Outside the official national border of Tenebreimen, in an empty, flattened field of short grass and weeds that served as "neutral" territory, stood a tall black tower surrounded by a constantly churning moat filled with ominous dark water. A mechanical, currently retracted, bridge extended from the inner islet around the tower's base to the outer field, where a paved road split off and forked into multiple dirt trails that snaked off into the horizon.  The tower itself was made of obsidian-colored orichalcum plates, overlaying a more cost-effective material beneath, and multiple balconies and windows dotted its surface as it gracefully tapered up toward the heavens, where it fanned out into a massive observation deck that overlooked the surrounding land, crowned above by a pointed tip like a spear ready to shoot through the clouds and stab the sky.  The sky overhead was blackened by gloomy clouds, their outlines crimson as the sun beyond desperately tried and failed to push through.

The Spire.  Lilianna's "magnum opus" as many of her subjects—-and some of her detractors—called it. But in truth, it was only the start, and while she might not see her plan come to fruition in her own time, she knew Lycoris would one day see her dream realized.  Her darling flower was headstrong and reckless in all the wrong ways, but… that quality was also a requirement to accomplish what must be done. And she would mature into a woman more than capable of bearing the torch, Lilianna was certain.

We hope that you are safe, at least…

She lamented that she couldn't be there. She was furious that these brutish boulders were foolishly following the pernicious plotting of that wretched Witch. But Lilianna knew without needing reminding that her duty as Exaltare came before her wants as a mother.  Heaving a labored sigh over the railing and down into the moat below, she turned away from the spacious observation deck and paced back into the tower through one of the massive archways, her heels clacking against the granite floor and her midnight-blue coat billowing against the wind.  It really was an unnecessary amount of space. There was more than enough room to hold a round-table conference outside at any spot on the observation platform, if the visitors were comfortable with the breeze. Not that the open-air archways leading inside did anything to stymie the gusts, but enchantments kept the interior miraculously warm the instant one crossed the threshold.

The massive circular table inside—which looked like a series of curved desks all joined together into a singularly massive donut—was always furnished with thirteen luxurious seats, amenities for temporarily storing personal belongings and files, and even cup-holders of all things.  Of course, while it was designed to make one think all were equal, one seat alone obviously stood out from the rest. It could only be called a throne, with how tall the backing on the white marble seat was, draped in luxurious lapis cushioning and topped by a winged blue-rose crest.  The colossal conference space's only present occupants were three soldiers under her employ, and several small Spirekeepers—little animated soot elementals stuffed into doll clothes and masks covering their featureless faces—keeping the space eternally spotless and orderly. But her "guests" were on their way up, and would be arriving for the meeting soon.

She had just watched their carriage arrive after all. the strange onion-shaped rock carried on the back of a massive crystalline scorpion was an unmistakable sight. Supposedly the Geolle demonstrated their wealth by decorating their "steeds" with as wide of an assortment of gemstones as possible, making the creature appear like an avant-garde stained glass piece.

Doffing her coat and tossing it to one of the guards as they fell in line behind her, she straightened the cuffs on her blouse and reclined on her small throne. She crossed her legs and leaned to one side, propping her cheek against the back of her knuckles and rapping her fingers against the opposite armrest with a practiced ease. Every moment she spent on this matter an agonizing eternity that could have been put to asking Lesath for updates—or better yet, hurrying to Kranes herself and leveling the town to dig up her little flower.  Normally guards would be stationed all around the hall by the arches, elevators and stairs, with each representative permitted one personal armed attendant, but as this wasn't an official conference, there was no need for a full security detail. Lilianna doubted her guests would even need to settle into their private floor first before coming up. Or rather, even if they wished to, she would have them brought to her instead.

Just as her impatience was about to reach a crescendo, the elevator across the hall played a small jingle, and the doors slid open to reveal a trio of Geolle. The one in the center was their current president, and the one to her left was their designated envoy—the one who normally attended proceedings at the Spire. Both of them were dressed in luxurious silk tunics. The President wore hers in bright white with purple lining, a golden chain dangling from tusk to tusk, while the envoy wore a more natural, earthy brown garment, with a bright red stole draped over their shoulders and several sparkling gemstone rings adorned their fingers, like a rainbow set of brass knuckles.  Much smaller than the woman and moss-less individual, was what Lilianna could only assume was a child, or perhaps young adult. The Geolle wore pitch-black platemail hammered into obliquely angled slopes, making them appear like a lump of obsidian carved into a gemstone by an amateur artisan. From their sinisterly dark and equally angular helmet, two unadorned pearly white tusks stuck out. They carried a single weapon, as permitted by the rules of the spire—a massive steel-gray broadsword with a Geollian engraving etched into the flat of it. It looked somewhat comical, like it would be too big for them to lift and hold much less swing…  But of course it'd be foolish for Lilianna to assume that was actually the case, when—despite her size—her own daughter could wield a massive scythe as gracefully as her betters.

When the trio finished crossing the excessively large hall, they bowed their heads—though the small guard did so after hesitating slightly—and glanced toward the table.

"Strange, to see this place so empty. It brings to mind a merchant's festival venue abandoned, perhaps in favor of online shipping," the President mused.  "*ahem*" One of the guards behind Lilianna cleared his throat.  Looking somewhat bothered, the envoy shifted their lower jaw. "I would say it feels more akin to trespassing on a forbidden reliquary, or a museum after-hours."  Neither of those are much better. A wry smile crossed Lilianna's lips, as she sat up straight and looked up at the Geolle. "Welcome to the Spire. Or, welcome back in thy case, Ser Ruxel. Please, seat yourselves where you wilt."

Lilianna made a show of standing up and gesturing to the table.  The three Geolle exchanged a look and click of their tusks. After a moment, Ruxel sat down at their usual spot, four seats down to the left, but the President remained standing.  After a moment, she raised her hand and pointed at Lilianna, a smirk—or what Lilianna could only assume was one—crossing her face, while Ruxel irritably tapped their index finger against a fang.

"Then I'll take that chair," she boldly proclaimed.  Ruxel stood back up and slapped their hands on the desk. "Madam Halls, you can't be—"  "But of course. A chair is a chair, after all."

Striking the entire room speechless, Lilianna breezily acquiesced her seat and moved to one of the other ones on the right. Her soldiers rushed to follow after her, one pulling out the seat for her while the others leaned in.

"Y-Your Majesty!?" Carlisto hissed in bewilderment.

She chuckled as she took her seat, gazing with amusement at the sight of the Geolle President sitting on the throne too small for her body.

"What? There are none presiding over these proceedings save ourselves, this is no formal conference. And it is no different from a little Spirekeeper having a bit of fun in an otherwise empty tower," she continued in her cool tone, before snapping her fingers sharply. "Malteus, the map."

The seafoam-green-haired man walked over and spread the parchment-paper map across the table. It'd been purchased from a Geollian merchant and was inked by a semi-famous cartographer. And, while it was decidedly analogue and perhaps archaic, such maps were invaluable as it was difficult for Vampires to chart the exact lay of the land beyond their walls and clouds.  Of course, no self-respecting member of society would ever dare admit such a thing to the obstinate golems presently seated at the table.

Lilianna lowered her gaze from them to the map, sweeping her fingers across it as though to feel its authenticity.

"Douglas, Carlisto. Coordinates."

They both saluted, and immediately began rattling off a series of numbers, each causing a small translucent "pin" to form over the map. Of course, it was on the table before Lilianna, so President Halls was forced out of her hard-won seat to pace over and lean forward to look at the map properly. She stroked one of her tusks with her thumb thoughtfully as she patiently watched.  Rude as they were, Lilianna couldn't fault the Geolle's ability to remain composed and avoid jumping to conclusions or spewing unnecessary questions.  Though… Her daughter's innocent curiosity and enthusiasm for learning warmed her heart. Lilianna could stomach any length of questioning when it was Lycoris sitting together with her.

"Find something amusing, Exaltare?" The President asked.  She realized she'd ended up smiling down at the map on accident. Playing it off, she flicked her gaze to the Geolle. "Dost thou recognize this location, Lugst?"  "Mm," she shook her head, "I spend little time gazing at your surface-maps. But, I believe it is somewhere above our Republic?"  "Ruxel, perhaps thou canst come over and assist the President?"

With a gravelly sigh and click of tooth against tusk, the Envoy pulled themself from their seat and grabbed something from the storage compartment beneath their seat. As they walked over, President Halls turned to glare.

"Whose side are you taking here, Ruxel?"  Drumming their finger rhythmically on the desks as they walked over, they sighed, "Side? There are no 'sides' here, President. We are a vassal nation to the Empire, and are here to resolve this mess that has plagued us all."  "That sounds vaguely treasonous to me."  "The only treason being wrought," Lilianna interjected, "is at the hands of those foolish enough to heed the whims of a Wizard."

All three of the soldiers around Lilianna stiffened as she made mention of the Hero's compatriot. She had pointedly avoided sharing any details with them that Lycoris had given her, not even that this Wizard was actually a Witch… whatever difference that made. But Lilianna knew from her predecessors that every morsel of information was a potential dagger—either to wield or be thrust in her own back.

Once Ruxel overlaid the map and stepped aside, the President clenched her hands and huffed.  Ruxel's map was one of the underground cities of the Geolle, and the roads connecting them to each other and the surface highways. Every single marker pointed to one of the entrances to Den-Ghel, the "home" of the rebels.

"Surely thou already know'st the entrances to thy city were collapsed, as a desperate measure to prevent our entry."  "I have been… informed," Halls carefully replied. "What did you summon me here to discuss, Exaltare?"

Her slight impatience was rather uncharacteristic. Perhaps she was expecting Lilianna to try and tie her to the rebels somehow.  But Lilianna knew that, while she'd tried to wrangle concessions out of this debacle, Lugst never once buckled when it came to putting her foot down and ordering the arrest (and quiet disappearance) of any outspoken critics of the Exaltare and herself. That was part of the reason why the "angry dissidents" went as far as caving in the city entrances. To force the President's hand, they would take an entire city hostage.  Lilianna slowly swirled her finger over the map, creating a little whirlpool of silver mist before sliding it across the length of the city and tapping one location in particular, whereupon a new arrow pointing down formed.

"Carlisto, take thy team to this location. Set up a camp and await our signal."  The soldier offered a crisp, "At once, Your Majesty," and saluted before rushing off to the elevator.  "What are you scheming, Exaltare?"  After watching the man leave with a faux-fondness, Lilianna turned back and smiled innocently. "Solving our problem. He is to begin preparations to detonate a seismic charge at our signal."  "WHAT!?"

Both President Halls and the unnamed Geolle youth looked taken aback, the latter tensing up and appearing as though they wanted to reach for their sword. In response, both of the soldiers accompanying Lilianna reached for their hips, while she impassively stared up at the President.  Ruxel cleared their throat, a strange noise coming from a Geolle and a stark departure from their typical social norms.

"Your Majesty, can you explain your rationale for us? It goes without saying that such an act would cause—"  "But of course," Lilianna replied cheerily, before freezing over like winter's sudden onset, "It is a warning to all who live. Of what befalls those who dare to go against and bite the hand of their master."  "There are thousands of citizens in—"  "There are currently eighteen thousand, two hundred and ninety-three individuals within Den-Ghel, according to current census data and our estimates on home occupancy during our sweeps for rebels," Malteus corrected with a rather unnecessarily wicked glint in his eye.  "You would kill thousands of innocents!" President Halls rumbled.  Lilianna leaned back in the dinky chair, crossing her legs and clasping her hands together over them. "If thou meanst to call them hostages, know that such a tactic only works if the other party agrees their lives hold value. Perhaps others will think twice before turning a blind eye to sedition, knowing what consequences might follow."

This was merely business. An ultimatum delivered to the President of the Geolle Republic, in a situation where she could do nothing but watch as events unfold. Not that she would have been able to uproot or evacuate anyone from the city—the rebels had seen to it to hammer in the nails to their coffin from the inside.  And yet… she frowned, something stirring in her heart.

"I…" Halls stumbled over herself, "I… surely, there… You… this would cause incalculable damage to our industries as well! We are already struggling to keep up with your empire's ridiculous demands for resources!"

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.  "Then perhaps we can negotiate some form of mutual exchange, to recompense thy republic's losses. That is one of thy precious passtimes, is it not?"  Halls slammed her fist on the desk, sending a crack through the lacquered marble. "You know my people won't stand for this! There'll be rebellion in the streets!"  "So have them arrested," Lilianna coolly replied. "If necessary, we can supply the facilities for incarceration and rehabilitation as well. At the cost of some labor concessions, of course."  "You… can't be serious. You're… a monster."  "And thou, a puppet raised up by masses most ignorant of what is required to rule. Though there will be little way to confirm any bodies, we cannot allow any taint from that plagueling's Party to spread. Better to sever the foot than lose the whole leg. Such things shall regrow, with time enough. Please try to demonstrate a modicum of far-sightedness, President. It would certainly help to repair the image thy lack of decorum hast tarnished."

She was done with niceties, baring her fangs both metaphorical and literal. And, as her predecessors had guided her, she knew exactly how best to deal with a budding rebellion. Swift, extreme, and absolute dominance. Leaving no room for any to question the unimpeachable might of she who held the leash.  What were eighteen or twenty-thousand-something lives in the face of over a hundred thousand years of survival? This ball of rock would turn, and the sun would rise and fall all the same. Just as it always had.  But still, something else nagged at the back of her mind.

President Halls collapsed onto her backside, sitting on the floor with a hand pressed against her head as though she'd suddenly been struck in the head with a hammer. She knew she had been put in check, that there was nothing she could leverage to back out of this after taking the position she held. The consequences of her own tepid policy-making and weak grasp on economics, and her inability to rein in the rebellious elements of her own kind had caused the death of a city, even if Lilianna's hands were the ones that would be stained.  Glancing toward Lilianna—who now sat at eye-level with her—she once again failed to meet the Exaltare's expectations.

"How did it come to this?"  "Ser Ruxel would do a finer job leading thy people," she coldly spat back.  Finally having heard enough, the Geollian youth spoke out. "Have a heart, damn you!"  "Silence!" Douglas shouted back, though Lilianna noted his own hands were tightly clenched as well. Perhaps she should have sent him off with Carlisto. "Do not forget who you speak to."  "I speak to a Tyrant and beast who sees lives as nothing but grains of dust shaved from sapphire."

As her two knights-in-shining-armor drew their weapons, Lilianna raised her hand. There was no amusement on her face, though she didn't feel particularly offended by this young rock's words either.  It was only proof that her concerns were grounded, that her choice was reasonable.

"And thy name, child?"  "Gorlor. What use is it to a monster, though?"  "Young Gorlor, have you met a Human who goes by the name 'Mizar' perhaps?"  The inexperienced soldier visibly stiffened, cementing their fate long before they replied, "I've never met a Human in my life."  "What a coincidence, neither have we. Tell us, what wisdom did you receive?"

She stood from her seat, somehow towering over everyone else present despite being the shortest person in the room.  Both Ruxel and Lugst stared slackjawed at each other, and then at the young Geolle stepping forward. Neither saw fit to vocalize any attempt to stop them—not that it would stop the stone they had set in motion.  Gorlor removed her helmet and cast it aside, revealing the bundled up tangles of gray-green moss beneath. Keeping a watchful eye on Lilianna, she pulled the heavy blade off of her back and gripped it tightly, the glyphs etched across it glowing a soft gray.

"None. Common sense is all that tells me this… this insanity cannot stand! I was uncertain before, but your words have proven the folly of your rule."  "…"

Lilianna sighed in disappointment. She reminded her so much of her own precious flower, but this child's words were hollow, lacking in conviction and rationale; her stance showed no sign of mastery, just mediocre talent that any fighter possessed; her sight was clouded, unable to see any possibility of the future.  Lilianna almost felt disgusted with herself, for even thinking this disappointment was even a fraction of her little prodigy. Not that they could have any form of debate from this position—This Gorlor had signed herself up to be an example.  And, she was furious, for this interruption only served to remind her that while she was wasting time on this insipid drivel, that her daughter's life was still at risk. She shouldn't even need to be here right now.

"What's wrong? No more fancy rhetoric to back up your cruelty?"  "Thy existence hast only proven our point. That anything a hero touches is indelibly tainted and must be excised. The rot has penetrated deep enough that it would even infect a private guard brought to a petty conference." She raised an eyebrow at President Halls.  "The only rotten one here is you!"

Shouting, Gorlor rushed forward and brought her massive blade to bear, putting her full weight behind her swing.  Lilianna didn't even react. She had no need to. Before the blade could ever hope to reach her, Malteus's foot stamped down, pinning the flat of the blade to the marble floor. With a snarl, his fist connected with the Geolle's face and sent her bouncing backwards, her grip on the blade gone as it loudly slammed into the ground moments before she would follow suit.  As she flew through the air, two rounds from Douglas's firearm pierced her head, before her body came to a permanent rest with a loud echo.

The silence that followed felt all the louder, until the Exaltare broke it.

"I hope for thy sake, Lugst, that Gorlor did not come here at thy suggestion." She turned to glance at Ruxel.  "They were a volunteer," they explained breathlessly. "A career knight in our army, recently returned from a vacation to the Southern Plains."  "Douglas, search the body. Heroic allies are oft dumb enough to leave whatever damning evidence they have on their person. 'Proof of Conviction,' or whatever." Lilianna felt no need for decorum when referring to such foolishness.  "Ma'am!"

He saluted after stowing his weapon, and hurried over even as little Spiretenders skittered out of their hidden holes to start cleaning up the gem-like stones that had spilled out of the corpse's head. After briefly rummaging through and removing some pieces of armor, he pulled out a worn piece of parchment.  Giving it a once over, he frowned.

"It's clearly a letter of some sort, but the text is all muddled. I have no idea what language it's in."  "Give it here."

She held out her hand as he brought it over with a look of consternation on his face.  The Geolle President remained speechless, perhaps shocked into silence by the sudden rapid sequence of events following Lilianna's plan.

Snatching the parchment out of Douglas's hand, she snapped her finger and shattered the enchantment upon the letter by simply drowning it in her own mana, revealing the true letter beneath.

'O esteemed Knight of the Republic, whom my dearly departed companion once spoke to amidst our tumultuous journey. I pray you open this letter in the comforts of your own home, and not in the arms of ones blinded by greed and corruption. Those around you have fallen to the wicked words of the Devilish Tyrant, while I know your mind has been opened to the truth by my friend.  But I mince words, and we are amidst an urgent crisis. No doubt she has caught on to the rumblings of rebellion that many among Mother Terra's children are whispering of, praying for relief from the vice-grip of her rule. I have divined that you shall be granted opportunity to meet her. Take the President's side, see the Exaltare for what she truly is with your own eyes.  To be blunt, I would request that you confront her. Though you stand no chance on your own, so I implore you, maintain a level head. Understand her cruelty, and face her with the pride our mutual hero imparted in you so many moltings ago.  I know that you can make a difference.'

Lies, and flowery words. It reeked of a trap, but Lilianna wasn't sure for who.  It couldn't have been for her, as she lost nothing for the death of one random Geolle like this. If anything, it pushed the President even closer to her, as this child's sudden aggression and this smoking gun revealed the truth behind Lilianna's words.  But there was no chance the Witch would be so foolish as to bait this random girl into confronting her without knowing how it would turn out. Had she seen this far ahead? Did she expect this letter to fall into Lilianna's hands? But… what good would that do?  Was it really to just make her doubt herself? To think twice about going through with her plan, that she wouldn't call a bluff if she thought the Hero's last surviving ally was expecting this?  No, more likely this was meant to bait her into mistrusting the President, letter or otherwise. But she could spin this to her own advantage.

Slowly rolling the missive up and sliding it into her palm like a magic trick, Lilianna addressed the still-stunned President, "Dost thou understand now, why not even an inch can be granted to the Humans? How easily, how trivially, they can uproot all that we have worked for with a few pretty words born of absolute ignorance. This letter was a trap, an attempt to drive a wedge between I and thee, using a city planted as keg and a soldier under thine employ as the fuse."  Being addressed directly, Lugst finally snapped out of her bewilderment. "What? Speak plain, Exaltare. Does this mean Den-Ghel was all… a gamble on this Wizard's part? What sort of madman would risk so many lives…"  "One who sees as little value in them as us. No doubt our little 'Wizard' anticipated how this meeting would proceed."  "Then, does that mean you'll call off the—"  "No. Our point reminds, the city has been tainted by their foolish notions. Any concession for the Republic will come through mutual agreement between thou and I. Understood?"

Lilianna lowered her head as she glared at the President, though her mind was immediately spinning other wheels.  What was this Witch's actual goal? The Hero was dead, Lilianna was sure of that. Lycoris may not have accepted it in her heart, but in the depths of her mind, Lilianna knew her daughter understood the truth.  There had to be something more than just causing her headaches, something she must have overlooked…

What did Lycoris say? This Witch, Tatyana, survived because she… betrayed them. Vampires attacked them upon arriving in Tenebreimen. Who stands to gain from this? Sedition underground, Whispers to the West… Our attention was drawn to the greater threat, while the lesser problem was tackled by our sweet little blossom. An unknown element… This Witch can't possibly know the truth behind Lycoris, when not even we realized til we saw her in person and dueled… Unless she had someone approach her to find out… Confirmation… Kidnapping…

Lilianna gasped, causing nearly everyone in the room to jump back in horror, like a bomb had just detonated right beside them.

"The Vanas," she hissed, every syllable oozing venomous hatred. "That blubbering oaf isn't the mastermind, just a tool."

Nobody dared speak up. Even the Spiretenders repairing the table froze in the middle of their work, not daring to move a muscle or make a sound—though they never did anyway. Nor did they have muscles.

Lycoris was in danger. Extreme danger. Even if she was betrayed once, a confused and needy child would be much easier for a wizened Witch to trick than a solemn lancer. She had to rush to her daughter's side at once… But the Spire was isolated from her empire on purpose. It would take at least a day to get back to the nearest city, and then shut down the transportation network just to send herself to Kranes County.  If this really was a trap by this 'Tatyana' to separate her from Lycoris, then she'd move before Lilianna could realize her mistake and make it back. As frustrating as it was, the sun overhead had put her in check. Otherwise she would simply chain-teleport herself to the nearest city immediately, even if it'd risk exhausting her.  Feeling her temper flare, Lilianna mastered herself with the assistance of the breeze flowing through the drafty hall. If she was already here, and there was nothing she could do, then she should simply do as she originally intended. Proceed with the current plan, maintain stability in the Empire, drag the Geolle further under her wings with lopsided negotiations.  All she could do was trust that her daughter would be okay. That she could handle herself.

As she thought of Lycoris, it dawned on Lilianna what had been bothering her. It wasn't anything so gauche or insipid as "pangs of conscience," for what she knew she had to do and that it was the most efficient path forward.  She was just… worried what her daughter would think.

…Am I… Afraid? Of what? Doing something 'wrong?' No. No, that's ridiculous.

"President Halls," she shoved the concern aside by returning to the present, "while the fate of those foolish rebels and those who dwell among them are sealed, we should take this time to revise our trading arrangements, wouldst thou not agree?"  Shakily standing, the President wrung her hands. "I… understand, but is there no other way? Whether or not they've had these ideas instilled in them by this Wizard, or Hero, or whatever it is, they're still my citizens… our citizens. I am… the one who's supposed to represent them."

Lilianna stilled, motionlessly staring at the President as everyone turned to look at her.  The speaker couldn't have been more different, less charming and fit to rule, if she tried… but Lilianna had heard those words before. She could picture the small, youthful face looking up at her, teary-eyed and fuming. Maybe even stamping her feet in anger…  But she had to do what was necessary as a ruler, even if it meant her daughter would dislike her. She would understand one day, when she'd be older. Her predecessors knew better than any.  And yet…

"I… We… There is… much."  "Your Majesty?" Malteus turned to look at her in confusion.  "…We mean to say, there is much worth our contemplation. Perhaps it is… wasteful. Yes, yes instead we need simply exercise the threat of a Damoclean blade. We shall order the immediate arrest, interrogation, and incarceration of all citizens in Den-Ghel. It seems worthwhile to investigate Geollean society at large, even, if there are other agents akin to the one from today." Lilianna nodded to herself as she muttered. "It would even solve some of those labor issues, thou mentioned."  The President's glassy black eyes widened. "Are you serious?"  "We do not jest, Geolle," Lilianna snapped, her temper rising for some reason. "If any show even the slightest intent to resist arrest, they are to be put to death immediately, by our command. And once the city is empty, it shall be buried as a lesson all the same."  "Far be it from me to question your orders, Your Majesty, but processing upwards of eighteen thousand people… I'm uncertain if we have the manpower to do that in a timely manner."  Lilianna spun on her heel to glower at Douglas. "Then be extrajudicious in doling out sentences. Dispose of whoever you need to! And President Halls,"  "Y-Yes, Exal…tare?"  "Ensure that none of the other tunnels are reopened. Deploy thy troops with mine own as overseers. We shall funnel them through but one path, or bury them with no other option if they refuse and fight back. They shall be shown carrot and stick, and decide if the poison in their hearts is worth the latter."

As Lilianna rattled off orders, her mouth moving faster than her mind, she felt something inside of her begin to fracture. Like a misaligned gear, the teeth of its cogs slipped out of lockstep with the sprawling network that spanned generations before her.  In the background, Ruxel scrambled to keep up pace as they frantically scribbled down a record of her orders, while Malteus folded his arms with a knowing sneer.

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