Mecanimus
patreon
The Calamitous Bob 212: A World At Peace
🕑 Added 2024-08-24 04:10:09 +0000 UTCThree years before.
The celebrations started with the farewell to the heroes. In the green plains before Sinur’s Gate, pyres were raised to embrace the remains of those who had died stopping the undead horde. Fifty lives for Harrak in only a couple hours of one-directional slaughter. The heaviest casualties they’d had so far, yet the mood was still good. Flags were raised, and bottles were opened to speak of the departed and send them on their way. Priests of Neriad and Enttiku came to speak of death, and there was not a bereaved family who was left alone unless they wanted to.
Those were also the first to receive their prize, the next step of the celebration. The massive horde had left behind enough fertilizer to guarantee the prosperity of Harrakan farms for years to come. They’d also left a lot of metal: weapons, armor, belt buckles, keys, fake teeth, rings and jewelry. The prize was small for each revenant, but there were simply so many of them that the final pile was monstrous. There were also the necrarch cores, one of which was claimed by the captain of the Sisters of the Eye after her squad successfully bagged one. They would be the only witchpact allowed to bear necrarch facepaints as a result.
Even with the government taking half, it was still a massive fortune for all the warriors and their families. The unexpected boon came a long way towards lessening the stress and loss. It would also help fund a lot of projects.
After that came the feast. Viv was certain Baran and Enoria could provide much more fastuous settings, but no country around to boast draconic guests, and that was cooler than any nice dress. And besides Viv had a nice dress anyway. Properly disseminated around the plains, the dragons ate of the marinated fish with expression of wordless wonder, while a sly Arthur thanked and pampered them. Oh, many of them knew it was some sort of trap, but it was one thing to know, and another to resist that sweet, tangy condiment that came with having minions. The seeds of cooperation were planted. Whatever came next, she would have dragons on her side. Golems and masked hadals mingled with the crowd while the yries mostly stayed in their corner, though they did sometimes make rounds to offer dollops of potent hallucinogens. It was a glorious mess of languages and people each eager to share the dirtiest songs they knew in their own regions. Viv delighted everyone with a colorful fake duel between herself and a Sidjin/Rakan pair. Other mages, passably drunk, illuminated the night sky with impressive displays and the crows lost only seven fingers and no lives in the ensuing mess. It was glorious, pleasant, and otherwise everything Viv was hoping for. Life.
The next day, she bid the diplomats farewell as they would return to their lands to make their reports. Reports of how she welcomed dragons at her table and could wipe out undead hordes.
She hoped they’d get the message.
Still three years later plus a couple of weeks also.
It was dark and stuffy in the room, one that had never been designed to accommodate a council of the Paramese alliance. That was due to the fact that said room was, in fact, a hastily modified barn with a gate large enough to welcome one of her liberators. Said gate was opened but blocked by curtains. This didn’t prevent the summer air from getting in, and so the place was uncomfortably warm.
It was a necessary condition to have Solfis present at the council.
At the council’s request.
She had no idea why they would voluntarily place themselves in his presence.
Viv could solve the heat problem with a spell but given the vociferating Helockian representative in front of her, it might lead to extreme reactions.
“— absolute gall, limitless arrogance on display by this upstart. This cannot continue to go on. Imagine, not but imagine this sort of shameless actions becoming the new norm in international politics! Our entire diplomatic corps would become the laughingstock of the entire world!”
Viv didn’t think the rest of the world communicated with Param beyond the occasional trade ship or army of insectile fate weaving ethnic cleansers, so it wasn’t a really convincing argument.
“Our alliance is based on trust, and respect. There can be no trust when one member blatantly steals a landmark from the other in what must have been a petty and deliberate insult! How dare you?”
There was a lull in the accusation, and a lot of confused glances so Viv sat back in her chair clad in her leadership skill, and raised an imperious brow.
Or at least she hoped she did.
“This is ridiculous. I have yet to hear of a reason why you are accusing me. The Chalice is a magical object of great power that has remained inaccessible for centuries due to strong winds and a potent mana field. I never even considered how I could get that thing to fly.”
Technically true. It was already floating so all she needed was to get it to float in the direction she wanted.
“Why would I even be interested in such a thing? Actually, I am not interested in your explanations. Just tell us if you have proof that I did it. Any proof at all.”
And good luck with that.
With a smile of triumph, the ambassador slammed an object on the table.
It was a bucket.
“This was found on the Floating Stones Society’s recording observation golem!”
Viv’s face twisted in an expression of bafflement that, she hoped, would let others assume she was just speechless.
“A bucket. Your evidence is a bucket.”
She had a better look.
“Not even Harrakan made, apparently.”
Dripping with disdain, Viv huffed, though inside of her head she was going ‘oh shit oh fuck I can’t believe this you big rusty arrogant ASSHOLE’.
“Not a mere bucket! A signature, as inelegant as it is brash! One that, may I remind this assembly, was present on the Frostway statue after she illegally annexed their city! Present on the head of the surveillance golems of the temple of Maranor after Prince Gil was ‘mysteriously removed’ from it, and then arrived in Enoria, reputedly with her, which led to an alliance!”
Damn. The other attendees were being swayed and there was little she could do except maybe sow doubts.
“So the evidence you have of a supposedly theft of a massive object is that an astrology club observation golem had a bucket on it. That is the irrefutable proof you are presenting this council. Some prank.”
“If you have nothing to hide then surely you will not mind me interrogating —”
“None of this,” General Jaratalassi said. “As I warned you before, you may not force oaths upon sovereigns. We all agreed during the last council.”
“— the golem,” the ambassador concluded with another grin.
Viv’s gaze found the quiet golem. There was a wink-like flicker in his malevolent yellow glare.
“Sure. Ask away.”
“Golem, answer me! Were you involved in the theft of the Chalice?”
//User request logged.
//User identified as: pathetic fleshbag.
//Request: denied.
The ambassador was now a nice shade of purple. Dragonfruit purple not eggplant purple for now.
“You DARE!”
It wasn’t a good thing to say. Solfis rotated his shoulders — just that, but the entire council flinched like they’d just been missed by a speeding car. Except Viv who was still pissed off at the giant fool.
“Your Imperial Highness,”Jaratalassi said, “if you could encourage Solfis to cooperate?”
Viv shrugged.
“Solfis, for the duration of this interview, please upgrade the pathetic fleshbag’s status to ‘guest’.”
//Request: regretfully granted.
“This is an outrage!”
//Ask your question, ‘guest’.
Only Solfis could make a flat, artificial voice drop with so much condescension.
“Did you steal the Chalice?”
//Yes. I have it here in my pocket.
Viv resisted the urge to slam her head against the nearest wall.
“What?”
//Sarcasm module delivery made.
//Real answer: no, I did not.
“But did you take part in that theft?”
//I did not steal anything.
//Ever, in fact.
He must be utterly convinced it wasn’t a theft, Viv realized.
“You lie! You left that bucket on the golem’s head!”
//I sincerely doubt an observation facility would be large enough to accommodate my frame.
//Was it?
The ambassador hesitated then. Unfortuantely, it didn’t last long. His expression turned feral.
“In Helock, we cut off the hand of thieves.”
//My hand can be reattached.
//Your head cannot.
“Perhaps we should stop the ‘discussion’ here,” Jaratalassi said with a warning look. “Ambassador, I will ask for some restraint.”
Do not provoke the ancient war golem. Good advice.
“Before we continue, I will ask for a recess. Viviane, a moment of your time please?”
Jaratalassi turned, not waiting for an answer. It rubbed Viv the wrong way but she was kinda fucked right now, so she complied.
Jaratalassi led her to the nearby in, then directly to a private room. He waved his hand, and Viv saw the sigils of a sound-proof spell escaping from his hands. It was the first time she’d seen him actually do magic. It was weird how little he relied on it.
“What the fuck were you thinking?” Jaratalassi bellowed. “What manner of nonsense is this?”
She considered denying the whole thing and then just gave up.
“I need it.”
“The fuck you need a huge flying thing like that for?”
“It’s a secret. I will ask you to believe me when I say… it will prove absolutely vital in the future. Not next year, probably, but while we’re still in command. I wouldn’t have done it otherwise.”
Jaratalassi fumed. He was livid. She saw him eye the bottle of brandy on the desk, then he shook his head.
“I’m trying to cut down my consumption recently. You’re not helping. Not helping at all. Now why did you even leave a calling card if you were not ready to face this tribunal?”
“I had no idea they’d pull this off. Many of my subordinates are uniquely competent and uniquely naughty as well. And there isn’t shit I can do to stop them.”
“Whyever not?”
“Because they are really good at what they do and I like them.”
Jaratalassi breathed deep a couple of times. Viv felt like she was in the principal’s office, waiting to see on which of her toes the hammer of justice would fall.
“We are going to return there. You will not have to admit to the crime and I will not scour the deadlands and their mountain ranges to see where you stashed the damned thing. I return, you will pay a fee.”
He glared to see if she would protest. She didn’t.
“You will pay a fee of a hundred gold talents for your ‘prank’ while Helock will be offered a right to seize all of your assets in their territory, which means you will lose control of their portal network for the next three months until you sign another agreement on the low down. You will accept those terms or so help me Neriad I’ll tan your hide, right here, right now, monstrously powerful caster or not.”
“Oh fine. Fine! Let’s just get this over with.”
***
“You think this is funny? How can something artificially intelligent turn out to be so really stupid? You owe me a hundred gold talents, you giant metal clown!”
With a disturbing calm, Solfis grabbed for his emergency receptacle, returning a clinking bag that looked far too small in his giant hand.
//Here.
//One hundred and eighty gold talents
//This is the maximum amount I believed we might be fined.
Viv grabbed the bag of dough with some trepidation. It was full of shiny, freshly stamped currency. Harrakan currency, to be precise.
Her look of disbelief predictably led to nowhere since her opponent had an in-built poker face.
“Ok, I’ll bite. How do you have money? How do you have so much money?”
//All my children work.
“What?”
//Even Themis.
//She was an advisor for several of our latest government buildings built outside of the walls of Kazar.
“You’re leeching money off your kids? Solfis…”
//They approved of the operation, of course.
“I thought you were hard-wired not to sabotage me?”
//I am hard-wired to protect and defend the interests of Harrak.
He leaned forward. It was as intimidating as it had ever been.
//Instilling fear in the hearts of our rivals is part of my duties.
//And besides.
//They still owe us for Elunath’s estate, which they seized in defiance of their own laws.
//Consider the loss of the Chalice… what would your daughter call it?
“Repossession. And yes, you’re correct.”
//We should have told them to come and get it.
//However.
//I acknowledge the reality we are in, and the fact we need to bide our time.
//I would consider the loss of the gold talents as a necessary cost to keep that fear alive.
//One last point.
//Have you seen the face of that ambassador?
Viv chuckled after a half-arsed attempt at self-control.
“At least the whole thing is pretty funny. I’ll give you that. How did you do it?”
//With Irao’s help, naturally.
“You two idiots will be the death of me.”
Four years later, Harrakan deadlands, undisclosed location.
It was a secret spot, isolated from the portal network and secretive by its nature. Viv and Solfis had selected it not for its scenic view, but because it was one of Old Harrak’s hidden golem fabrication centers, now fully forgotten in the ashes of time. On top of stashes of silverite, the facility contained copper, bronze and steel ingots in abundance, alongside a greater variety of other metals in lesser quantities. No other place would permit the project to proceed without significant supply lines, and supply lines meant spies. Despite the Hadals’ playful way of dealing with them, Viv had no doubt the most talented could slip between the gaps in that net.
Harrak had to be a priority for at least half of the continent’s spy networks by now. With so many people moving in, it would be impossible to stop them all.
“What do you think, Abe? Are you happy to get your old home back?”
The old man shook his head, locs clicking in the still air. He didn’t look happy.
“This will take time away from the delivery of justice. It will take resources away from pushing back the deadlands.”
He sighed.
“I spent my worst years in this place. Without your and Enttiku’s support, I would have spent my last ones there as well. It is not a place of happy memories.”
“Oh. Sorry, that was callous of me.”
“I appreciate the thought, Viviane the Oulander. And yes, I will lead this project so long as Sidjin and Rakan manage the more… complex arcane elements. I was never much of a researcher myself. I understand why such a construct might be necessary. I am merely saddened… that it would prove necessary.”
He turned to her.
“Do you know something I do not?”
Viv hesitated, but not for long. She could trust Abe.
“Judgment said we would need the Master Core. Dragons are sensitive to fate mana, a hue we cannot perceive. In a way, he can peer into the future. If he believes we will need the master core then we probably will. If we end up in this sort of situation then I’d rather stack all the odds in my favor starting right now.”
“A wise decision. You can count on me, Viviane.”
“You will need workers. I will have them carefully selected and vetted. They will also be oath-bound to secrecy.”
“You know there are ways around this. Let me handle the oaths. I am close to Enttiku. She will allow it.”
“Even if it is for this project?”
Abe’s crimson eyes carried only sadness.
“Viv, you didn’t think I would have accepted without my goddess’ express consent, did you? If even she approves of this project, then you can be sure secrecy shall be kept. I will request her guidance for this matter. And one last thing?”
“Yes?”
“Do not make me regret this.”
“You guys should trust me a little more.”
Five years later, year 885 of the restored Harrakan calendar. The in-between.
Viv hovered in front of the planet-sized cowled figure that was the goddess of death. Her own shape in the in between was vaguely humanoid with anchors coming out of her back, as hazy reflection of her physical self. Neriad had said that it was because she was still defining herself. He claimed it was a good thing.
Few good things about the current circumstances though.
“Well that was horrifying. Damn.”
Even as just a soul, her emotions still filtered through in waves of disgust and revulsion. That poor harrien.
“Ok so it’s normal for me to experiment on small animals because the target must have a soul and I needed to know if it worked. Nevertheless, fucking hell. Wow. I didn’t expect that.”
I respect your right to defend yourself to the best of your ability.
I also acknowledge the fact that some of the foes you face are so abhorrent and powerful that you would develop such weapons.
Nevertheless, I am going to do something drastic, though I am loath to intervene.
The voice sounded ancient and all-encompassing, yet it was also filled with empathy and support. A strange combination. Motherly, almost.
Before we do so, I believe another setting would be better.
If you will allow it.
“Of course.”
Viv was pulled into a real world, or at least that’s how it felt to her. It was like when she joined Neriad and Efestar for beers and movies on some rare occasions. Were those real places? Or just imaginary constructs brought together by divine mana? She wasn’t sure, but she was curious.
This one was strange too. While Neriad preferred a glass house next to the sword-covered field where he trained, there was nothing grandiose about Enttiku’s retreat. Viv was now sitting inside of a mud hut of modest size, the place toasty despite the cold fall visible through windows. Herbs and plants dried on walls dotted with many alcoves hiding primitive statues, but also strange tools, masks and other beautiful decorations. Water gurgled in a misshapen teapot in a fire in front of her.
A woman in a coarse dress and furs leaned forward, grabbing the pot with tattooed fingers. She was of middle age with very dark smooth air held in a sensible ponytail. Her face was rugged, squarish, and wouldn’t have been called pretty by any stretch of the imagination, but it also radiated a sort of magnetic confidence that made her demand attention. Amused eyes found Viv. As she poured tea in an earthen mug, the woman smiled. The tattoos extended to her neck, Viv realized.
“Welcome to my humble abode.”
“Wow, I’m honored.”
“I suppose you could be, though I have invited a lot of dying people here before. Try some!”
The liquid was earthy and flavorful in a sort of cozy way. It was most definitely magical.
“I summoned you here as a courtesy and apology, dear, if I have to be honest. As you know, it is my role to guide the souls to the mysteries of the afterlife.”
“Can you answer a few questions about the afterlife?”
“People always ask me this and my answer is always no. Believe what you will!”
“That’s a copout.”
“The prerogatives of an old and powerful deity. Now, for the serious part. Your change spells are incredibly potent, but they also have… very problematic implications. Some that I hadn’t foreseen. Using them on a human could… precipitate events that would be disastrous for the world, although, it would only accelerate them I suppose. Nevertheless, it is too abominable a spell to use lightly. I am sorry to say I will have to censor it.”
She gave an apologetic smile. Viv raised a hand.
“Look, even without outside intervention, I would never have used that thing lightly. I only ask that, should my people and myself be in real, mortal danger — and by this I don’t mean just in the course of a difficult battle — you will lift the ban.”
Enttiku gave Viv a long, hard look. Viv waited.
“Very well. You can pray and should I agree, I will temporarily lift the ban. Do not abuse my trust, young one.”
“Never.”
“I believe you, yet I must warn you all the same. Now, let us relax and talk about more pleasant affairs. Have you considered using rotating portals?”
“Yes but it’s super fucking hard.”
“I'll let you on a little secret that will not make that simple, but at least it will make it possible. As an apology.”
Viv bounced excitedly. Or at least her soul did.
“A private lesson from an ancient goddess? Count me in!”
What felt like a long time later, Viv was back in her body. The first thing she saw were the remains of her experiment.
“Shit, that’s going to live in my core memories.”
She annihilated the remains before sitting down, a little nauseous.
[You have been censored by Enttiku. The change-based offensive spell you design may not be cast without her express consent. Should you break that edict, you will be cursed, and will die.]
“Well at least it means I did something cool. Only cool kids get the rules changed because of them.”
Viv spared her spell array one last glance.
It was pretty simple for something so fundamentally revolting. It just used a few very rare runes and a shit ton of mana.
“I really hope I never have to use it…but if I ever do, I hope I’m angry enough not to think about it too hard.”
Thirteen years later (year 893), mountains in northern Harrak.
Viv hovered up the mountain as fast as she could. She could feel her daughter’s distress in her soul, that deep panic that pulled at her mind like icy fingers. Arthur had gone to an unexpected dragon conclave, an event that normally happened only every century or so, but was fifty years early this time. It must have been momentous for Arthur to be called. Now, the dragoness’ fear spread, stronger than it had ever been.
Viv hurried. Something terrible must have happened there. Arthur had been gone for two years as well, leaving her financial empire in the hands of capable servants — except recollection which she had placed under Gale’s responsibility. It was a long time for something wrong to happen. The fact Arthur hadn’t flown all the way down to New Harrak meant that she probably couldn’t. She’d had no choice but to stop there. Maybe she was wounded? Sick? Did dragons even get sick?
She landed in the snow. A gust of frigid wind pushed her hair back. There was a cavern here, a natural thing that magic had enlarged. Discarded bones of some sort of large feathered beasts were piled by the entrance, hastily devoured by an uncaring predator. It was a bad sign.
“Arthur!”
Viv moved in with determination. Her eyes adjusted to the darkness. As she walked deeper through a wide corridor, the temperature increased until it reached an almost intolerable level.
Arthur was there, at the center of an artificial cave, curled on herself. Fire mana was thick here, a power expenditure that must have been a drain on the poor thing. She looked fine from afar.
Daughter!
Arthur raised her head. In her normally malevolent eyes was an expression of impotent panic that made Viv’s heart ache.
Daughter, what is happening to you.
Mother, I am scared.
Mother.
Viv rushed towards the poor thing just as she raised a wing, revealing three suspicious colored globes.
Mother.
EGGS!
Viv stopped in her tracks, then facepalmed so hard she almost broke her nose.
***
“I’m a fucking failure of a parent.”
Mother.
“I thought I was doing a good job with hygiene and ethics and everything and I completely, completely forgot about sexual education. Now my ‘teenage’ daughter has been knocked up and I only have myself to blame for my utter incompetence.”
Mother!
“And here I was going to write a book and dragon care and rearing. Hah! What a joke I am. What an absolute travesty before the gods. I am a complete loser.”
Motherrrrrr.
Stop being so dramatic.
“I’m a moron and a disgrace of a mom.”
MOTHER!
“Do you even know who the father is?”
Of course I do!
Sun-reflected-on-a-shard-of-Obsidian
He is from the fire-breathing bloodline, black of scale like a north sea pearl.
We were flying together, and then we did the mating dance and then… one thing led to another…
“A shorter name? An older man? I’m going to give him a piece of my mind.”
Mother.
He lives on the other side of the planet.
“That motherfucker.”
Mother.
Among dragons, it is the choice and the duty of the mother to care for her spawn.
Or not.
I was merely surprised and concerned.
But we can totally make it work.
“Where did you say he lived?” Viv said, making a tally of all her forbidden spells and which one could possibly turn a giant flying lizard into a coat and handbag combo.
MOTHER.
EGGS!
THREE OF THEM.
“Ok ok ok. Shit this isn’t going to simplify the line of succession.”
Harrak is secure in the presence of the empress’ daughter and soon-to-be-born grandchildren!
This is a cause for much joy.
Now please mother, I need you.
“Right. Right, we need to safely transport them around the mountain edge. Bring them to your Evil Den of Capitalism.”
Not the bank.
I shall build a nursery.
I will acquire and train many minions, mother.
I only need help with the transport.
“We can build some sort of box, fill it with feathers, fire-enchanted stones and gravity runes on the outside. Carry it by turn.”
Arthur nodded her head, the sinuous neck bobbing through the air.
Yes!
Yes that will work well.
My instincts are pushing me to stay put but there is little food here, and I am concerned.
But with your help, I am sure I can feel safe enough to move.
“Yeah it’s also the father’s job to make you feel secure.”
Mother, we are not humans.
Also, Koro would disagree with you.
“That she would,” Viv conceded, thinking of the spear-wielding temple guard exhibitionist. “Alright. Let’s head back.”
I must select proper borglings for my spawn to bind with.
Like we did!
“The gods dammit this is going to lead to an entire new branch of the government. Well, it’s going to take a lot of time for them to grow so let’s worry about getting them home safe first.”
***
Viv gently petted the scale of her second official granddaughter, whose names were not fixed yet, as they ranged between ‘her-sinuous-adorability’ and ‘Second-spawn-scourge-of-the-Great-One-who-Dared-Defecate-in-the-Gold-Vault’, according to her mother’s mood. In any case, the dragons were supposed to pick their own names and she was too young yet. She was black and she had a personality. Right now though, the little hellion slumbered and since she was quite hot and toasty, it made for a nice lap cover.
In front of Viv was her desk in the green zone, the reclaimed sector of the old capital centered around the Treasury. It smelled a bit dusty but was otherwise serviceable. On that desk was something Viv would have never expected in a thousand years. It was a letter. A letter written over a thousand leagues away on a beige piece of paper so thick and oily it might survive an extinction event. The script was in Viziman, one Viv had learned only a couple of years before and only for commercial purposes. Now her eyes followed the willowy script with a mix of suspicion and disbelief.
“Empress Viviane the Black Witch of Harrak, Pacifier of Enoria, Bane of Halluria, Liberator of Glastia, Reclaimer of the Deadlands, and Vanquisher of Dragons. Greetings.”
Any more buttering up and they’d turn her into a Breton pastry.
“We are the King and Queen of Sandsong, in Vizim. We send you this message with our apologies for the lack of fanfare and offerings. Fate has tossed us against the reefs, and so we come to you for help. Only you can deliver us from the evil that has befallen us. Only you, in secret, can cross the waves unbeknownst to our neighbors.”
Viv frowned. But why?
“Should you assist us, we are ready to swear allegiance to Harrak forevermore.”
Wow they must be royally fucked.
“We need you, o Empress. We need the Black Witch of Harrak. We need a Dragonslayer.”
Viv tossed the letter on the desk.
“Squee?”
“Well I mean, I did have a good run. Fifteen years of mostly peace. But nobody can outrun the spark.”
“Squee?”
“You’ll get it later.”
Comments
Tiffany Miller
Im not a fan of all the time skips,
ManguKing
That's a lot of time skips! You trying to end the novel already? Lol be nice to have seen what was recovered from the old capital
Roland Haller
Andrea Parsneau would have been perfect
AgentFransis
Indeed. They are abrupt but that's exactly how it was in Journey as it was starting to approach the end. It's just Mecha's style.
Sgt. Tibs
I didn't realise I missed having a baby dragon until I saw the squee.
JLM
Gonna bet the Choo Choo is going to be up and running
Desert Yeti
Katey Segal might be good too.
Desert Yeti
I wonder if the second generation will be more or less disturbingly loyal to Viv and the Empire. Personally, I think Viv's cult of personality (and the actual cult to her, too) will grow. Gen 2 will be in awe of the stories and in love with the pomp, power, and dragons.
FuriousDee
That’s fair sorry for going on about it so long.
Mecanimus
I think the discussion has ran its course. The gods do as they please and Viv rolls with it because she’s pragmatic and needs them as Allies. I’m this case, it doesn’t really bother her either. Remember they’re very old and kind of controlling. Maybe you should be more concerned about the kind of fucked up spell she’s come up with.
Denva
Viv already lived by a code that she wouldn't harm anyone unless necessary. What the hell are you on about her wanting to destroy the world?
FuriousDee
Why does having magic give her the right to destroy the world? That seems ludicrous. Because of a quirk of fate this person has the right to decide if anybody else is allowed to live and nobody is allowed to interfere or punish her if she decides to kill everyone.
Denva
No, like the gods Viv has a stake in the world. The dark gods wouldn't exist if that wasn't the case yes? The previous chapters was just showing exactly that, Viv finally being recognized by the world and giving her mana mining. She is an inhabitant of this world like everyone else.
FuriousDee
She doesn’t have any right to destroy the Gods world though.
MomentarilyDisabled
After all these years, have they started on trains yet? And if so, how far have they gotten?
MomentarilyDisabled
Soon enough and there will be a second generation of people born in (New) Harrak
Bri
Being more realistic Anjali Bhimani has the right amount of snark
Desert Yeti
If we're just wishing, I think Milla Jovovich would be a great narrator. Or Sigourney Weaver. And for Solfis, well, nobody would beat James Earl Jones, of course. Watch the original Conan the Barbarian and just check out the look of disgust he gives Arnie. I can just see that face whenever Solfis says "fleshbags." TBF Thulsa Doom would fit into Harrak just fine.
Roombot
I think Viv is a fine mother. Just look at Arthur, she grew up and created a den of evil capitalism! Folllowing in her mothers evil overlord footsteps
Ekko
Nah, we are just at a point in the story where Viv's life has become relatively stable and it wouldn't make sense narratively to follow her through those years of just being empress. Something we all also shouldn't forget is that Viv is a semi-immortal Elemental Witch that doesn't age. So skipping to the interesting parts of her story is to be expected. Mecanimus did the same with Arian in Journey of Red and Black, with her being a Vampire.
Desert Yeti
I desperately want a scene of this. And all the dragons just accepting Viv as a fact of life they have to deal with, if not an honorary dragon. "Mother" indeed.
Desert Yeti
Harrakan espionage comes in three varieties. First is a guy selling honey and then you can't get any more without giving up state secrets. Second you never notice, but all your documents are copied at night while you slept. Third ... is a massive war golem kicking in your door and screaming TELL ME YOUR SECRETS at maximum volume.
Joshua Aarons
This chapter was a bit... everywhere? It read kind of almost most like a road map to the season of a video game.
Denva
No.
Denva
There Is still the war with the god, the war with the lizard people, the war with the outlander, and whatever endgame Entiku foreshadowed.
Denva
Yes? Your point? It's her money, she can punished whoever she wants. And it's Viv's magic, the gods have no right in controlling it.
FuriousDee
Arthur has killed multiple people for stealing from people she lent money to
Lieselotte
Is this the end?
Bri
It really is a crime there's no audios for this at the same time I'm not sure who could do it justice
Graham Golder
For counterespionage, sure, but for establishing external networks, gathering info as to what is happening in other countries, and what those countries might be planning...?
RainbowCatTopHat
Ok, that does make sense now that I've turned it around in my head a few times, it still left me very confused on the chronology of events during the time skip.
Denva
Was Arthur going to be killed by Viv if she continued stealing?
FuriousDee
Do you dislike it every time Viv does this same thing? How about when Arthur forbids using thief skills on people outside her bank? You are overreacting.
Albedo's Ahoge
Thank you. Just curious, was this the last chapter of the novel?
Denva
That's the problem. The fact she threatened Viv like this is bad. I am no longer against the death of entiku in the upcoming war of the gods.
Denva
A vague statement that may not be true. Maybe nothing will happen and entiku is just not respective to change. I mean look at were she lives. She was also part of the old pantheon and only changed when they were overthrown. I don't trust her.
SirPavlova
Entikku didn’t disable the spell or make Viv forget it, she just said “I forbid you to use this. If you use it without getting my approval first, I’ll kill you.” It’s really no different to Viv’s usual style of diplomacy. I’m pretty sure Meca meant “censure” (official rebuke/condemnation).
SirPavlova
“Three years before” refers to the “where the fuck is the Chalice?” scene in Helock at the end of the previous chapter, which itself is “Three years later”. The Helock scene was moved out of sequence for dramatic effect, to end the previous chapter with a cheeky cliff.
Davan Krueger
I just remembered king and queen of the gods where gonna fight
RonGAR
WAIITTTTT.... I see it now. Rotating portals... Viv did get a substitute spell. OR help with one of her ideas. Her 'Orbital KinETIC' weapon idea. Here come meteor strikes!
ItWasIDIO!!
Good down time & prep work for Viv
Gwalmeich
The hadal? Have you forgotten about them?
RainbowCatTopHat
The chapter starts with "Three years before.", but the next section is "Still three years later plus a couple of weeks also.". Just from the wording of the second is the first one supposed to be later instead of before? I was a bit confused as I thought it was supposed to be a flashback despite obviously taking place after the events of the previous chapters.
FuriousDee
If they didn’t trust her they wouldn’t just be censoring the spell
FuriousDee
She said it would cause a global catastrophe of course they are going to block that. What do you expect them to do.
Karel Londin
Insectile = Insect + Reptile
Simon Casey
Awesome montage! I’m curious to see how much Viv and the rest of Harrak have grown in the last 15 years, but hopefully we’ll get to see it going forwards.
Benjamin Mages
The chapter implies that the spell isn't just another offensive spell that works in a repulsive way, it can make literally the entire world worse if used carelessly. It's the difference between simply being evil and creating what could be a doomsday weapon. One is human nature, the other I would think less of the gods for not censoring.
Benjamin Mages
I think keeping the circle of characters smaller is a good thing. The more characters there are the less the readers care about the ones who don't get as much screentime, and if the author tries to give all of them screentime then the less the readers care about any of them. I personally couldn't care less about Charles Bigboom the latest upcoming prodigy of magic or Harold Highammer, a young and upcoming warrior who looks like he might make the 100 in a few years. Obviously that was hyperbole, but point is adding characters for the sake of adding characters is a pointless waste of words.
Graham Golder
Good chapter, more Solfis is always good. One question: will Viv be getting her own spymaster? "Harrak had to be a priority for at least half of the continent’s spy networks by now"
Denva
No. Magic can be used without the gods. Emeric and his friends would not have overthrown the previous pantheon if it was not the case. The god of magic is is not entiku she is death. You can use magic without the interface it's literally what Viv was offered when she became an elemental. What entiku did was very interventionist.
Alexander Dupree
How would the god of magic provided or limit magic other than to censor spells. Why is it any different just because she’s reached the point where the god spoke to her first instead of her magic just failing because “the rules” say something isn’t possible? Those rules are run by a god in the first place. You don’t even have to step out from a meta perspective for it to be required by the story up to this point
Roombot
RETURN OF THE SQUEEEE!!!
Emily Gurnavage
Not done with the chapter, but I gotta clock in for work n wanna comment first that I loved this bit: “Well at least it means I did something cool. Only cool kids get the rules changed because of them.” Reminded me of a friend in elementary school who was the one responsible for both getting go-gurts banned for everyone as well as a 2 milk carton limit at lunch.
SirPavlova
Is it supposed to be “censured” rather than “censored”? Because Entikku definitely censured Viv & forbade using the spell, but there’s no indication that she obscured the knowledge of it or anything like that.
Jed Wolfgang
BABY DRAGONS!?!?!? Eeeeeeeeeeekk!!!!
RonGAR
@Lenkite Yeessss another great point. Nobody is censoring her opponents with oaths of 'instant death'... so why are they tying Viv's hands? Either they trust her to stay on the path of good or they don't, but don't hold her back if they aren't going to provide equal alternatives spells she could use. Because in a fight to the death, you use whatever the hell you could get your hands on, and that's either a Sword, side of a shield, a rock, your teeth, or a spell that controls the dead or makes severe biological changes! This is some BS right here.
Mantarok1205
Jolly good!
tr13ze
Thanks for the chapter 😁
D
True or not? I cant remember anything about insects. Do you have a chapter for me? Guess i need to reread thst part.
D
Talking about infrastructure, there was no mention of trains!
Alex
Kinda of, they are more or less insect-lizard hybrids. So Vivs statement tracks.
M. Gunnarsson
In this case, Enttiku probably didn't snoop, the spell just worked and she noticed. I doubt it's possible to fuck with the dead past a certain point without her noticing.
Alexander Dupree
Borgling caretakers better not screw up
SDCard
Thanks for the chapter! Eggs!
Denva
She is not banned from using Necromancy. There is a taboo but not a Divine ban that will kill her if she uses it.
D
No need to talk about time skip, was all said in last chapters comment. That said: []Viv didn’t think the rest of the world communicated with Param beyond the occasional trade ship or army of insectile fate weaving ethnic cleansers, so it wasn’t a really convincing argument. [] Wherent those lizards? I know i have a bad track record asking about the owls being bunnies, but still, better ask when in doubt, right?
FuriousDee
She doesn’t think it will be needed within a year but she does think it will be needed before he retires
FuriousDee
Having it done this way provides foreshadowing that their is a disaster coming and lets her use it if she really needs to. It is way better for the story than if she just couldn’t do it or didn’t think of it. Of course the gods can influence what spells she uses, so can nations and other people as they do with necromancy. That happens in society. Besides Viv even said she didn’t want to use it on people.
Gwendolyn Simmons-LaRose
Aaaah, I'm so excited for Bob's grandkids! And also whatever other things are gonna happen, but mostly the new additions to the royal line ofc, as is proper.
Marian Ch
It's getting censored, as expected, because it seems to be the kind of Umbrella corp. invention that would just ruin everyone's day, no matter who or where.
FuriousDee
Given none of the mages know how gods work they probably can’t do that. Besides it seems good that she got warned that spell would have serious unforeseen consequences if cast on humans before those consequences cause a massive disaster.
Adam Davies
Squeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!
Red Viking
SCALE KITTENS!
Denva
To be honest I hate the sensor thing. It would have been better if Viv was limited by magic to do what she want to do and stuff. Having gods being able to take away her freedom is just painful. I don't like this at all. And it doesn't help that the entire chapter is all over the place.
Elie
Thank you for the chapter, I thought the time skip worked well and made sense in terms of Harrak growing and its infrastructure with it.
John Anastacio
Wonder if anyone important has died in the interim or retired. Ban for instance was pretty old and a grandfather. On the other hand his rise to 4th step must have massively improved his life expectancy and also his general health.
Nait02
Ooh baby dragons. Can we get a description for all of them. I would love to see fanart of them. Also adult dragon. Let's hope its not the father.
Nait02
Not a huge deal, but I feel like that is an issue that takes one out of reading the chapter...
Nait02
I was a bit confused about whether the time skips were referring to the same point in time or adding on top of each other. It became clear when you started using the calwnsar year, but ut might be prudent to refer to an event from the start. For example the first line could be "a few days after the battle against the undead horde" to avoid confusion about the 3 year time skip at the end of last chapter... then the next one could be "3 years after the battle against the undead horde, a few weeks after the heist:" and all the subsequent lines could refer to either event and it would be immediately clear that the time skips are referring to the same event and aren't stacked on top of each other without even comparing numbers.
Denva
Can you provide context. Because she also said something about 1 year and stuff.
Eric
She won’t be forever a superpower so use it how long you have the influence and power
Lexi
These time skips are getting out of hand 😭
Leviathon251
New arc just dropped yippeeee
FuriousDee
Why she has only used change on those flesh trees before and she would probably still get permission to do that seen as they aren’t part of humanity. Besides the reasons she can’t use them outside the most dire of circumstances is because it sounds like it might cause another apocalypse which the gods would like to avoid.
Kor
Maybe the next chapter should be a collection of povs taking place during the time skip ? It feels a bit jarring right now.
Jamarr
I believe the censor is for the specific offensive change spell she made, not the change concept in general.
Sardeed
the time skip is good in the sense that a nation embroiled in endless war is bad but we as readers now feel like we lost lots of little stories, maybe couple chapters with short stories that happened in the skip would wbe nice kinda like the whole chalice theft thing. And i really hate the censoring of her power , like censoring is the second worst thing you can so to a character right after nerfing them. just not gove her the spell or make it extremely convoluted like only usable with master core and have can not carry that around all the time so it would automatically limit the times she could use that killer spell, instead of arbitrary god intervention, would even open up the spells usability when she increases in strength and if she reaches demigod power she may use it freely since she can support couple cast before running out of juice
Denva
I didn't like the sensor to be honest. I hope Viv can still use the change concepts to create Elder gods architecture.
Denva
I've been thinking. Given Viv has that muster core and probably knows of the relay spell, she could make a suit of armor like the one Ariane from jearny had with a core at its center and a relay spell. Meaning as long as she is close to the core she has unlimited mana. Also if she creates those flying ships and uses the core as the fuel. She could create a relay for subordinate ships to power them. The possibilities are unlimited.
Denva
Was Viv joking about writing a book on dragon raring, because I remember judgement being against that?
The Bandersnatch
Oh ive missed Solfis referring to people as pathetic fleshbags
Vin Reisling
Wow that's a lot of happenings, hopefully next chapter has some views in what's progressed in harak
Kennyevilmonkey
Long live the Empress! For the love of the Gods, please let her live long!
Kennyevilmonkey
In the next Dragon Counsil Meeting, Grandma Viv is going to be an unintended guest, kicking the door open as her flustered daughter tries to stop her. "Where is he!? Where is that bastard dead beat dad that left my baby girl with three eggs and never had the BALLS to show up once!? I'm going to collect decades of child support bills from your fucking corpse, you useless lizard!!!"
lenkite
I think the Gods snoop on Viv a bit too much. She should ask the genius Mages to design some dimensional divine-free space where she can experiment with spells in peace. At-least that way, she will at-least manage a few uses of her hardwork in battle, before being censored. Nobody was censoring any of Viv's enemies so far.
Andrew
Thank you!
Desert Yeti
If the fact that the imperial succession is full of actual dragons doesn't terrify the other nations into not pissing off Vivian, nothing will. They should pray every day for her continuing good health.
Denva
" but while we’re still in command. " what does she mean by this?
mallix
Very well done timeskip imo.
BelligerentGnu
This time skip is giving me massive whiplash. It feels like we must have skipped over ridiculous amounts of things I would have wanted to read about.
Wolfclaw
I mean I don't think anon will mind much especially since the timeskip had plot points that were more setup rather then development or payoff of earlier plot points
Manlor
Fifteen years and she still hasn't grown wings? 🤔
RonGAR
All very interesting. I would like to know about all of this as well.
KnightRider007
Ok, “assassin-tism” cracked me up 🤣
RonGAR
Hahaha this chapter was BUCKETS of fun. LOLOLOL The league strikes once more! Buckets...It truly is their calling card, much to Viv's dismay! ----------- Wow wow wow, Authur is a teenage mother. Fell for the 'bad boy' and ended up with a belly full of presents. SMGDH. Good lawd. If that is not a sign of failed parenting on Viv's part, I dont' know what is. LOLOLOL At least the kids won't 'eat' each other. That is a blessing right there. ------- Yes Viv is the only one with dragons coming to supp at her feast and festivals. Oh the other kingdoms must be Jelly. Although... seems like that black female dragon that was giving Viv grief about dragons honor and being wingless, may try to get another kingdom to act like minons under her wing. So better watch out for that. ----------- Hmmm I wonder if the cooks gain levels and skills when they cook for dragons??? ---------- Damn Didn't like Entikku putting a limit on viv change skill. Think that is on some next level B.S. to be honest. These gods didn't have limits put on them. Now viv can't use her magic to raise/control the dead, and use her own created spell??? *Tableflip* She better be provided with a substitute spell for each of the ones they banned her from using. Its only fair! ---------- Great chappie, can't believe you covered sooo much. But VIV still hasn't grown wings, and we have nooo idea what her current levels are, and or if she has mastered her elemental form. -------- Can't believe she has movie night with the gods tho. lol Must be nice to be an Ascender. Must be really nice! ======= As for this request for help...I don't know why she should. She is the EMPRESS... surely she has minons couldn't they not go and 'investigate'? See whats ,what, then return with an assessment? Or does she have a bunch of new toys she want to try out and is tired of pancaking her ass by sitting on it all damn day.
KnightRider007
I’ve often said, and I maintain to this day, that Solfis gets the *best* dialogue 😁
lenkite
Sorry, but not describing what happened to Harrak in 15 years is plain disappointing. How did the reclamation campaign go ? What inventions did they create ? How did they solve the water problem ? Where are the innovative engineers ? What new prodigal Mages did they employ or raise ? What new warriors joined them ? It just abrupt and jarring. Harrak should have even more friends and/or interesting citizens, esp after a period of stability. Viv should have expanded her circle of friends and firm allies even more instead of the same folks she obtained in Books 1-3.
James Faulkner
LETS GET TO EMPIRE BUILDING. RAAAAAAAAH
Clifton
Can we get a starting date for reference with the calendar? What year did Viv arrive?
Raptor425
Thanks for the chapter as always. I knew we were probably gonna get some time skips since Viv practically scourged the continent of large scale disasters, but I was not expecting 13 years in one go. There is so much that could have happened in 13 years. Think of the trains and the inevitable Hadal conductors because they all have that assassin-tism. She has probably even completed her Pokedex of different races by now with some Merls running about in Harrak fawning over Sidjin like he's a demi-god. I hope the elderly Kark from the Imperial Legions gets to see the reclaimed capital before he passes. It might be a nice bonus chapter where we can get a glimpse into the differences between the Old and New Harrak through his eyes.
Max E Malekzadeh
Wait, is Viziman going to be the excuse for Viv's revenge on the dead beat dad? Lol. They said they needed a dragonslayer
Jack Sprat
EGGS!
Jackjargon
So much cool stuff!! Arthur you adorable rascal! And to be fair that was a big break considering her previous experience. I'm so excited to see what masive f you weapon the make out of a floating mountain also valiant return of the beloved Squee!
Azgaroth
Thank for the chapter. Will Viv still try to have her "son-in-law" take responsability or will she just rough him up a bit before returning home???
Elaine
good chappie
Ryan
Nah, thats what happened in Journey too. Gotta give Viv time to prep some absurdity for the next BBEG
Szelanaya
Squee! New lil dragon babies woooow!
Watchful1
The timeskips feel a bit, abrupt. I get that she's mostly run out of enemies but surely there could have been a couple chapters worth of filler in 15 years.
Mecanimus
Yes sorry
Ryan
Lol at Arthur being a teen mom
Anon
Was this intentionally posted to everyone? Because I'm only subbed to Changeling.
Szelanaya
Tanks for the chapter again Meca!
