spectacularly at one point.


    Still, it had to give it to these people. Although they clearly lacked the talent when it comes to magic, they were at least aware of it, so they decided to take it slow. They poured magic slowly and carefully, throughout many moons.


    And it was there during all that time, observing unseen.


    The truth is, it had nothing better to do.


    Eventually, they managed to pour all the magic they needed in. It was time for the spell to be cast. Once again, they approached the problem carefully. The spell was cast much longer than it was supposed to, but it was worth it. The portal formed steadily.


    But once the portal opened, there were no plentiful, fertile lands to be seen on the other side. The spell failed and not in a way it has expected.


    Those fools managed to open a portal to hell.


    And a frozen one at that.


    The crippling cold rushed through the portal as soon as it opened, chilling everyone in an instant. The mortals scattered quickly, running for their lives. The satisfied looks of achievement the mages had on their faces once they realized they succeeded in opening the portal were replaced with pure dread once they¡¯ve realized what they¡¯ve done.


    It found all of it amusing though, for it knew there was no immediate danger on the other side.


    But something was unnerving about the other world, the frozen hell. It was unlike any other world it had peered into. It was there when opening the portals to the other worlds was a regular occurrence during the time of enlightenment, as the mortals call it, so it got a glimpse of many worlds. But not even the fiery hell the demons came from was similar to this one.


    You¡¯d expect hells to be similar, but that wasn¡¯t the case.


    The air of this frozen hell was ¡­ empty. There was nothing it could latch on to, there was no way for it to explore it. It could only look over the edge, going further into the nothingness would certainly spell its doom. Only once before has it seen a world it couldn¡¯t explore, and that world was nothing like this frozen hell.


    In both of those cases, there was no magic in the world.


    And yet, both of them were full of life.


    At first glance, this new world appeared to be a frozen wasteland. Frozen water was everywhere. And yet, life was there, right in front of the portal.


    All around it.


    Since the worlds collided, a small window of magic forced itself into hell, just how the cold had forced itself into its world. And that meant it could step into hell. Just a little bit, but it was enough.


    Step ¡­ bad choice of words once again.


    Anyway, once it had entered the hell, it realized the portal had opened in the middle of a forest.


    And what a forest it was, a forest unlike any other.


    It was impressed with the trees. Although those trees weren¡¯t splendorous as some trees from its own world, they were without a doubt the proudest trees it had ever felt. All of them were rugged and unmoving. They stood tall, big, and defiantly green. In a place devoid of any magic, without any fertile land, and in a freezing cold, these trees stood proudly, defying everyone and everything. Their very existence was a challenge to the gods, a dare to make anything similar and fail.


    Trees in hell ¡­ who would¡¯ve thought?


    After a few days, animals appeared. Impressive beasts, strong and enduring. The chilling cold didn¡¯t bother them at all. Their furs and hides were so thick, regular mortal weapons would have very little chance of piercing them. And even if they did, it would serve no other purpose but to enrage the beast, for its hulking frame could easily take such punishment.


    Seeing the beasts, it decided to give the mortals a hand (yeah, I know) and create an illusion on the other side. There was no magic in the other world, but there was enough of it along the edge to make a sustainable illusion along the entire portal. In a few moments, the spell was cast, and a mirage was created to cover up the portal from the other side. The side placed in its world looked like a regular portal, while on the other side the portal was hidden entirely. The only thing that could indicate something was odd was the lower amount of snow around the portal as a lot of it got thrown into its world.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    And an aura of dread it enchanted the portal with.


    ¡°That should keep those beasts out,¡± it thought. It wasn¡¯t proud of its work at all. There was nothing special about it in its mind.


    ¡°It just needs to do its job.¡±


    With the illusion and the aura in place, the beasts lost interest in the portal. So, a few days passed where it did nothing besides admiring the trees on the other side.


    And eventually, they came.


    First, it heard the sound, the sound similar to the horses galloping in the sky. It couldn¡¯t help but wonder: ¡°Why would any creature gallop in the sky? The pegasi fly with their wings, they don¡¯t need to use their legs.¡± Yet, the sound was the same as if the hooves were hitting the sky.


    It could hear whatever was galloping going around and around. Still, it was slowly getting closer and closer.


    Its assumption that something was hitting the sky was right, but it wasn¡¯t the hooves.


    The sound was produced by the chariots, two of them. Flying chariots made from unnatural materials. It could sense the metals were mixed with all kinds of stuff to create a material far superior to what can be found in nature.


    And there they were, inside of those chariots.


    The demons. And just like everything in this hell, they were empty.


    Once it sensed the chariots properly, it quickly understood the principles those were working on. An insanely flammable fuel was being burned on top of the chariot, right above its passengers¡¯ heads. The enormous heat produced that way was being converted into motion energy, which was then used to spin massive blades that would cut right through the air. These chariots were literally cutting their way through the air.


    Peering into the passengers¡¯ minds, it understood their language quickly. And it was pleasantly surprised when it learned how they named the contraptions carrying them.


    Choppers.


    These demons seem quite logical and to the point.


    What surprised it even more was that all the passengers knew exactly how their flying chariots work. They knew they were sitting right below the burning inferno, which depended on unbelievable balance to work right. They knew the machinery could break easily and kill all of them. They even trained what to do once the inevitable happens and it does break.


    Yet, they didn¡¯t care.


    There was no doubt in its mind the ones riding those infernal chariots were demons. Only the demons could show such disregard for their safety. Only the demons would trade their safety for convenience.


    For several days, those chariots were coming and going. And every time they¡¯d come right at the portal¡¯s position without fail. That¡¯s because, although these demons were empty themselves, they¡¯ve created contraptions that could detect energy for them.


    So, they knew something was there, in the woods. They just couldn¡¯t see it due to the illusion.


    Eventually, once they realized they wouldn¡¯t find anything from the skies, they sent some of them on foot. Since those chariots couldn¡¯t land in the middle of a lush forest, frost demons showed once again just how little they care about their lives. They dropped their people, from the chariots flying in the sky, with nothing but a rope for the poor sods to hold onto.


    And it actually worked.


    The beasts scattered a long time ago, as soon as the flying chariots started circling around. The dread they felt told it everything it needed to know about these demons. Now the horrifying demons stalked the land, and no beast would dare oppose them.


    They found the portal very quickly, despite the illusion, which made sense. As soon as it understood those sky chariots, it knew it would be impossible to stop them from crossing the portal.


    The one thing that surprised it though was how easily they ignored the aura of dread coming from the enchantment. It felt their fear, but it didn¡¯t expect them to feel excited about it.


    It could swear the demons enjoyed the spooky atmosphere.


    The way they found the portal can only be explained as a product of a stupidly genius idea. They noticed the amount of snow was much smaller in front of the portal, so they started throwing snowballs around. Soon enough, one disappeared right in front of their eyes.


    However, contrary to what people would expect the demons to do, they didn¡¯t summon a horde to go on a rampage. These demons were very careful. First, they sent their crawling constructs, then their flying constructs. For several moons, they probed the other side while collecting the samples.


    Once they¡¯ve realized there are people on the other side, the demons started communicating with them indirectly. The demons sent their books, so people on the other side knew what to expect. Surprisingly, they had no horns.


    The excitement these demons felt was very contagious, and it felt exhilarated as it observed them do their work. The enthusiasm the demons showed when solving all kinds of problems was beyond anything it felt before. The demons were eager to meet the people on the other side, not to conquer them but just to interact with them. One wouldn¡¯t expect that from the creatures coming straight out of the hell, but it made perfect sense once it learned more about them. Now that the area around the portal has been secured, the demons started bringing their scholars in. And their minds revealed the truth of this hell to it.


    These demons, who call themselves humans, were eager to meet the other species because all the other sapient species of their world were exterminated a long time ago, by the very world they live in. In its insatiable hunger, the hell they live in had swallowed everyone else, and it waited eagerly for the day it will feast upon their species too. They were all alone in a dark, uncaring universe.


    That made it sympathetic towards them.


    Finally, a day came when the chosen one of their species was about to be sent to the other world.


    A perfect example of their species stood alone in front of the portal, defying the aura of dread surrounding it. But not because he was an incredibly courageous individual, the suit he was wearing made him immune to the aura.


    He wasn¡¯t defying the aura himself. His people made it irrelevant through their collective labor.


    Armed with the will and the wit of his people, he was ready to close the gap between the two worlds and plunge everyone and everything into the unknown.


    ¡°Ground control to Major Tom,¡± he heard an oddly melodic voice over the radio.


    ¡°I hear you loud and clear, over!¡±


    ¡°Ground control to Major Tom.¡±


    ¡°I repeat, I hear you loud and clear, over. Can you hear me?¡±


    ¡°Take your protein pills and put your helmet on.¡±


    ¡°¡­ the fuck are you talking about? I¡¯m in a hazmat suit. Over!¡±


    ¡°Ground control to Major Tom.¡±


    ¡°¡­¡±


    ¡°Commencing countdown, engines on.¡±


    ¡°Are you fucking serious?¡±


    ¡°Check ignitionnn and may god¡¯s love be with youuuu.¡±

 Bonus chapter

    Everyone raced towards the stones. Hazelmere ran first, then the mages followed her, which gave Heartwell and Vukasin no other choice but to join them. The messenger followed them slowly, maintaining a respectful distance.


    Hazelmere touched the stones as soon as she had reached them, closing her eyes. In a few moments she saw the portal.


    And something standing in the middle of it.


    It had the silhouette of a person. The last few moons interacting with the demons got her used to seeing them as people in a way, so it didn¡¯t surprise her. What did surprise her, was the way this demon was dressed.


    The demon was covered completely. Contrary to what you¡¯d expect of sex demons, these demons were always dressed in an extremely modest way (when not in naughty books at least). Which made sense, since they live in a frozen hell, so they¡¯re always wearing a lot of clothes to keep themselves warm.


    But this was on a completely different level. Everything was covered this time, including the face. The demon resembled a fully-armored knight, but took it to the extreme where not even his eyes were visible.


    ¡°Oh, gods!¡± Hazelmere exclaimed.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°They have crossed the portal!¡±


    ¡°How many of them?¡± Heartwell asked.


    ¡°Just one. But it looks like he is completely armored.¡±


    ¡°Is he carrying any weapons?¡±


    ¡°He is carrying something, but I have no idea if that is a weapon.¡±


    ¡°No need to scare,¡± the messenger said once it caught up with them, ¡°just want to talk. Like with me. But in person now.¡±


    ¡°Why in person? I mean, you are here with us in person, aren¡¯t you?¡± Cybil said.


    ¡°No, me no person. No mind. Me vessel. Person speaks through me not in person. Now person arrive.¡±


    ¡°Are you telling us you are possessed?¡±


    ¡°No good word. But, you own no better. Me controlled by person.¡±


    ¡°That is what being possessed is all about!¡±


    ¡°Wait! Wait!¡± Wyvernshield jumped in, ¡°Are you telling us you were controlled all this time? Someone was telling you how to move and what to say?¡±


    ¡°Yes. This construct have no mind. Not good enough.¡±


    ¡°How is that even possible? Do you have any idea how many ¡­¡± he stopped in the middle of the sentence, remembering something.


    ¡°So ¡­ the demons can possess you ¡­ who would have thought ¡­¡± Galizur commented.


    ¡°No can control peoples. Only constructs. Peoples and constructs different,¡± the messenger responded.


    ¡°Oh yes, I will certainly believe everything you have to say.¡±


    ¡°Knock it off, featherhead! If you don¡¯t like it, you¡¯re free to fly away at any time!¡± Wyvernshield would have none of it.


    ¡°It is great that you came Galizur!¡± Hazelmere said excitedly, ¡°If anyone can protect us from demonic influence, it is you! I am so glad the heavens have sent you!¡±


    ¡°Me too.¡±


    ---


    It took a lot of time for the demon to reach them. He walked slowly and clumsily, the exact opposite of what you¡¯d expect for a feral demon.


    ¡°Does he have a glass bucket over his head?¡± Cybil wondered out loud as he came closer to them.


    ¡°I thought you said he was armored,¡± Heartwell.


    ¡°Is he not?¡±


    ¡°That doesn¡¯t look like armor to me. It looks more like some weird, bright clothes.¡±


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Wyvernshield nodded his head vigorously, ¡°they¡¯ve sent us their armor, this ain¡¯t it.¡±


    ¡°That guy is really tall! It looks like he is a head taller than the tallest solder I saw!¡± Cybil pointed out.


    ¡°And what is wrong with his nose? Why are only his eyes visible?¡±


    ¡°Well, let us find out,¡± Hazelmere said as she started walking towards the demon. The others followed her closely behind.


    Seeing them walk towards him, the demon started waving his hand, while holding some big, round shape in the other. Hazelmere responded in kind.


    ¡°Ahoy!¡± He greeted them, bowing slightly. His voice was muffled and sounded distorted a bit, ¡°I come with peace!¡±


    ¡°Welcome!¡± Hazelmere responded, while returning the gesture. Everyone but Galizur did the same thing.


    ¡°I name Tom,¡± the demon pointed his index finger at himself.


    ¡°Oh! Nice to meet you ¡­ Tom. Did I get it right?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°My name is Hazelmere,¡± she put her hand below her collarbone.


    ¡°Hazzmee.¡±


    ¡°Hazelmere.¡±


    ¡°Hazlmre.¡±


    ¡°That is not quite it, but it is good enough.¡±


    ¡°Wow! Angel!¡± The demon commented, raising his voice slightly.


    ¡°You sound excited.¡±


    ¡°Yes! See angel first time. But no dead here.¡±This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Do angels pick up dead? Take them to heaven?¡± The demon gesticulated with his hand.


    ¡°Uhh, no.¡±


    ¡°I hear we see angel do it. Pick up freeze girl. She try give us gifts, but freeze. We try help, but angel come. Take her.¡±


    ¡°Oh, that!¡± Hazelmere started laughing, ¡°No, no, you got it wrong! The angels don¡¯t take dead people to heavens, we burry them! He got me because no one else can approach the coldness of your world.¡±


    ¡°That you?¡±


    ¡°Yes, that was me. I am not dead yet, as you can see.¡±


    ¡°I see ¡­ not as we think. Good to know.¡±


    ¡°Why did you come here,¡± Galizur joined the conversation, but his face was missing its usual smile.


    ¡°Come to see you in live. Eye to eye, like friends should. And give you this gift.¡±


    He extended his hands towards Hazelmere, who took the gift carefully.


    ¡°That¡¯s a lotta gold!¡± Wyvernshield commented.


    ¡°Is this ¡­ some golden disc?¡± She asked.


    ¡°Record. Have information about us and us world. Enchanted. Curious to see if you¡¯re magic can read that.¡±


    ¡°If you are coming as a friend, then why is your face covered completely and only your eyes are visible?¡± Galizur asked.


    ¡°So not to hurt or get hurt. Not sure can breathe. Should can breathe, but take no chance. Not first time. And not sure if my breath hurt you. So seal me in clothes. Breathe store air with mask,¡± the demon tapped the glass in front of his head, where his mouth were supposed to be, ¡°can look scary, but no need to scare.¡±


    ¡°Is that glass on your hamlet lad?¡± Wyvernshield asked as he approached the demon.


    ¡°No touch!¡± The demon complained while extending the palm of his hand towards the dwarf, ¡°Not sure if safe! No hurt!¡±


    The dwarf obliged, but continued staring at the strange, bright clothes while walking around the demon, ¡°You look very silly in that, you know? Not really a display of power, money or nobility,¡± he commented.


    ¡°But is safe.¡±


    ¡°Is it armor?¡±


    ¡°No not armor. Weak. But seals I from world. Keep my world air with me.¡±


    ¡°I see. Now I understand,¡± Natle said.


    ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°I was wondering what was going on. Why my magic can¡¯t reach him. I thought it was because they are soulless, but the clothes he is wearing are interfering with my magic.¡±


    ¡°Oh, yes. I agree,¡± Cybil confirmed.


    ¡°So, you don¡¯t trust us? Is that why you are wearing those clothes? Or are you hiding something you don¡¯t want us to sense?¡± Galizur asked.


    ¡°These clothes protect and me and you. Not want spread curses. May not happen but not want risk that.¡±


    ¡°You spread curses? Not that I am surprised.¡±


    ¡°Curse not good word. Everything is curse to you. No difference in nature of that. Not risk that until find cure. Hope you can help. May be magic can cure.¡±


    ¡°Are your people cursed?¡± Hazelmere asked.


    ¡°Curse no good word. Too strong. Too evil sound for nature of that. That is natural thing.¡±


    ¡°Of course, curses are natural in hell. No surprise there,¡± Galizur pressed his point further.


    ¡°Hell? Unfamiliar word.¡±


    Hazelmere¡¯s lip skewed to one side, as the leaned towards the angel to whisper in his ear: ¡°We didn¡¯t talk about hell, or tell them anything we think of their world. We didn¡¯t want to enrage them, or make them realize we can see through the fa?ade. We didn¡¯t mention demons either.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I see. I agree with that. That is a good decision.¡±


    ¡°Hell? What is that?¡±


    ¡°A world alien to ours,¡± Galizur said.


    ¡°Curses no natural here?¡±


    ¡°That depends on how you define them. Curses are magical in nature. And, while some races think that magic is natural, others think the magic is above the nature,¡± Hazelmere explained.


    ¡°No one definition?¡± The demon sounded confused.


    ¡°No. It all depends on how you interpret it.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    ¡°Anyway, why have you come here?¡± Galizur asked.


    ¡°Come see you live. Eye to eye. Want to see friends like that. Show no need to scare and show we trust you. Not to hurt me.¡±


    ¡°Why in the rocks would we ever want to hurt our trade partners?¡± Wyvernshield said with a big smile on his face.


    ¡°Want build trust with partners. Be friends.¡±


    ¡°And why do you want to be friends?¡±


    ¡°Be friends is good. Understand better. Learn. Grow. Question our ways. Be better.¡±


    ¡°Question your ways?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Not perfect. Want learn.¡±


    ¡°What do you want to learn?¡±


    ¡°Everything. And can teach everything we know. If you want. But need to be sure not curse first. And be sure can breathe. How you cure curses?¡±


    ¡°You can¡¯t cure a curse.¡±


    ¡°But you can dispel it!¡± Hazelmere pointed out?¡±


    ¡°Dispell?¡±


    ¡°Make the magic disappear,¡± she clarified, ¡°just how your weird clothes are dispelling it.¡±


    ¡°My clothes dispel magic?¡±


    Galizur gave Hazelmere a scornful glare, making her cover a bit.


    Realizing Hazelmere won¡¯t respond, the demon continued: ¡°Can try. Not know if work. Will find some one want to try.¡±


    ¡°If curses are an integral part of your race, there is a good chance that lifting them will kill you,¡± Galizur pointed out.


    ¡°I see. Can try still. Not know unless try. Worth risk.¡±


    ¡°You think so?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Then I can arrive with no clothes.¡±


    ¡°Now, that¡¯s an interesting proposal,¡± Mizette said.


    ---


    They chatted for a long time about all kinds of things. Even though Hazelmere and her companions were chatting in a similar way with the messenger before, having a living, breathing creature in front of them had an impact. It made them much more open for the conversation, gave them a lot of ideas, and helped them come up with questions they never considered before.


    It also helped that Galizur was constantly steering the conversation in different directions, always having some additional questions for the unexpected guest. The demon proved to be very open about any subject the angel asked him about, although sometimes giving convoluted answers to some very simple questions.


    Then, the demon ended the conversation abruptly.


    ¡°I must go. Low with breath. But come again. We talk like this instead with construct in future. If you have no thing against?¡±


    ¡°No, absolutely not!¡± Hazelmere¡¯s said in a friendly voice.


    ¡°Have us agreed to try magic? To remove curse?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t think anyone has anything against it,¡± She looked at Galizur and Moana, ¡°I mean, that is an extremely considerate gesture on your part. Especially since it can hurt you.¡±


    ¡°Will find some one brave. But not now. Other things to check. First if we can breathe. We start moving more people close to portal. Try things.¡±


    ¡°And we are to believe you have no ill intentions?¡± Galizur said with a voice filled with sarcasm.


    ¡°I here alone. No weapons. If we have ill intentions, come much of us, with weapons.¡±


    ¡°Anyway, we would appreciate if you would let us know beforehand, whenever you try something.¡±


    ¡°Sure. I here for that. Let you know. Must go now. Low on breath. Good buy and peace with you.¡±


    ¡°Safe travels!¡±


    The demon left as clumsily as he came.


    ¡°I must say, that is very encouraging,¡± Hazelme said as soon as he had left.


    ¡°How so?¡± Galizur asked.


    ¡°I mean, they are offering us to remove their curses. We didn¡¯t ask for any of it, they have offered it themselves! They wouldn¡¯t do that if they wanted to do any harm.¡±


    ¡°If they truly do spread curses, all they had to do was give us some cursed items. None have been so far,¡± Wyvernshield pointed out.


    ¡°There is always some trickery involved with the demons. But I can¡¯t deny that this offer is unprecedented. They are offering to hurt themselves instead of spreading their corruption all over the world. Or, maybe they know we can dispel their curses, so they realize they have no other options.¡±


    ¡°Whatever the case, these supposed demons were friendly once again. You¡¯re too paranoid for your own good,¡± Wyvernshield said.


    ¡°That is because we are responsible for the wellbeing of all the creatures in this word! I know you dwarves don¡¯t care if the demons corrupt, enslave and murder half of Greadinall, as long as you get some gold out of it!¡±


    ¡°Speaking of gold, what is that thing?¡± Mizette said, pointing at the golden disc in Hazelmere¡¯s hands.


    ¡°I have no idea. There are some scribbles all over it, some random lines. None of it makes sense.¡±


    ¡°He said it is enchanted with the knowledge of his people. And that we can access it with magic, if we figure out how to do it.¡±


    ¡°I strongly advise you not to touch it! It can easily be cursed.¡± Galizur complained.


    ¡°Ah yes, like all the other items they¡¯ve cursed so far,¡± Wyvernshield spat back.


    ¡°I strongly advise you to give it to me, so I can take it to the heavens. We will guard it well there, and ensure it causes no harm. If what the demon said is true, the heavens certainly have the best chances of understanding the enchantment and uncovering its secrets.¡±


    ¡°Ha! And you say we dwarves covet the gold!¡±


    ¡°I ¡­¡± Hazelmere hesitated for some time, ¡°I would really appreciate your help in examining it.¡±


    ¡°As a mage, you know how dangerous the enchantments can be. You can put not only this town, but all of Greadinall in danger.¡±


    ¡°I ¡­¡±


    ¡°It is not our decision to make,¡± Mizette stepped in, ¡°The Emperor should decide it. If he learns you gave a disc of pure gold to the heavens, he will have your head.¡±


    ¡°This is bigger than one person, or one race. It may be dangerous to all of us,¡± Galizur pushed his point further.


    But Wyvernshield shut him down right away, ¡°Then you can examine it with us! Come, let¡¯s go. No point in standing here any longer! The golden disc filled with knowledge awaits!¡±


    Everyone turned around and walked away, leaving Galizur no other choice but to follow after them.