“We were poisoned?” Freya asked, cold rage in her voice.

“Yes.”

“We were poisoned in our sanctum!?” She nearly shouted.

“Calm yourself, Freya. We’ll have to do a thorough investigation, someone has been planning this for a long time. Joseph get our most capable diviner.”

“Yes, Uncle Nathaniel.”

“Who could have done this?” Freya asked, exasperated. “I know we have enemies, but what family could have done this?”

“I don’t know Freya, but when we find them, we will make them pay.”

Cece smirked as she opened the door to her apartment. Lotte gave a confused look, or as confused as her artificial features could look, until Cece deactivated her stealth grimoire, fading back into visibility.

“Welcome home, Cece.” Lotte said, while sweeping.

“Thank you, Lotte. Could you make me something to eat?”

“Of course, what would you like?” She asked mechanically.

“Surprise me.” She stated. “I’m going to take a bath.”

Cece had had a hard three months. Thanks to her boons she was able to push herself, mind and body, to a limit other humans simply weren’t capable of sustaining, and there had been no reason for her to not do so. Her life was a risk that she wanted to play safe, even if it meant grueling preparations, but that didn’t mean it didn’t wear on her. She wordlessly started preparing a bath, and grabbed a few books that had recently arrived, from her atelier. As the bubbles filled up her tub she stared at the water for a bit, processing the day, before taking her disguise off, her reflection starting to disturb her. She threw the blonde wig and utilitarian clothes to the ground and ripped the simple black eyepatch off of her eye. Her platinum blonde hair fell loose to her back and she stepped into the warm water. She grabbed her book on gunsmithing and began to read. Today had been a good day.

She woke up late the next day, although she wasn’t sure if it could be called waking up late if she had scheduled it in. That just seemed like being a woman of her word. When she woke she was fully conscious. Her enhanced mind didn’t seem to take well to in between states, either unconscious or firing in all six cylinders. Still though she remained in bed for a good hour. She deserved it. When she finally decided to make herself presentable she was pleased to find her soul collection grimoire on her bedside table, where it had been inscribed to land. She had had to leave her window open, but it was warm enough that it wasn’t uncomfortable. It hadn’t arrived until after she went asleep, likely due to the strange route she had had the thing follow. On the off chance someone saw it she had it fly around the city a bit before coming here, a worthwhile investment since she now had the souls of twenty two mages, or twenty one mages and an elemental. She wasn’t sure if there was a qualitative difference between them for Knowledge, but she felt like there must be.

Once she was done convalescing herself and saying good morning to Lotte, she stepped confidently into her atelier, and rolled up the rug on the floor, to reveal her sigil to Knowledge. She had souls she may as well use them sooner rather than later.

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“I summon thee, oh great serpent of knowledge, tempter of Eve. I beseech thee, grant me the power to learn what I desire. Grant me the knowledge divine.” She chanted.

The world spun around her and her feet landed firmly in dark water with a hearty splash.

“Back so soon, Cece? You’ve been quite ambitious.”

“Yes, I like to think so.” She said with a grin walking closer to the terrifying serpent wrapped around its obelisk. Cece had grown far less afraid of the creature, and her control of her body let her act as if fear didn’t exist at all, but still there was a certain primal fear of a snake that big that was hard to shake.

“So, what have you brought me.” Knowledge hissed in interest.

“Twenty two souls, one of which is a failed elemental if that is worth more.”

“It is indeed, what kind of elemental.”

“Electrum. Or gold and silver.”

“Oh my it will be worth quite a bit more.”

“Why is that?”

“Because it is far more interesting to me.” The snake answered. Cece couldn’t argue with that.

“It is an interesting case study.”

“Yes, I know you mortals like to postulate about alloyed elementals, but it’s intriguing to see one in the flesh, even it didn’t succeed. May I see it to confirm.”

Cece held the soul orb up, unlike the others it wasn’t glassy, but metallic and shimmery. Knowledge’s eyes flashed red several times accompanied by a blaring noise that Cece would have been alarmed by if she hadn’t been expecting it.

“It is very interesting. I will give you five souls for it, for a total of twenty seven. Would you like to see your boons?” It asked. There was something strange to its tone, it sounded inordinately pleased in a way that made Cece hesitate.

“Yes, please.” She smiled anyway.

“Very well, here are your options.” It said. The obelisk’s many scripts and pictograms changing to Astraeveau. Cece carefully looked over her options before choosing. She decided on three, the first two were just utility options she wanted, although the second was quite expensive at ten souls, but she felt it was worth after thinking it over.

“Night’s Eye: One of your eyes gains the ability to see in complete darkness”

“Piercing Mage Sight: Allows you to more easily view magic inside a living creature. Practice can improve strength.”

The third was what truly excited her.

“Alchemetrix’s Mark: Allows you to mark a scroll, grimoire, or other set of inscriptions with a personal sigil. When the spell is activated it will allow you to see and hear through the mark. This effect uses some of the magic in the scroll.”

Being able to see with her ocularis had been a great tool, so she wanted to expand that on that visual range. Unfortunately they were limited to normal vision. There was another boon that would allow her other boons to affect it, but it was a staggering fifteen souls, and Cece was currently left with two after her purchases.

“Good choices, as usual Cece. Are you done?”

“Yes, unfortunately, I can’t afford anything else. Thank you, you’re unholiness.” She yet again mocked with her faux-respectful moniker.

“Tsss tsss.” Knowledge laughed. It’s hissing causing ripples in the water. “Before you go, we need to have a discussion, Cece.” The snake replied. Cece almost flinched at the prospect, her mind racing to find what reason the colossal serpent would need to speak to her.”

“Is this a good or bad discussion.” Cece asked.

“Well, I think its good, but it depends on your mindset.”

“I see…” Cece said urging the snake to go on.

“Are you familiar with daemon kings?”

“Not much, but yes.” Cece replied. The church did its best to hide that kind of thing, but it was difficult to hide that particular piece of knowledge when one of them ruled a country.

“What do you know about them?”

“Every devil has a king or queen, that is for some reason more powerful than a regular daemon. That’s about all I know.”

“I suppose that is a satisfactory baseline.” Knowledge said in a way that clarified it absolutely wasn’t. “They are more powerful because they are granted a special privilege by their devil. Do you know how kings are assigned?”

“I assume the strongest daemon under them get’s it, or something of that nature.”

“It’s based on who has given the most souls to that devil.”

“May I ask why this is relevant? Does your king need my help with som-”

“You have just become my king. Cecilia Silva, you are now the daemon queen of Knowledge.” The devil hissed.