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UE Rewrite: B5 — 6. Eyes of the Empire
🕑 Added 2025-06-20 22:54:13 +0000 UTCPoV:
1. Elinor (Our Lich Empress!)
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Elinor slowly circled her new wyvern, noting how he studied everything with calculating intelligence, not the mindless obedience of her unintelligent undead, but genuine predatory assessment.
Tempest’s golden eyes with their electric blue halos tracked every movement in the courtyard, cataloguing threats and opportunities with the patience of an apex hunter. His gaze lingered on the ri’bot, observing from a distance, his barbed tail rising like a serpent.
The toad people shrank away immediately, yet Elinor held up her hand to comfort them. “Its tail has a sensory organ in it, like a snake’s tongue… He’s testing the air.”
Camellia stood off to the side, head tilted as her hair weaved in the wind, the creature’s massive wings disturbed in his shifting posture. “Not only sensory, but a venom, as well. Perhaps as toxic as my own, yet not close to Azalea’s. It can also project its tail barb and regrow it, which is a nice adaptation.”
“That, it is,” Carlos grinned, rubbing his chin and no doubt thinking about his ranch back on Earth. “If we get several more of these, then we can make some dragon riders… I’d certainly want one.”
True, she murmured, approaching the creature’s lowered head. Up close, the electromagnetic organs beneath its colorful skull plates hummed with barely contained energy, and the mirror scales along its belly caught the setting sun’s light with technological precision. Unfortunately, that will have to wait a few weeks as we secure a safe place in our new home city.
She smiled, feeling the electrostatic charge run through her hand, making her hair go frizzy; Theresa’s mouth instantly creased into a frown.
I’ll need a harness and saddle that is more secure than the others you’ve crafted for me, Camellia. Now, are you ready to show me my empire, Tempest? she asked, naming the creature and knowing the name would get a grin out of Castria.
Camellia’s smile immediately grew, weaving around the draconic creature’s form in a way that shockingly provided the least invasive shielding from solar radiation. The spider woman knew what she was doing since their newest member was essentially solar-powered.
Tempest’s eagerness came through the Nexus—not words, but pure emotion mixed with images of soaring above the canopy, wind beneath massive wings, the satisfaction of claiming territory from the storm-touched heights. Yet, there was also a subtle gut tightening that took Elinor a moment to dissect.
Ah… You haven’t seen a sky this large before. Your world is far smaller… Yes, we do need to be careful. Who knows what might attack us once we get higher up?
“Empress…”
Hmm?
Elinor glanced back at Camellia as the arachnid studied the framework for the seat she was designing on the wyvern’s back.
“Should I craft a single throne for you or two, and where would you prefer me to center it?”
Now that is an excellent question, she hummed, her attention being diverted by her head maid as she maintained a ghost-like presence nearby. Two would seem appropriate since I may have company from time to time… Theresa, I know you have been rather agitated by me sending away all the maids you assign me to support with the move. Is that why you’ve accompanied me yourself? she asked with a light chuckle while reading her emotions through the Nexus.
“Agitated is a strong word, Empress,” Theresa returned, showing total grace and poise with her hands folded at her front. “Concern is a more appropriate word. I hope to enhance your image with some of the few leftover agitators who still question every move you make by cementing your vision in their minds.”
Elinor couldn’t help but laugh internally at that. In essence, she wanted to further show that there was broad support for her in numbers. If she had her way, there would be a procession following her around with violins. Although it wasn’t an overblown worry with the floodgates Butter had opened.
Then I suppose there is nothing I can do but allow you to join me on this nighttime flight. After all, I have to show that all the cute and beautiful maids are in my camp, don’t I?
That managed to break the motherly woman’s composure momentarily, a tiny smile moving her lips. “I would be delighted. I must voice my thoughts that Queen Camellia would be a far better fit and more appropriate.”
And my parents will get their turn. First… I need to know what I’m dealing with and get a real vision of my new territory. They’re busy working on other projects, which leaves my loyal maids, who are always by my side, no? Checkmate.
The woman’s dark locks shifted, partially covering her face as she curtsied. “I admit my defeat.”
Carlos chuckled and took his exit, returning to report to Famine, leading much of the move inside the mines as Ash and War took care of much of it back in the capital. War was another subject she needed to broach; the damage done to his bones wasn’t repairable, which had to be remedied.
So much to do…
Silence took them as Camellia silk weaved into an intricate harness that would distribute weight evenly across Tempest’s powerful frame. The design was both functional and beautiful—reinforced anchor points for safety, but with enough give to accommodate the wyvern’s movements during flight.
Once finished, the redhead hopped down and examined her work, Tempest testing the give and twisting his body left and right. “The primary seat will position you just behind the neck ridge. You want to have maximum visibility, right? The secondary seat…”
She paused, studying Theresa’s more womanly frame and likely going through many calculations on different body types that would be occupying this next chair.
“It will require additional stabilization and safety features… Adjustments that can be made through proper silk draw and tension…”
Just make sure anyone can enjoy the view, Elinor instructed privately. The woman has spent months managing everyone else’s needs and really stepped up after Emelina’s departure with Klaus. Perhaps she should give more consideration to her desire to make sure she was well attended to. He has the space for it.
As Camellia worked, Elinor found herself studying the wyvern’s mirror-like belly scales. Even at rest, they seemed to capture and focus the late afternoon light with unnatural precision, each scale positioned with mathematical accuracy for optimal energy collection. She could only imagine the devastating beauty of those arrays when fully charged and operational.
Running her fingers along the creature’s neck ridge, she felt his apprehension contrast with anticipation, and the images passed through the Nexus: splitting skies, lightning carving through clouds, the crack of thunder rolling across mountains, the fury of wind given deadly purpose.
I know this atmosphere is new… Soon, you’ll be able to spread your wings.
“Empress, the harness is complete,” Camellia announced with a bright grin, stepping back to examine her work. The ruby silk construction looked delicate, but she knew it would be solid as steel when tested. “I’ve included attachment points for storage, but I expect you can use your chains to bind anything you wish to keep.”
Theresa approached, almost cautiously, as the giant wyvern lowered his wings to allow them to climb up it like a ramp. “You always impress me, My Queen. You often speak of how clumsy and awkward your threadwork is within your family, yet this is… exquisite. Beautiful. Your thread glistens like jewels and matches some of the scale patterns.”
Puffing up her chest, the arachnid beamed. “If you are impressed by this, then just wait until Azalea is raised. She makes everything she does look effortless. She actually was the one to help me refine a bit of my weave.”
I look forward to it, Elinor whispered.
She climbed atop her aerial mount and, sitting in the chair without a moment’s hesitation, settled into the primary seat. She could sense Theresa’s butterflies, and Elinor had to wonder if the Colombian mother had ever flown before. It wasn’t long until they felt the creature’s muscles tense beneath them, preparing for takeoff, electromagnetic organs humming.
Behind her, Theresa’s controlled breathing couldn’t quite mask her anxiety, though her natural temperament managed her fear with professional concern.
She slipped her arms through the chest harness that perfectly fit her proportions and tied the binding thread between them to keep her snugly secured in the chair; she’d be pushing Tempest to see just how fast he could go.
Ready? Elinor asked, glancing to the right at all the gathered ri’bot, watching with big eyes. You’ll be the first to see the whole valley from the air with me.
“And now I am feeling guilty, I am taking this away from your parents,” came the shaky, uncharacteristic laugh of the head maid. “Though I feel compelled to note that we’re attempting aerial reconnaissance with no established protocols or emergency procedures… Would it not be more prudent to have your father in this seat?”
Tempest’s wings spread with a sound like controlled thunder, casting the entire courtyard in shadow. The mirror scales along the wing arrays caught the light, creating a dazzling display that made the watching ri’bot shield their faces. Even Camellia squinted.
Perhaps my little sister has rubbed off on me a little, but I’d say I am quite prudent. After all, I brought along my head maid. Elinor grinned. Let’s go!
The takeoff was smoother than she’d expected—a powerful leap that vaulted them over the fortress walls, Tempest skimming across the wind like a skipping stone before launching into open air. It was followed by the steady rhythm of massive wings catching thermal currents. Within moments, they were climbing above the canopy at a speed that made Elinor revise her expectations of what the creature could accomplish.
Even at this conservative pace, they were easily moving at over a hundred miles per hour, and she could feel through the Nexus that Tempest was barely exerting himself.
“Oh my,” Theresa breathed, her composure finally cracking completely as the valley spread out below them. “Oh my goodness, Empress… This wind—it’s so harsh, and… the scale of our new home…”
You’ve never flown before, have you?
“I’ve never left our tiny town before our abduction, Empress… If only my husband could see this.”
Elinor’s face softened, not quite affected by the wind and dimming sun due to her undead nature. We’ve come far since that terrifying night the ri’bot attacked…but this is still only the beginning, Theresa. You will have plenty of time to share tender moments with him. I am fighting tooth and nail to make a place for us in this world…
“And that…is why you are my empress.” The words came out with such honest emotion that Elinor felt her own smile widen. “Contrary to every stereotype I’ve heard uttered from those who doubt your motives, I know you truly wish to build a home for us… Empress, look at that…”
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Elinor looked up as a flash of green ignited across the sky, and a pale blue-white comet became visible, outlined with a greenish core.
“It’s even brighter than Halley’s Comet—I saw it once, as a little girl… And the two moons are rising. This world, as alien as it is…truly can be beautiful, Empress.”
That, it can, Elinor whispered, spotting three more comets materialize, moving slowly across the sky, one creating a contrast that showed the mysterious dark moon. Once we have a safe home, we’ll expand…even beyond the stars.
A stillness passed between them as they stared at the heavens, sun fading to reveal celestial wonders that often dotted this world’s cosmic canopy.
After soaking it in for a minute, Elinor tilted her gaze to her valley, far below them. It spread out like a living map—over 200 by 140 kilometers of dense jungle, carved by rivers and dominated by the massive black fortress at its heart.
From this height, Elinor could see details that ground-based reconnaissance had missed, patterns in the landscape that spoke of ancient engineering and forgotten purposes. Mysteries to be solved.
Look at Nethermore, she directed. See how the roads radiate outward like spokes? My dad was right about the defensive planning, but from up here…
“It’s not just defensive architecture,” Theresa finished, her observant mind immediately grasping the implications. “It’s designed to project power. Anyone approaching from the air would see those perfect lines, the scale, and the central spire that cuts into the sky like a spear—a statement of absolute control.”
Exactly. Ke’Thra’Ma wasn’t just building a fortress; he was building a symbol of divine authority. Every angle is calculated to inspire awe and terror in equal measure… I have to wonder if this was his vision or Shade’s.
Tempest banked smoothly to the left, its massive form cutting through the air with the grace she’d witnessed in the underground world as they began their systematic survey. The creature’s speed was becoming more apparent now. She estimated they were covering ground at nearly 180 miles per hour, the landscape flowing beneath them with dreamlike fluidity.
“Where are we starting?”
Good question. Hmm… We’ll start with the northeastern section, Elinor decided, feeling Tempest’s electromagnetic organs were operating at peak efficiency in the bright evening light. There are gaps in our intelligence reports from that area, and Camellia revealed some rather interesting details on her hunt for the hybrids.
The wyvern tilted his body at the prompt, carrying them around Nethermore instead of over it, in case there were any defensive protocols still active. Passing above the sea of younger trees, due to The Avana’s fiery assault on the Silver Queen, Elinor noted the rise and fall of hills and the Roxim mesa to their southwest.
Yet, as they neared the northeastern point of their oval-like valley, the section revealed its first major surprise almost immediately.
There, Elinor pointed toward a structure barely visible through the canopy. That wasn’t in any of the reports.
Rising from the jungle like a black lance thrust skyward, a tower stood intact between the canyon of two large, tree-covered mountains. Unlike the weathered ruins she’d seen leading out of the waterway in the southwestern section, this structure showed no signs of age or damage; its obsidian surfaces gleamed as if newly constructed, catching and reflecting the dying light in ways that seemed almost technological.
“It appears to be made of the same black granite of Nethermore.” Theresa paused, studying the tower’s proportions before saying what Elinor was thinking. “It looks quen’talrat in design, but there’s something different about the architectural elements. The angles are too sharp, too aggressive. And the positioning…”
Tucked away in the canyon? This wasn’t meant for observation… At least, not for the valley, and the river splits around it, Elinor noted, already planning a ground expedition. Camellia confirmed there are massive falls from the northern mountain that feed that river… You can still see segments of large ice chunks. It could be another passion project for one of the quen’talrat kings or queens.
“Something worth investigating further with caution?”
When it comes to Ke’Thra’Ma’s rulers… I’ve learned to tread carefully.
They descended and circled the structure carefully. From above, there were no visible entrances, and the way the jungle seemed to avoid growing too close to the split waterway at its base suggested either ongoing maintenance or some form of defensive system.
If I didn’t know any better, I’d say this isn’t even a tower…but an example of the quen’talrat obelisk technology… Only on a larger scale. We’ll add it to the investigation list, she decided. But not tonight. Let’s see what other mysteries we’ve been missing. I want to get a full grasp of my new land.
Banking south to pass over the mesa, she spotted the Roxim watch towers, keeping watch over the southeastern paths out of the valley from high above. The fact that they now had binoculars helped extend their watch. Observing their lush lands, filled with torlim farms, made her mouth crease; she really needed to make a breakthrough on what Jennifer did with their leader, but she already knew it was likely too late for the brave firewalker.
When they reached the lake around which their primary settlement was built, her gaze fixated on the scar The Avana had created; the place where the Silver Queen’s fortress had once rested. Mist billowed out of it as the lake flowed into it, never filling.
So many secrets we’ve barely scratched the surface of. And the plains…
Vision rising to the vast grasslands with their rivers and giant packs of creatures, settling down as night took hold, she breathed a long sigh. Within the coming months, she’d likely be embroiled in another war. Krava was calling upon the strongest ri’bot factions he knew—two Great Clans.
We really need to solidify our hold over the fortress…
“What was that, Empress? My apologies, I’m getting distracted by the comet and sights…”
No, it’s nothing.
“Very well… Empress, there has been something bothering me.”
And that is?
“How are there so few predators within the jungle? The trees on the eastern part of the valley—which are smaller than the west—are as large as the redwoods, with far thicker branches. The undergrowth is thick with wildlife. It should be a predator’s paradise.”
It should, Elinor mumbled with a small smile, recalling everything she’d heard about the history of this place as she directed Tempest to pivot over the Xaltan marshlands and head to the center of the valley. The reason is because this valley is artificially created.
“How?”
The genuine shock in her head maid’s voice caused Elinor to do another visual sweep of her vast territory, raw and untamed, hiding wealth yet untapped.
How? She repeated, shifting her focus northward in the rising slope to the far higher elevation that Nethermore rested on, likely 6,000 to 8,000 feet above sea level—the mountains much higher than that. Do you see the perpetual blizzard around that middle mountain?
“Yes?”
That area was basically Ke’Thra’Ma’s Area 51 from everything I’ve been able to learn from the socially rejected quen’talrat. Without that perpetual snowmelt, this jungle would vanish…and fast. It’s definitely not natural.
“I see… So the discussions you’ve had about the Prume are related?”
You’ve been paying attention, Elinor chuckled, following the hump of the Wandering River, where the Crystal Break fort was situated; Valdar’s Crossing was further downstream, bridging the vast, seven-kilometer divide of the two sections of the valley. We will be paying them a visit before meeting with Butter.
“Didn’t they disappear?”
Maybe… We’ll see.
Passing near the eastern walls of Nethermore, low enough to spot the caravan of humans trekking toward that section, Elinor prompted Tempest further north to the waterfalls.
“Oh, Empress,” Theresa breathed in wonder as they came upon the vast shelf and its raging waters, “is this what Niagara Falls in the US looks like? It’s…breathtaking.”
Absolutely not, Elinor whispered, taking in the sight with true awe. This must be four times larger…and three times taller.
What stretched before them defied comprehension—a nearly five-kilometer curtain of roaring water plunging over a hundred and fifty meters into the mists below, the thunderous crash audible even over Tempest’s wingbeats.
The falls dominated the entire northeastern horizon, sending up clouds and sheets of cracking ice that caught the fading sunlight and painted rainbows across half the sky. Through the Nexus, she felt Tempest’s electromagnetic organs responding to the sheer electrical activity of all that moving water, the creature’s predatory senses overwhelmed by the raw power cascading from the ice-covered peaks above.
The volume was staggering, creating a perpetual storm of mist that shrouded the base in ethereal fog and made the air itself tremble with force.
This is engineered… Dad would be going ballistic, Elinor mumbled, shifting her gaze to the vast lakes that dotted the perpetual mountain rise to the crowning, blizzard-covered mountain. Do you see those shapes in the mist, higher in the mountains… They’re likely machines.
“Perhaps we shouldn’t investigate further? Where is the point the Prume warned you of, Empress?”
They didn’t give me a direct limit…likely on purpose. We’ll leave it for now. C’mon, Tempest, back into the valley. We’ll fly between the shelf between the mountain base and Nethermore.
Elinor didn’t expect to find more dramatic landscapes, yet the valley appeared to be tempting them, because the geography began to change as they approached the northern foothills—the lush jungle giving way to something that defied natural explanation.
“Empress,” Theresa’s voice carried a note of genuine alarm. “Those structures… Are they all obelisk, rune technology?”
Massive spike-like formations jutted from the earth at precise intervals, each one easily fifteen stories tall and arranged in geometric patterns that spoke of advanced engineering. They formed a clear corridor leading toward the central mountain, but it wasn’t their size that caught Elinor’s attention—it was their obvious technological purpose.
Likely quen’talrat engineering at its finest, she confirmed, studying the metallic surfaces that seemed to pulse with contained energy that occasionally arced purples, blues, and pinks between them in rainbow fashion. Truly, giant gorilla Area 51…
The weather around the massive peak was fundamentally wrong. Snow and ice covered slopes that should have been tropical at this latitude, and storm clouds swirled in patterns that had nothing to do with natural meteorology.
She felt Tempest’s electromagnetic organs responding to the energy patterns emanating from the mountain, charging him—whatever was generating those storms was operating on a scale that dwarfed anything in the creature’s sensory experience, and he didn’t like it. One word echoed through his deep, majestic cry: danger.
Steering him away, Elinor was sure now.
Not just weather manipulation technology, but terraforming, Elinor stated, studying the unnatural atmospheric dynamics. The spikes are probably connected to deeper subterranean networks or a defensive array.
The Prume have ancient ri’bot knowledge from the times of the Supreme Chiefs, and if even they don’t want me to awaken whatever is in that mountain, then I should take it seriously. Those defenses may be as much of a safety device as a deterrent to investigation…
Looking skyward to the comets, still dotting the sky in their slow, majestic passage across the cosmic vista, she whispered, But that doesn’t mean we can’t do any investigation. Higher, Tempest. I want to see how far up those storm systems extend.
The wyvern responded immediately, g-forces hitting them as his powerful wings carried them heavenward and into the thinner air above, not that they required air as undead, and it was a good thing, because the higher they climbed, the more staggering the scope of this colossal crowned mountain became.
The storm systems rose to at least thirty thousand feet, possibly higher, maintained by mysterious forces behind its frigid winds that defied easy comprehension. Even with her fragmented past life’s memories, her night elf world had nothing like this.
This is larger than most natural storm systems, she muttered, reflecting on what she knew from her mother’s typical breakfast lectures on science. Whatever’s generating that kind of atmospheric disturbance has enough power to affect weather patterns across the entire continent if tuned to do so… No wonder all the other nations rose against the quen’talrat.
Reflecting on their current city-wide power problems, and now seeing the real scale of this perpetual blizzard, Elinor could see a possible connection.
Klaus could probably see this peak and storm from the nalvean capital on a clear day… With how large this mountain and its surrounding peaks are, there could be an entire second Nethermore hidden inside it… What were you planning, Ke’Thra’Ma?
The mystery of the northern mountains had just become a critical priority and immediately made her want to confront the clan who had warned her to stay away. For now, at least, they needed to continue their survey—there were other secrets waiting to be discovered, and night was moments away from her approach.
Banking west toward the Prume territory, Elinor felt the weight of their rapid descent as Tempest folded his wings in and dove. Yet, the moment the sun dipped below the horizon, she felt a notable shift in his speed and energy. The creature’s electromagnetic organs were still operating efficiently, but she could sense that peak performance required optimal lighting conditions.
Well, I suppose you had to have some sort of drawback…but we can work around that.
Streaking through the air like the comets overhead, Tempest flew at an angle toward the southwest, passing the Delthax cliffs to reach the Prume mesa that overlooked the whole lowlands below its rocky cliffs.
Wings unfurling, Theresa gave a squeak that would have probably made her boys grin as they stabilized. However, what they found in the former Prume settlements was…exactly what the scouting party had told her.
The Prume territory was…absent. Not destroyed, not burned out, not even abandoned in any conventional sense. In place of the settlements, perfectly circular holes in the ground, as if entire buildings had been surgically removed from reality itself.
“Teleportation,” Theresa whispered, actually sounding breathless and wondering if she’d actually screamed on their flight down and it had been drowned out by the wind; despite being undead, they still had those human reactionary moments. “They didn’t flee or fight. They just…vanished?”
Maybe… Right now, I’m personally leaning toward the theory that they dumped the problems of the valley on me as they focus on something else, Elinor thoughtfully observed, studying the infrastructure that remained.
The support systems, the basic frameworks, the mundane utilities—everything that would be too difficult or too unimportant to move. It was as if someone had selectively erased only the valuable or sensitive parts of an entire civilization.
My gut tells me this clan was possibly on or near Ke’Thra’Ma’s power in their own way, maybe with more limitations or ethical guidelines of intervention after my meeting with their spokesperson. And notice the precision, she added, noting the geometric accuracy of the missing areas. This wasn’t a panic or emergency evacuation. This was a planned, systematic, surgical removal… My dad would have a better grasp of the structural details.
“Perhaps, but, forgive my unsolicited opinion, Empress, but…my question is, despite that supposed power, whether they did this to themselves as a planned relocation, or if something else did it to them,” she cautiously theorized, sounding as if she was trying to fix her hair. “And whether they’re planning to return if we do ignore their advice.”
Elinor didn’t respond, holding her knuckles against her mouth while examining the scene. The more she pondered their absence, the more she had to wonder if this was all staged in the first place, and if it was merely an observation site for them to keep track of the susime and Ke’Thra’Ma’s fallen legacy.
She soundlessly directed Tempest further, thoughts becoming private as she continued connecting dots while observing the southwestern edge of the valley. Her area of focus was the crater Garu had visited; the mountainous zone the Ethereal Clan had called their home, now a crater.
Rumor was, it had been dubbed the “Black King’s Crater.” What they found there was a testament to violence on an almost incomprehensible scale. Something not even a nuke could generate—roughly a hole the very size of Nethermore. It looked more like a meteor strike.
Not the gradual crater of geological formation, but the violent excavation of something unimaginably powerful. Yet, the fact that those rumors that Valdar had told her about were just that—rumors—said something more was afoot.
A blast that significant isn’t something you forget… It should be on the same level as The Avana, which had a stark impact on the valley ri’bot—a mountain-sized dragon that ignited the atmosphere. A detonation on this scale, to take out all of Nethermore, would send shockwaves and debris thousands of miles away…
We’re talking an explosion likely on the size of the largest nuke ever detonated. Yet…it’s shrouded in mystery, and no one really felt it until visually confirming the change to geography? Doesn’t that more point to an…implosion? Interesting.
Now that feels more in line with something the Prume might be able to do since they’re overlooking this area in the first place… What if Ka’Morgran’Dara got too close to something, and he wasn’t truly there for the Ethereals? That totally reframes their threat…
And the terrifying part is that it took something that powerful to take down the closest quen’talrat to the White God. If that hypothesis is true, the Prume are more or less pacifists…until a certain line is crossed, and something tells me if the Black King succeeded, the Prume would be the ones on the back foot…but what does that mean when I become that powerful? Food for thought.
She felt Theresa’s silence; this trip had really broken her out of her shell due to it being her first flight. Go on, ask your question, she prompted, turning Tempest around to climb higher. They had one last destination before meeting Butter.
“Empress?” Theresa quietly inquired. “It’s…just this feeling I have in my chest. I can sense you contemplating something quite heavy. It is not my place to interrupt, though.”
As they banked away from the crater, following the southern route back toward the Delthax plateaus, she pulled them further east to inspect the caravans on their way to their final destination. Her head maid’s emotional turmoil was deeper than that statement, though; it was reflective as she finally had time to think and rest from her busy life upon this skyline adventure.
Elinor’s smile grew as she sensed her unintelligent undead below, attached to the long procession of 50,000 humans, on their way to Nethermore.
I know this is a lot to take in, Theresa. You want to share my burden, and you work hard to keep the serving staff motivated with a brighter vision, mixed with discipline…but do you hate that you need me…because you feel you are dragging me down?
She could feel her head maid’s shoulders fall slightly, a somewhat meek, small smile infusing into her voice.
“I know better than to think you do not understand my heart on at least a surface level, Empress… I am a very independent woman. I have struggled with purpose and even loyalty to my husband a few years ago, being tempted to seek more than my mundane life once my kids were out of the house…”
You have a purpose now. Is it not enough?
“I do, and I adore the maids under me,” she whispered, gratitude bleeding through. “It is as if I have grown my family, helping them realize their potential, which…is all I ever wanted as a mother.”
But?
“But…I am struggling with the fact that you are fiercely independent, as well, Empress. I feel in the girls I send to you, which you send away on other duties that…need done, yes, yet that dismissal… It cuts at some of their hearts, as irrational as that may seem, they…question where they’re lacking. And there is that disconnect… You are a pillar for all of us that you have raised, and we desperately want to serve you, but feel so…inadequate.”
Elinor let her shed the blood leaking out of her twisted heart. On one hand, she supremely admired her independence, yet on the other, it caused self-doubt in those she tried to mother.
Now, that is quite a hard situation for you that I’ve caused, she said with a gentle breath of air, studying the campfires of the human travelers and reflecting on her journey to this point. And to be transparent…I haven’t even taken notice of it, which is a failing on my part, no matter how you frame it… It’s something Butter would naturally see and chide me about.
“I am not trying to chide you in the slightest, Empress,” the woman insisted.
Haha. No, Theresa, you are an angel, falling upon your sword for those you care for, despite how uncomfortable this conversation is for you… That shows you truly do deserve to be in your position. You are a gem, Theresa. My efficiency and drive can be a detriment to those I rule, and an empress’ people need more than a well-oiled machine, but the soul of music that can accompany it…
Releasing a half-bitter laugh, she shook her head and directed Tempest to fly over the Delthax’s mountains, heading to the northwest, outside of the valley.
And in a way, I hate that because it shows that…I need my fatty twin. As effective as I am at leveraging diplomacy, strong-arming, and finding a way to get exactly what I want. I do lack…people skills to some degree. And that is the pain of my sister…desperately looking for a place where she belongs and is not just tolerated, hidden below all that glamor and heavenly charm. So, Theresa…
“Yes, Empress?”
With all of that being said, make your maid schedule list, and I will make sure they know they have a purpose in my life.
Elinor felt a tear run down the motherly woman’s cheek through her thickening voice. “You are gracious, Empress… I look forward to seeing how High Queen Butter has treated Adoncia. Some of the maids are jealous that she chose her to personally take, especially now learning they had returned to Earth for a short time.”
I’m positive there will be future opportunities for that… I plan on it.
Flying toward the northwestern territories where the susime valley was supposedly located, Elinor’s vision narrowed upon finally cresting the final peak to get a full view of the place her sister had conquered.
She immediately brought them into a descent.
“Something wrong, Empress?” Theresa’s voice carried concern after their heartfelt conversation as they dropped rapidly toward what appeared to be a decaying world. “What…happened here?”
Death Energy, more potent than anything I’ve experienced; I can sense it all the way from up here, Elinor whispered as she studied the devastation spread below them, recalling her twin using her Soul Expansion right after returning, when Mika was destroyed. Butter didn’t mention anything about this…
What should have been lush susime territory was a slowly expanding circle of death. Most of the valley was budding with rich life, infused with what she assumed was the last remains of the Supreme Chief of life’s power. Only, the jungle canopy grew progressively sicker as it radiated outward—vibrant green giving way to yellowing leaves, then brown, then the stark gray of dead vegetation.
It’s almost as if it’s…partially alive, consuming everything Butter infused into this site.
Passing over a decaying sat the ruins of what had once been a grand fortress, its black stone cracked and crumbling, rich with life overtaking it. Buildings near a vast, radiant lake, pure and holy, lay scattered like broken teeth, and the very ground seemed to pulse with an unnatural darkness that made Tempest’s electromagnetic organs spark.
“Is this…a bad thing? It’s spreading in all directions, but isn’t this a spectacular opportunity?” Theresa observed, noting how the death moved outward in an almost perfect circle. “Can you contain it?”
Perhaps… The whole valley will be dead within the week, Elinor finished with a grim frown as Tempest landed in the center of the force, immune to Death Energy since he lived off of it through her. Maybe I could use this… Once the valley is consumed, it’s likely going to starve and turn on itself with this…hunger. And…are you trying to sap Tempest’s energy?
A curious smile lifted Elinor’s lips as he landed, tail slapping the ground and growling at the emerald-like smoke that billowed upward.
“A wonderful greeting…” she chimed aloud. “Very well.”
Slipping out of her harness, she clumped her dress in one hand and hopped onto the death-infused soil. Green flames igniting across her arms, a dozen jade butterflies forming to hover around her, soaking in the mist as it seized like a deer in the headlights.
[Life Tap IV]
“It’s best not to get in a competition involving death with me… It’s like consuming already processed food. I hope you’re not fattening, or Butter might laugh at me. Thank you for the dessert. Now, show me what you’ve got.”
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