Eliot took a deep breath. In, out. Relax.
Eliot’s heart beat hard, and he was sweating a little. Grinning, too. His clothes were immaculate. The stage was boring and posh instead of how Eliot wanted it to be. The time was nigh to make some really big connections. It was probably for the best that Azocar had convinced Eliot to make the setting less villainous, even though Eliot still thought it would be neat to put their best villainous foot forward.
And so, the setting was all traditional-xerkonan. Eliot had shifted around the surfaces of cargo boxes to disguise them like stone pillars and walls, while the center of the cargo bay held a similar ‘stone’ deck, with a ‘stone’ table and two long benches—
“Soon?” Azocar asked, his gaze directed behind Eliot.
Eliot turned.
Aurora was coming up from behind, speaking with her spymaster Yoro at her side, saying, “I don’t want them interrupting; make it happen, Yoro.”
Yoro bowed a little and then stepped away, vanishing in a slip of speed.
Eliot almost wanted to ask about who could possibly want to interrupt this meeting—
But Aurora looked to Eliot and said, “They’re headed this way right now. Lock the room and set the stage.”
Go time, then.
Eliot slipped his awareness into the floor, the walls, the doors, threading into the man-made materials.
He sealed the doors shut. He locked the windows to the cargo bay. And then Eliot got fancy. The bridge leading to the Grand Port, just beyond the open cargo bay door, flickered with lights, like an illuminated red carpet, but purple, because they were receiving royalty. The day was bright outside the cargo bay, but inside it was darker, so Eliot created the lights on the ceiling of the cargo bay. The lights came on calmly, as though clouds had dispersed overhead, transforming the normal gloom of the interior of the ship to as bright as noon on a cloudless day.
Beyond the purple bridge lay the interior of the Grand Port.
Other levels of the Port had ships loading and unloading and people running back and forth, yelling at each other about the movements of hovercranes and a whole lot of general, controlled chaos. Ships had to unload and load in a speedy sort of way, after all. They had to organize around 8 different elevators, too. But this level of the Grand Port was empty. Calm.
The only thing on this level of the Grand Port was a single, open elevator shaft. The elevator lifted into view, and then Eliot saw them. Three people, with two guards—
Aurora snapped her heels together and strode out from behind the stony boxes. She did not need to command Eliot and Azocar to fall in line, because that’s what they did without needing to be told.
Aurora walked into the ‘clearing’ of the cargo bay, with Eliot on her left and Azocar on her right. They mirrored the people coming up the bridge into the cargo bay, though the royal had an extra two people, her guards, that fanned out to the sides of the room. The royal and her two people came straight at Aurora, Eliot, and Azocar.
On the left of the royal was a woman that Eliot had met a few times already; Ambassador Iliandra Snowstepper. She was to be the Ambassador for the settlement project, and she would be joining them on the ship for the rest of the journey to the site. Eliot liked her, as much as he liked any ambassador.
On the right of the royal was an old man in thick robes that held himself straight and tall, but who still seemed burdened with age and responsibility, because he was. He was Provisioner Radian Olden, of the Office of the Provisioner of Aluatha. He was responsible for all of the settlement project’s material coordination with Aluatha. Eliot had heard he was 150 years old, or older, and something of a Grand Mage.
And in the center was the royal.
Second Imperial Princess Walaria, who was crowned in a sunburst glow that highlighted the brightest red hair that Eliot had ever seen. Her white cape and dress floated around her like gossamer light brought down to the mortal realm, while her red eyes bored into Eliot like lasers.
And that’s when Eliot almost pissed himself.
Eliot felt Observed in a way he had rarely felt. It was like being near a kaiju. Like looking up at Addavein, as the dragon stared into Eliot’s everything, judging him from kilometers away, yet still able to reach him all the same. Eliot could never return the touch. Eliot was forever able to be struck, and unable to strike. For small threats, Eliot was able to protect himself, but against the big threats, he could just watch, and Second Princess Walaria was one of those big threats.
She was like a god—
Walaria moved her gaze away from Eliot, back to Aurora, and it was like a sword had been taken from his neck. Time had been slowed, and now time advanced rapidly, almost disjointed as it jumped forward.
The 6 of them were seated, somehow.
Eliot barely recalled the process that had resulted in them ending up at the table, seated as ceremony demanded. But his ass was firmly on the bench, and they were seated across from each other, and Aurora was speaking and Walaria said something in return. Eliot had a brief moment of wondering if he had been subjected to some sort of Mind Power, but he was pretty sure he was fine. He had simply been terrified out of his mind for one very, very large moment. He wished that would happen less. Once he was able to create the settlement, to stand behind the power of Castellan, he would feel a lot better.
Gradually, the conversation happening between Aurora and Second Princess Walaria became intelligible, as the sound of blood pumping in Eliot’s ears began to ease.
“… third stance, in the Tenets of Empire, we speak now regarding the noble houses that you have taken under your wings, that you enable through the support of the first two Tenets of Empire.” Walaria stared at Aurora, her red eyes filled with judgment, as she asked, “Will you follow the rules of the law, and ensure that the people and the powers they wield under your orders, will only be used for the good of humanity? Will you ensure that whatever horrors perpetuated by your people will not undermine the greater whole?”
“I so swear,” Aurora said, “The people and the powers they wield, under my authority, granted to me by the Aluatha Empire, will only be used for the good of humanity. I will ensure that the lawbreakers and the never-do-wells will have a minimal effect on the outcome of our settlement.”
Walaria gave a small nod. She moved on. “In the fourth stance, in the Tenets of Empire, we speak now regarding the lessers that you enable, through the support of the first three Tenets of Empire. Will you spread prosperity for all humans who huddle under your wings, to ensure that when the sky rips and the world breaks, that the people survive? Will you do what you can for those who choose not to follow your rules directly? Will the systems you create shelter even your enemies, in times of peace, and in times of horror and happening?”
“I so swear,” Aurora said, “I will shelter all who exist within my influence, including those who would call me enemy. When the world breaks, I, and all I oversee, will endeavor to save as many as we can.”
“In the fifth stance, in the Tenets of Empire, we speak now of the duties to hold back the wilds…”
With his back straight and the fear that had gripped him slowly ebbing away, Eliot witnessed history. He was not called to speak. He was not called to do anything at all. But he was here, and his cameras were recording well.
The Tenets of Empire lasted all the way to the tenth tenet, and soon the major oaths were over.
Walaria stood first, and then Aurora and everyone else stood.
Walaria intoned, “We of Aluatha grant you authority for one purpose: the prosperity of humanity in the face of all monsters.”
Aurora intoned, “I wield the authority granted to me by Aluatha with one purpose: the prosperity of humanity in the face of all monsters.”
Walaria said, “By the power of the Emperor, and the Aluatha Empire, I, Second Princess Walaria Aluatha, do grant Aurora Valen of House Valen, the title of General of Settlement. Congratulations. We look forward to your success.”
Aurora bowed. Eliot and Azocar mirrored her bow.
“Rise,” Walaria commanded.
They rose.
Walaria nodded.
Provisioner Radian Olden unfurled a large scroll onto the stone table, listing out everything that had been said.
Ambassador Iliandra Snowstepper set down a spike of crystal and a small dish of red ink.
Walaria picked up the crystal and signed her name, and then Aurora did the same—
Walaria looked to Eliot.
Eliot panicked. He wasn’t supposed to do anything! He was just supposed to stand here and look pretty! What did she—
Aurora whispered to Eliot, “A recording of the event.”
Eliot realized what he was needed for! Yes. He was supposed to give them a recording of the event. Eliot had even prepared for this! He delivered a small flicker of Manipulation toward the recording device in his pocket. The recording crystal inside the device flickered to finality. With a deft hand, Eliot plucked the crystal out of his pocket and handed it to Aurora.
Aurora handed off the crystal to Walaria—
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Walaria snatched the crystal with a deft grip and twisted her hand, disappearing the small block of solid-state information somewhere else, out of sight, out of mind. And then Walaria smiled, and all of the horrors of the previous ten minutes seemed to vanish with an uptick of Walaria’s blood-red lips. She grinned, and the grin turned into a smile, and then she clapped her hands, and laughed once.
Walaria exclaimed, “Excellent! Wonderful! I’m so glad you’re finally getting out into the world as a proper general, Aurora!” She looked to Eliot, and Eliot did not feel fear this time, as Walaria spoke in a knowing tone, “And the Empire has gained a true Man-made Manipulator, as well.”
Her tone and face was one of happy joy.
Aurora, Azocar, Iliandra, and everyone else, remained solidly professional. Eliot was fine with being stoic, so that is what he did.
Walaria waved a hand at the walls and the entire facade that Eliot had built, all of the fake stone and the ‘sunlights’ overhead, and all of the cameras here and there, all shattered, revealing the cargo hull as it had been. As though Eliot hadn’t done a single damned thing to prepare for the meeting. The six of them and Walaria’s guards once again stood on a plain steel cargo hull, the bay lights hidden behind tall boxes, the sunlight beyond the open cargo bay the only real illumination in the space. Sunlight poured in at an angle, reflected off of the glass exterior of the Grand Port, and all of Walaria’s shimmery, gossamer dress, seemed a whole lot more real, turning from thick mist to a horse riding outfit underneath a simple white cape.
Walaria sat down on a simple chair, which was one of 4, and waved a hand, saying, “Radian and Azocar, please go talk about things. I need to chat with these three.” She gestured to the chairs. “Sit! Sit.”
Eliot was caught off guard, but no one else seemed to suffer that same fate. Azocar introduced himself to Provisioner Radian and those two went off chatting, into the ship, while Aurora bowed and took a seat along with Ambassador Iliandra.
Walaria grinned at Eliot, for Eliot was still standing five seconds after her orders had gone out to sit. She seemed predatory, like a dragon playing with her food. Maybe that sort of idea wasn’t too far from the truth. The whole line of Emperors of Aluatha were rumored to be the descendants of dragons, but that rumor was officially untrue, according to the Empire—
“What thoughts occur?” Walaria asked Eliot.
Eliot rapidly sat down, saying, “I’m stunned by your beauty, but I’m becoming accustomed.”
Aurora was a stone mask. Iliandra breathed in a little too sharply.
Walaria chuckled lightly as she turned to Aurora, saying, “He’s cute. I might need to steal him from you in a few years.”
Eliot choked on nothing.
Walaria was pleased with herself as she continued, “Tell me everything I need to know that you won’t put down on paper, Aurora, starting with the status of your primary pillars. Start with Reeni Thumb, your Agriculture and Resource Management woman. I want to know how you finally managed to get her to come out of retirement.”
Eliot rapidly had several thoughts.
Eliot was suddenly comfortable, and also awed, because while he was going to be the center of the building of the new city, he wasn’t a proven power, and so he hadn’t been included in certain Big Talks. Not yet. Certain parts of the whole settlement project were still hidden from him. From the bare bones nature of the houses that the nobles wanted, meaning that they were going to do all of their final builds themselves, to the histories of a few different people in the project, like Mark’s apparent rival, Tartu Solari, the son of Grand Mage Rekaro Solari, and now Reeni Thumb’s suddenly interesting background, Eliot didn’t know as much as he should know about all of the people around him. Part of that was the utterly terrifying week, or whatever, they had spent in the Crossing, and the days that Eliot had needed to recover from that. He hadn’t spent enough time talking to people, to figure out every angle in the project.
But apparently he was being brought in on one of those Big Talks right now, seeing as how he was sitting here, listening in to a Big Conversation between the Second Princess of the Aluatha Empire, and Eliot’s boss for at least the next 5 years. Probably a lot longer than 5 years, honestly.
Eliot loved plots and gossip. This was so much more interesting than giant monsters.
But of course, it all came back to giant monsters.
Aurora said, “Reeni wants to be there when Addavein steps out of line, so she can try a few things to rip him apart into Addashield and the demon.”
Eliot’s eyes went wide. Holy shit, this was a Big Deal. They were talking about what that one demon, Leash, had said to Mark inside that Light Box, months ago, to taunt him into making a Contract.
Walaria stared at Aurora, her eyes full of concern and knowing, as she asked, “Has she made any progress with her chimeric experiments?”
“She put a chicken and a fish together last month and she pulled them back apart, but only in shape. The souls were still mixed. The chicken ended up drowning when it went for a swim but the fish remains alive.”
Walaria looked disappointed as she leaned back, frowning. “Let me know if she will allow a visit, or if she wants any of our mages helping her. We have thousands of people working on the problem as well. If we can rescue Addashield then we will, but we will not treat with Addavein at all.” Walaria put her frown away. “Your pillars.”
Aurora smiled a little, showing emotion for the first time, but only a little, as she said, “We have a total of 23 pillars, not including me or my brother. I’m particularly happy with Sam Ranger’s inclusion, and for his showing with the sky snake kaiju that accosted us on our way to the Southern Crossing. Do you wish to see the video? Eliot made a good video on the incident.”
Eliot had a small moment of panic because he was currently cut off from all of his records and there was something in the air preventing him from reaching out to connect to the ship’s systems. It was a sequestering effect, and Walaria was certainly responsible for this magic, so was Aurora asking Eliot to break the effect, or for Walaria to end the effect? Was this some sort of game of power being played out in front of Eliot, or—
Walaria waved a hand. “I saw the video, and I would keep our talk secure.” She asked, “You would lay that man’s accomplishments at his own feet? Not at the various boosters you have in your midst, including that Union boy?”
“Mark is adamantium blooded, so he will certainly be a pillar in a few years,” Aurora said. “He’s also going to be a source of adamantium for the settlement.”
Walaria’s eyes went wide.
Iliandra gasped a little.
Eliot found himself suddenly hoping that Mark was going to be okay, because there was greed and desire shining in Walaria’s eyes… and then Walaria put that look away.
… Had Eliot imagined that? No, he hadn’t imagined it at all.
Walaria said, “I am glad to know that I won’t have to punish you and yours for trading with Addavein.” She said, “Ignore the other pillars; I know enough of them. Speak of the smaller pillars among your people, and whoever might one day grow into true pillars. Let me help you help them to grow.”
Aurora seemed a little disappointed, but she hid it well. She began, “We have this one young man with Copy Attack and a knack for retaining aspects of those attacks. He can’t hold on to the true form of anything yet, but we expect him to be able to learn how to copy Skills in synergistic ways in a few years, after some tutoring with our Grand Mage. His name is Sorin Petrikov and we fully expect him to become a pillar with enough support.”
Walaria hummed; vaguely disappointed. “Only attacks?”
“He has gained some ability to Copy attacks that can also do other things. But it’s an Arcane Skill; it does have to be an attack.”
Walaria tsk’d, then said, “Uninterested.”
Aurora continued, “A pair of siblings; one of them is a Natural Alchemist and the other has a stranger Skill, Item Foundry, that allows him to take properly tagged items and make more of them. Eliza and Will Birch.”
Walaria raised an eyebrow. “Is Will a Tinkerer, or…?”
“It’s a Natural Skill as well.”
Walaria was suddenly very interested. “Do they have a Witch in their party? In their general vicinity at all?”
“I’m trying to get them to work with Reeni, but she’s not having it and the Natural Alchemist girl wants to be a healer, only, while the Item Foundry boy wants to be rich and indolent. I still have hopes for them because they both signed the 5 year contract, and they both want to be here, but I foresee some troubles with both of them.” Aurora added, “There is no Witch to guide them to power.”
“I’ll send you a Witch.”
“We welcome your generosity.” Aurora continued, “Our Seers —the Prognosticator, the Battlesenser, and the Fortunate— are all showing adequate promise. The Fortunate has already steered the ship away from four previously unknown kaiju that would have attacked us, if we would have gotten near them. All three of them could use some more assistance with learning their Skills. The Prognosticator is incredibly far behind where they could be. The Battlesenser might end up washing out; they did not take well to seeing their first true monsters. Big Silver sent them into a 3 day coma.”
Big Silver had almost sent Eliot into the afterlife, too. Just imagining seeing those eyes, like moons, hovering above the horizon…. Eliot shivered. He did notice that Aurora didn’t name names, though, when it came to the Seers in the settlement project. They were well hidden for Reasons, Eliot was sure.
Fortune tellers were always well hidden, though, if they were worth a damn.
Walaria nodded in quiet thought, then decided, “I’ll send you a Witch for the Prognosticator. If the other two make their way to the Prognosticator’s lessons then they will be allowed to benefit as well, but I would rather not take them too solidly in hand.”
“We welcome your generosity.” Aurora continued, “I have two strong True Fliers who think of themselves as superheroes, who have never faced monsters in a proper setting. I have handed off their case to the appropriate people, but I can only hope they survive real fights with real danger.”
She didn’t name their names, either, huh?
Walaria frowned a little. “Superheroes, eh?” She went silent in thought.
Aurora waited.
“You have the Hero/Villain Program happening, yes?”
“We do. I have forbidden their actions for at least a month, but I suspect that I will be dealing with that manufactured drama much sooner than that.”
Walaria hmm’d, then looked at Aurora. It was easy to tell that she had chosen not to engage with that whole superhero/villain thing at all.
Aurora continued...
Eliot heard a lot of gossip that day.