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UE Rewrite: B4 — 25. A Fat Butterfly Returns
🕑 Added 2025-03-14 22:30:09 +0000 UTCPoV:
1. Elinor (Our Lich Empress!)
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Elinor strode across the northern bluff, her gaze sweeping over the colossal Black Fortress that dominated the landscape—Kel’mal’tha.
Its obsidian walls rose like geometric mountains against the afternoon sky, the structure so vast it seemed almost artificial in its perfection. According to Quin, thirty stories of black granite and obsidian stone sprawled across thirty-two kilometers by twenty-four kilometers, with towers reaching nearly a thousand feet into the air.
The broken section of the outer wall—a hundred-meter gash torn during the Great War against the White God by the Golariex Holy Empire—was the only blemish on this monument to warfare and dominance.
It really is perfect for an empire built on death… It fits right to my taste. Now, if only we could figure out a way past that pesky barrier those Yaltha’ma put in place… Funny, how a powerless, and rather dull-witted race of creatures have taken over perhaps one of the greatest cities on this planet. Not for long…
She tapped her wooden staff absently against the ground, processing the reports from the past several days since her father had departed for the Wixum cave.
Dad… You better have made some real progress. Tiffany has a say in how this happens… Mom would have wanted that.
Alongside Black, she’d overseen the complete subjugation of the Xaltan clan. Most had chosen to serve rather than face oblivion, though several dozen warriors had preferred death to bending the knee. Their remains now served within her undead ranks, emerald flames flickering within hollow eye sockets as they flanked her. It was good to have visual reminders.
The valley was finally united under her rule. Every clan—Delthax, Lethix, Flex, Wixum, Xaltan, and Roxim—now acknowledged her as Great Chief. Only the Komath remained defiant under Krava’s leadership, but they had fled beyond the southern mountains as their Great Chief went to rally the Great Clans of the Lowlands.
That problem would come later. Hopefully, that would happen after she’d secured this fortress to protect her budding empire. Just as it had made the little fox-monkeys practically untouchable for nearly a century.
Then again, there was one other clan, beside the one Butter went to investigate, which posed a real threat to her. The Prume—Spokesperson Jet’al had left quite the impression and warning.
Her eyes narrowed as she gazed at the fortress again. The massive city was her prize—the seat of her empire’s power. It didn’t take her long to shift her attention to the colossal, veiled mountains that acted as a crown for this valley.
Jet’al said there is something beneath the land and inside the northern mountains that concerns them… That they could collaborate with me on. Always vague mysteries, but that makes life interesting.
Elinor’s focus returned to the city. If only she could find a way inside, then maybe Quin could show her how various things worked. She was a child, despite her size, so she only knew how to activate things and get around, not how they functioned. That would come in time, though.
What Camellia found at the foundation was truly something to take note of—some form of alien nanite-like technology. Apparently, it had continued to repair the structure below, the hole her mother had created long sealed up.
So many mysteries to uncover…
“Empress,” a voice called from the Nexus.
Elinor turned to see a maid approaching, a sealed letter in hand—Paola, an elderly woman in her 70s who had been returned with her best friend, Maite. She’d been sent with Emelina to support Klaus. His earlier letter told her that he’d found a way into the nalvean capital. This would be a more detailed report.
We are making progress.
“From Ambassador Klaus, Your Majesty.”
She accepted it without a word, the woman retreating a step and looking around with interest at what was happening. The maid’s private communication channel was buzzing with activity as they gossiped about things happening here in the homeland and what Paola divulged was happening down south.
Elinor absently listened in, as was her right to spy on all activity through her Nexus. Though, parts of it were still unstable if they grew too far away without her phylactery stabilizing it. Hopefully that would be fixed soon enough when Butter kicked her fat ass into gear and made her way back.
She broke the seal, unfolding the parchment. A small smile touched her lips while reading it and listening in on the ‘development’ that Paola teased the other maids with involving the Head Maid and Ambassador’s relationship.
Klaus and Emelina have been busy indeed, it seems… Good for them. They gained access to Shi’shuka through a rather masterful series of political maneuvering, it seems, she informed Black who was below, helping to support the transport of goods and people to the volcanic zone outside of the city.
It appears we have Princess Tal’tamine’s attention, the High Ruler’s youngest daughter, who has taken an interest in our stories of Earth. The Clavex clan is in a rather dire situation with the sadistic prison warden the Scarlet Hand sent to this planet with us. Klaus was able to leverage that to gain the support of the Mother Superior, Kolira, who coincidentally has an adopted nalvean daughter… A Seaweaver who is the youngest member of the Seaweaver council.
“That sounds promising,” Black’s husky voice returned. “What about a timeline? Would this princess want to come here or have us go there?”
Oh, most definitely go there… The High Ruler won’t have his favorite daughter going to a mysterious nation that took over the land the quen’talrat previously occupied. No, he’ll proceed with caution and I’ll need to make a memorable entrance. To do that, I need more details and leverage. Plus…
She lifted her gaze to the giant city. If I am going to host royalty of a well-established and sophisticated society, it isn’t going to be in a dirty ri’bot hut. We have much to prepare for in order to host our southern neighbors. Klaus recognized that, which is why he has already found some connections to send a decent nalvean vessel to pick me up when the time is right.
“Which means, the ball is in our court, Empress. He has done his work, and it is now our turn to secure a capital city of our own.”
Precisely.
Elinor folded the letter, tucking it into the wide belt around her midsection. The nalveans still remained a mystery—salamander-like beings with advanced technology and complex politics. In addition, one of their influential figures had spirited away her arch nemesis and stolen the Roxim clan’s chief.
Unfortunately, if the nalvean empire truly stretched as far south as Klaus reported, then they could fit nine or ten of her valley into its borders. Considering the resources and established network, just like Kaspir, an alliance would be invaluable, and war…disastrous.
Excellent work, Paola, she stated, causing the woman to beam and stand at attention, waiting for her next orders. I’ll craft a response for you to return with later today. Our first shipment of silk should be ready to deliver to the Clavex, as promised, as well. How big is the boat you came here on?
“Not large, Empress, and manned by the Clavex’s fishermen. I should be able to fit what the maids were telling me about, though. Is it true you’re abandoning the Wixum lake for the city? The silk farms will be moved inside?”
Indeed, I have. It is a matter of necessity that we obtain this city… National security, even. Inside are many levels of greenhouses, I’m told, which have mystical properties for growing food. In any case, you can join the other maids and humans. Perhaps you should see if there are any treats you can return with.
Paola’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “I have a few things that come to mind that Emelina would enjoy. A few of the maids informed me that they discovered a few of her, ahem, personal outfits that were taken in the ri’bot raid.”
Be discrete, Elinor returned with a chuckle and shook her head. I don’t need to know what it is, but I can guess. We don’t need rumors flying around about one of our Head Maids. She has a certain image to protect.
“Absolutely, Empress,” she winked, practically skipping off after giving her a deep courtesy. “Only spread around inner circles. Not a word will ever be spoken.”
Elinor watched her go with a soft sigh, knowing not a word needed to be spoken if it was kept inside the Nexus. She glanced down at the tents and temporary structures being built in preparation for many more ri’bot and humans to arrive.
In the next two days, I’ll deliver my speech about founding our empire. I would have loved to have done it inside the city, but that is looking less likely at this point… Maybe I was a tad too hasty to move everyone. But, it does force me to make it happen… I will have my capital city.
Not long after, a second messenger approached—this one a Delthax scout.
“Great Chief, the Flex warriors have returned from the southwestern shelf.”
Her vision narrowed as she turned to look at him. “The Prume? What did they find?”
The scout shifted uncomfortably. “Nothing, Great Chief. The Prume are gone.”
“Gone?” Elinor repeated, shifting to stare across the sea of trees toward the far reaches of the valley, barely visible, even from their lofty position on the northern shelf. “Explain.”
“The entire clan—vanished. Their dwellings—gone. No signs of battle or hasty departure. It’s as though they simply…ceased to exist. Though, we are both positive they were there. We have sent delegations to them before.”
Elinor recalled her meeting with Jet’al again, the enigmatic spokesperson as he delivered his warning for Butter. The clan had possessed knowledge far beyond any other ri’bot group she’d encountered—perhaps even surpassing the nalveans.
Their disappearance couldn’t be a coincidence now that Butter had returned from the Crystal gateway. Could they be the reason you haven’t returned yet, Sister?
She took a deep breath, vision wandering to the northwest. What is keeping your fat ass, Butter? Quin reached you yesterday, or should have, yet she hasn’t moved either… Why are you making me worry! It’s…uncomfortable.
Beyond that, the reports from her other teams were equally frustrating. Grace, Death, and Valentina had discovered what appeared to be an ancient rail system beneath the northwestern mountains, but a powerful force field prevented them from following it to the fortress.
Camellia’s explorations of the volcanic tunnels had revealed little beyond the strange nanite foundation that continuously repaired the structure from below. There were no cracks or exploitation they could utilize to force their way inside.
Every approach seemed blocked by ancient technology or magic beyond their understanding. And on the other side, weak fox-monkey creatures, which would be utterly simple to subjugate since she’d already done so to their splinter faction.
An idea formed in the back of her mind as she chewed on the report. “…I see. Very well, inform your chief that I’d like a delegation formed and sent to the far west, beyond the mountains, to open up trade discussions with the Tol’Val Kingdom.”
“Yes, Empress,” he stated, placing a hand over his chest and making a respectful sign before departing.
Elinor’s mind was on another topic than the ri’bot kingdom to their west; though, she did need to get ahead of Krava in opening up a dialogue with them. If he wanted to get the Great Clans to their east, then she could obtain support from the nation to their west. It was a simple calculation that didn’t require much thought.
However, something that hadn’t crossed her thoughts picked at her brain, and she couldn’t believe she hadn’t used this thread at her disposal yet. She reached out through the Nexus to Ina’ko, the yaltha’ma Hidden One who had committed suicide, as was their law, for spilling their precious thélméthra acid.
Have your brothers and sisters left the caves and joined us here?
“Oh, oh! Empress, Empress! Umm… Ina’ko and the Hidden Ones are here, Empress! What services can Ina’ko provide? Hidden Ones try to help but Hidden Ones are very small and not…very strong to carry goods.”
Sensing her desperate desire to be of service, probably a survival instinct since they mostly survived by serving other species, Elinor smiled.
You would have needed to know how to operate the force fields in order to drop them and to escape Kel’mal’tha, wouldn’t you?
“Oh, yes, yes, Empress! Well, not Ina’ko. No, Ina’ko is very dumb, dumb on that but El’Co’Ca knows the things! El’Co’Ca is the Great Knowledgeable One! El’Co’Ca has secrets no yaltha’ma knows!”
Good… Have her come to see me. Tell her that it’s time for her to get her revenge on her brother… It’s time for the Hidden Ones to return to the great city…as conquerors.
“Conquerors?!” the little creature gasped, the excitement in her voice escalating. “The Hidden Ones will rise from the shadows with fangs and poison and leaves with spikes on them! Raahhhh!”
Elinor sighed as she no doubt ran off in a rage that those around her would think was total mania. She turned toward the large command tent erected on the bluff. She didn’t have a lot of faith in the poor things, but maybe they’d surprise her.
Perhaps after her address to the gathered masses tomorrow she’d go with El’Co’Ca to the mines to see if she could figure something out. For now, she needed to review the witch covens’ preparations for the grand holographic ritual Tiffany had planned.
She expected the covens would be wiped out after their swift journey from the jungle to reach the higher shelf, so allowing them to rest for the day wasn’t out of the question. Her father and Tiffany had come into contact distance of her Nexus an hour or so ago, but they’d wanted to talk to her in person, which she thought appropriate.
They’d join her in only a minute or two.
She reached the tent flap when a peculiar sensation rippled through her Nexus—a rapid approach, moving impossibly fast. It sent shock waves through its entirety, snapping every head to the northwest.
Butter?
The connection was unmistakable, but something was different. The presence felt…fuller somehow, more substantial than the butterfly form her sister had been confined to. No, it only felt so alien because Butter had grown significantly since leaving, and she couldn’t check her progress that well through their fractured Nexus.
Now, she was getting closer—fast.
Moments later, Tiffany and Edmon emerged from the path leading up the bluff, the Witch Queen holding fast to her father’s stomach as he stormed up to them. Their faces were tense but the way Tiffany held him added a new layer of anxiety that had rarely touched her chest after dying—had her mother returned, or not?
Whatever the case, the subtle glow of reconciliation that she’d hoped for seemed to have happened. She couldn’t sense any new addition or split in Tiffany, so she had to assume this was still the Witch Queen with her mother’s experiences, and Elinor couldn’t help but notice the absence of a certain third party.
“Where’s Autumn?” she asked immediately, scanning behind them as if the hag might materialize from the shadows. Butter was tugging at her brain but the hag was a factor she couldn’t ignore. “Did she not join you? What about the portal to Kaspir?”
“She’s scouting for real estate, so to speak, within the valley to set up her new shack. As for the ritual… It went better than I expected,” Tiffany’s voice flowed through the Nexus, carrying an unusual warmth. “Should we first discuss the High Queen’s sudden movements?”
Despite her speed, Elinor noted, glancing once again to the northwest, where the mountains lowered into a pass toward the former quen’talrat homeland, it will still take about an hour to reach us…which is still shocking. Butter’s fat ass can wait… What happened?
“Well,” Tiffany cleared her throat, shakily accepting Edmon’s hand as he helped her off the horse; the quakes were…unusual with the witch’s temperament. “The ritual is prepared already, you could say…for my ‘potential’ division.”
It is a bit complicated, sweetheart, Edmon added, his mental tone tinged with something between guilt and tentative hope as he took the witch by the hips and lifted her off as if she weighed nothing at all. “We’ve decided to wait on that particular decision until you can weigh in, Elinor. But that can wait. We aren’t in a rush.”
Not in a rush? Elinor’s eyebrows rose slightly, sensing an undercurrent she hadn’t expected passing between them through the Nexus—an apprehensive, experimental push to explore…something. You two seem different. Did you finally figure things out between you?
A flicker of embarrassment passed through their shared connection as her dad took charge. “We’ve reached an…understanding of sorts. We can talk about it later. For now, Tiffany is back to who she was a week ago.”
The witch playfully slapped his arm as he let go, giving him a light, smiling glare. “Shame on you. That comes off as if I haven’t grown at all! What your father means is that he finally realized I’m not just a monster wearing his wife’s skin. Took him long enough, but…we’re figuring this out.”
“Fair enough. I was a fool…blinded by loss,” Edmon admitted, the self-recrimination clear even through the Nexus. “I pushed her away because I was afraid of my own feelings. Honestly, I’m not sure where this will go or if we’ll end up with Tiffany taking on the identity of the hag in Kaspir…but I owe her… No, I owe it to us as a family to explore what…could be.”
Elinor fought to keep her expression neutral, but couldn’t entirely suppress a small smile. And the hag? What exactly happened there? How did she get to you? Can I assume because it ‘would benefit me’ if you split and took her place as ruler of her swamp?
“Exactly that. She offered me the Autumn House’s power—their very soul,” Tiffany explained. “I was going to take her place entirely, becoming Countess Evelyn Autumn in Kaspir. The ritual would have divided me—the “Black Witch” serving as your infiltrator in Kaspir’s nobility, while my “good half” returned to be with your father. But…”
“But I arrived just in time to tell her that you knocked some sense into me,” Edmon finished. “Though I had to make a complete ass of myself first.”
The brief hint of genuine affection between them was almost startling after months of tension. Elinor felt a weight lift from her shoulders—one problem, at least, seemed resolved.
“As for your sister… I suppose we’ll see her soon,” Edmon muttered, studying her expression and breaking her from her thoughts about her parents. “Should we prepare in case she’s being held captive or any other scenario? I don’t like how she went from stationary to speeding toward us as if she’s in a plane.”
“Not quite that fast, sweetie,” Tiffany returned, clapping down on her thumbnail and scanning the direction she was coming from. “Still, it is far faster than any transportation we’ve seen…other than what that nalvean used to escape with Jennifer, as Grace explained.”
It’s as if she’s flying, Elinor replied, stepping back out onto the overlook. She’s changed since our confrontation with Ashrit… She’s come into herself and somehow returned White and Adoncia to life…while keeping my chains that bind them to my Nexus in-tact.
Tiffany’s orange witchfire flickered around her fingertips, absently making shapes with it as if doodling, something her mother used to do in her spare time. It seemed she was embracing more of who she was. “I can feel her strength growing with every minute… Everyone within the Nexus can. Hmm… I’ll start reassuring everyone. But I’m not so reassured, myself.”
What have you done now, Sister… She should arrive within the hour at this pace. Elinor leaned on her staff, scanning the northwestern horizon. We should prepare for the worst.
“Given how strong her soul is through the Nexus and her personality… I think we can rule out kidnapping. But…what if it’s as you feared, and she’s coming to challenge you?” her father asked, his ice-blue eyes darkening and conflicting emotions swirling within him. “How do you want to handle that, given the history you two share?”
Elinor ran her hand down her staff, a strained smile lifting her lips. It said a lot that she was feeling a little nervous now. Butter has grown strong…and if she does want to challenge me, then it will be between us and no one else. She’d want the same… I just hope that’s not the case. I’ve really enjoyed our sisterly bonding time…but I can see she won’t be satisfied playing second fiddle to me, and that needs to be resolved…one way or another.
One of her unintelligent undead set up a lawn chair for her at the edge of the rise, overlooking the thrumming crowd below. News was spreading. The High Queen would soon make her appearance.
She sat and watched, judging their responses. There was a small faction of people who viewed Butter more favorably than her… All those who had interacted with her.
You certainly do have an aura about you, Little Sister. I can only imagine how that’s evolved now that you’ve gained your body… My former body.
The view was impressive—thousands of her subjects, both living and undead, spread across the barren, open lands. The bones of her unintelligent undead glowed with emerald fire in the shadows of the jungle, creating an eerie constellation below. Humans, ri'bot, and other creatures moved between makeshift encampments, preparing for tomorrow’s grand announcement or the High Queen’s return.
Elinor’s thoughts drifted to her battle with Ashrit, the goddess-like being who had once been Butter’s past self. The golden-skinned elf queen had nearly overwhelmed them both, a divine conqueror who had once ascended to godhood before being slain by Irkalla—Elinor’s own past incarnation.
Then there was Nungal, the mysterious goddess who seemed to transcend all others. The purple-haired young woman had killed Elinor in past incarnations—killed Irkalla, who Ashrit feared the most. And it seemed Nungal didn’t even break a sweat, continuing some ancient cycle of death and rebirth.
What is the purpose of it all? Being reborn only to fight my sister, then be killed by Nungal? There has to be more pieces to find…
“Oh, didn’t I tell you?” Tiffany asked, interrupting Elinor’s projected thoughts. “Oh, no? I don’t think I did. Silly me! I’ve been a bit, eh…scattered as of late. Some of the witches discovered something interesting through their gossip networks.”
Elinor arched an eyebrow, keeping her gaze on the northwestern horizon. Go on.
“There’s a historian among the Colombian refugees—very knowledgeable about ancient cultures. He mentioned a goddess named Nungal from Sumerian mythology, overhearing some of the girls talking. I informed them of the tale of Nungal’s visit with us in order to inspire them to be as crafty as her. Not important,” she waved off. “His information fits…shockingly well.”
Elinor straightened in her chair. She may be a goddess from Earth’s history, too?
“Exactly my reaction.” Tiffany smiled. “I had them interrogate him thoroughly. This happened a few days ago, on our journey here.”
And?
“Nungal means ‘Great Princess’ in Sumerian. She was the goddess of prisons, associated with the underworld.”
A chill ran down Elinor’s spine as she glanced at her wrists, envisioning the spectral chains she could summon at will. Power over bindings, power over the dead… That can’t be a coincidence… Could I have made a deal with her? Some pact that gave me these abilities? And did Butter make a similar arrangement with another deity?
“Mmm. Keep listening. There’s more,” Tiffany chuckled, as if settling in for quite the reveal. “According to this historian, Nungal’s husband’s name is Birtum.”
We know she has a brother, but husband? That matters because…
“In Akkadian, Birtum means ‘fetter’ or ‘shackle.’ ” Tiffany’s smile widening through the Nexus. “Interesting word association, isn’t it? Nungal herself could also be called ‘Little Chain.’ ”
A prosecutor in the underworld, Elinor murmured, recalling the goddess’ unsettling violet eyes, as if holding universes without end. So we might have lived in ancient Mesopotamia? Butter and I could have roots going back to Sumerian times?
“It’s possible. But I think Nungal transcends Earth. She appears to have followers on different worlds, different planets—such as Grace. She might be multiversal…or even omniversal, which would explain her immense power.”
Elinor remembered Nungal’s teasing comments about how perhaps, in this life, she and Butter could actually work together instead of being locked in eternal conflict. The prospect was both comforting and unsettling.
That’s a good point. If… Do you hear that?
“Hmm? I…do?”
Suddenly, a distant mechanical sound interrupted her thoughts—a rhythmic thumping that seemed utterly alien to this world. People below began pointing skyward, their voices rising in confusion.
Elinor stood abruptly, her eyes widening as she spotted a dark shape approaching from the northwest. Dad, is that…
“A helicopter.” Her father’s voice was barely audible, as if he couldn’t believe it himself. “How in the hell did Butter get a helicopter?”
Unless she went back to Earth, she muttered, the implication sending goosebumps down her spine. That battle against the hare woman, aliens, and the deity… Was that a Crystal back to Earth? After everything she’d learned about herself—her past lives, her cosmic connection as a past goddess?
The question was, if Butter found a way back to Earth…would she want to return?
She didn’t know.
The helicopter touched down on the flat expanse of the bluff, its rotors slowing as the engine wound down. Elinor watched, stunned, as several figures in U.S. military uniforms emerged, followed by a radiant figure that could only be her sister.
The shock wasn’t just the helicopter or the soldiers. It was Butter herself. It was one thing in the heat of battle to see her sister having a body, but physically in this world? It was something else entirely.
She was fully humanoid, her golden hair flowing like liquid sunlight, her skin bearing a subtle golden tan. She moved with the grace and confidence of royalty, her turquoise eyes sparkling with mischief.
Elinor waited outside her tent as the helicopter’s rotors finally stilled. Butter approached with a broad grin, her arms spread wide in dramatic greeting, welcoming all adoring eyes.
“Big Sister!” she called, her voice musical and teasing. “Take me in, in all my glory! Quite the entrance, wouldn’t you say? It comes with missiles!”
Despite herself, Elinor smiled. “There’s a lot we need to discuss, Sister.”
Butter winked, closing the distance between them as the soldiers shifted uncomfortably while watching her army of undead below and along the cliff. “Oh, you have no idea. But first”, she gestured to her ears, “how about we get this phylactery business sorted? I might have almost died once or twice without the safety net. Who knew you would be my saving grace, Sister?”
“I would,” Elinor chuckled, unable to stop from breaking character in the blonde’s flamboyant energy. “You and your helicopter show up out of nowhere, and that’s your opening line? I respect it but I’ve been cursing your fat ass for weeks now to get back here. Where did you get this? Is there a portal back to Earth?”
“Well, Sister, if I have a fat ass, then so do you, my twin! Aren’t we blessed?” Butter’s smile didn’t falter. “And a portal? Mmm. Not exactly. I sort of went to war with Earth.” She brightened again. “Or rather, conquered the Crystal that tied both our worlds together and they… Well, that’s a story for another time. It was quite the battle royale, but guess what? Bottom line? I won! And with victory came the spoils of war.”
She glanced at the fortress in the distance. “But before I get into those juicy details, I’d like to be caught up on everything that’s happened here since it’s more…pressing, it seems. You’ve been busy, haven’t you? I see a new color of ri’bot down there. We expand again!”
Elinor noticed Tiffany quietly slipping into their tent to retrieve something. “I…want to know what happened to Mika after we sort this jewelry business out. And how are you alive now, not undead? Where are Adoncia and White? You returned with American soldiers but left your own people behind?
“I still feel Adoncia and White in the northwest,” Elinor added, her connection through the Nexus confirming they remained outside the valley, though spotty with its instability.
Butter waved dismissively, somehow producing an ornate fan from nowhere and cooling herself with it; it was rather hot, or should have been to a normal human. The casual display made Elinor’s eyes widen slightly—she could now hide weapons in thin air, and there were gems attached to it that reminded her of the Prume spokesperson’s pipe.
“All in due time, sister.” Butter whispered, snapping the fan shut and looking a tad more serious at the topic. “Mika’s sacrifice was…not something I’d planned for. It was heartbreaking, really. But it deserves a better stage and format than light conversation. I will fill you in on my story within our Nexus when it is formed, I promise.”
Elinor wasn’t sure if she liked the direction. It did make sense to create their new phylactery, but the insistence felt a tad too forced, though that was Butter. Plus, she did need to have it done and the two of them were leaking a lot of energy without it.
Tiffany returned, holding two black pearl earrings in her palm—the ones Nungal had directed them toward. “The jeweler finished them just before I left Kaspir, Empress.”
“Kaspir? Oh, now there is a name I haven’t heard and look forward to hearing tales about! And black pearls?” Butter’s eyes lit up. “Don’t they look divine! Perfect candidates for our souls—resonating pairs, I presume?”
“Olyssia provided them,” Elinor explained, recalling the girl Nungal had directed her to.
“As you said, a story for another time. These aren’t natural black pearls, either—they’re synthetically created by deep sea clams, with properties matching the gemstone in Castria’s necklace…not that you know what any of that means.”
“Castria?” Butter breathed, clearly impressed. “What a lovely name! I can’t wait to meet her. Brilliant, Big Sis! I’d accept nothing less of you.”
Elinor reached for the earrings, and Butter placed her hand beneath Elinor’s. Together, they cupped the black pearls between their palms, Elinor’s hand on top. She activated her [Phylactery II], focusing her soul into the resonating pairs.
[Soul Pairing Compatibility: 250%]
[High Resonance: Achieved]
[Twin Enhanced Soul Stones Created]
[Nexus Stability: Achieved]
[New Feats Granted]
Heat flared between their hands, then subsided. When they separated their palms, the earrings had transformed. One glowed gold-white, like morning sunlight through mist. The other shimmered jade-emerald, the color of Elinor’s necrotic fire.
Elinor carefully inserted the jade-emerald stud into her earlobe, while Butter did the same with the gold-white one. Immediately, the Nexus stabilized—all her connections with her subjects becoming sharper, distances more precisely measurable.
We’ll need two more resonating pairs for travel, Elinor noted through the Nexus, feeling the comfort of having her soul properly anchored again. You can use your soul butterfly form, correct?
Butter’s attitude seemed to sober slightly since the mention of Nungal. She giggled and ran her finger over the item attached to her ear. “Yes, most likely. I can obtain a Feat for an artificial body, as well, if I so desire to project my consciousness elsewhere. As for Nungal… I’ve met our mysterious goddess that killed you in our last life as well. Perhaps we should save that conversation for after we enter our new home? Shall we?”
Elinor glanced down at her extended hand, a charming, mirrored smile shining on her face. She kept the thought private, but her heart pricked at the sensation.
Butter… Please, be the little sister I feel like I’ve always wanted… Are you asking the same thing to your big sister? Can we work together? Well, I suppose time will tell.
She took her hand, and retreated into their Soul Sanctum.
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