Celeste walked through Marcusburg and was amazed to see people healed for anything that had ailed them. However, it wasn't just people. Items, buildings, and anything that could be mended were mended. Her command had called for the world to be fixed, and by her divine word, it had been.

Even her own body had been restored.

Health 40/40 Energy 2/7

She was met with a relieved-looking Selma, who was making her way towards the burst of divine Energy, her sword in hand and ready to fight whatever threatened her home. Behind the human, the smug-looking Drow and the battle-ready dwarf followed, and behind them, the serene elf seemed to almost slide across the ground.

The full council appeared to have arrived, ready to show that they weren't just part of the bureaucracy.

Celeste wasn't in the mood for their games, so she nodded to them all before speaking curtly.

"I have taken care of your ork problem. As far as I can tell, the orks will still be in the lands, but they will be busy in the southwestern part of A'kastin. They won't disturb you as long as you don't disturb them." She spoke softly, but her tone was clipped. She knew she had a tired look on her face.

The trio of diplomats behind Selma gave each other a look. With that they seemed to scatter to each part of the city, saying nothing, not even a polite goodbye.

Celeste smiled, she assumed that the trio would be trying to find a new way to put pressure on Marcusburg, but that really couldn't be her problem right now.

"Thank you for your help." Selma's voice was warm and earnest. She was clearly relieved that her people would be able to accept trade once more.

The goddess gave her a look. Celeste hadn't forgotten that the mayor owned her a great debt. After all, the whole warehouse of crafting materials had been raided to protect the city. Crafting materials that belonged to Celeste.

"You will have to do better than just a thank you. We will have to talk." The Architect of Reality said with a firm voice.

With that, Celeste walked towards the building where the council normally held its meetings. When she got there, she quickly deconstructed a table and a couple of chairs to instantly reconstruct the most comfortable recliner her divine powers would allow her to create, and she dumped herself in it.

The goddess sighed a long and deep sigh, her body seemingly melting under the much-needed comfort of just having proper lumbar support.

The human leader had probably been rationing her supply for a while, but somehow, she still managed to find some spiced wine to present to Celeste. The goddess could not have been happier as she gracefully took the cup and drank.

Maybe punishing Selma directly was a bad idea.

"So, do you want to tell me what happened out there?" Selma Kingborn asked, not taking a seat but just standing there, looking at the person who had annihilated her furniture to make herself a new seat.

Celeste told an abridged version of what had happened. She didn't go into too much detail, and she didn't mention the fact that Orlek had appeared in the realm. If Selma didn't know that, she didn't need to.

"Anyway, I convinced the leaders of the orkish tribe that they needed to protect a random tree. Since they are occupied with that, you will probably see a couple of skirmishes, but nothing too intense." She finished up with a sigh, downing the last of the spiced wine.

Selma seemed to be nodding along, and as the story dragged on, she ended up taking a seat on one of the benches left.

Celeste finally smiled and pulled out the old crown. However, it had been restored completely thanks to her dumping most of her power all over the area. Any dents and damage were completely gone, and thanks to being so close to the epicentre of the divine command, all imperfections had been fixed. Celeste was sure that she could not have done a better job if she had to craft it herself.

The crown itself wasn't impressive like some crowns Celeste had seen in the real world, but it was still made from some silver alloy and inlaid with nail-sized gems along the edge. It was clear that it had been forged before Kelllwan became a god, as it bore no resemblance to the god's holy symbol, looking more like a diadem than a crown.

The goddess handed over the crown to Selma and smiled. "Selma Kingborn. I grant you this gift. By my divine hand, I proclaim that anyone who wields this crown shall be recognized by the heavens as the owner of A'kastin." Celeste said in a proud voice.

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Crown of Divine Mandate [https://i.postimg.cc/CxbMdsbW/image.png]

Celeste cursed the other gods under her breath, but then again, she might try to put up a challenge if a mortal should be considered higher than her. She idly wondered if Jasper and Martin would gain a pop-up asking them if they wanted to oppose the new rule to reality or if, since they were all known as Armandos, they would count as having consented because it was her idea.

It was a high price, but she was willing to pay it. Not because she had any love for Selma, quite the opposite in fact. The crown would become a curse for whoever wore it. Recognized as the true leader of the country; not wearing it would mean that you could lose legitimacy at any point, but wearing it would mean that people could steal it from you.

Celeste smiled politely as Selma took it and put it on her head. A halo sprang up behind her, shining brightly as all the gods acknowledged her as the true leader of A'kastin.

It wasn't long before metal armour rustling could be heard against the newly minted cobblestone. Celeste instinctively repaired the stone. She didn't have to spend Energy to use her power Faultless Repair, which had quite a wide range now.

Faultless Repair [https://i.postimg.cc/HW57bX09/image.png]

Celeste could recognize the person wearing the armour from their steps. That, and there was only really one person she had seen wear full-plate armour in Marcusburg.

Marcel, the Purple Ilsher, and apparently the greatest strategist among all the drows, stepped inside. However, the moment he found himself in the presence of Selma Kingborn, the drow knelt. The heavy sound of armour hitting the ground echoed through the sparsely furnished building. Celeste could swear that she heard Selma's jaw hit the floor a second later.

"Valsharess, what is the meaning of this?" The Purple Ilsher spit between his teeth as if the words stung.

"Valsharess... that is a new word. What is it you normally call me? Rivvil?" She asked, just as confused as Celeste was, though Selma was clearly basking in her power.

The sound of the stone breaking underneath Marcel was audible as he struggled against an invisible force. No matter how much he struggled, he was forced into the kneeling position. Just to spite the arrogant drow, Celeste made sure to fix the ground underneath him.

"It is not appropriate for me to educate you on simple matters, Valsharess" The Purple Ilsher said, still struggling to break free from the bonds that held him.

The sound of heavy boots hammering against the ground could be heard not far from the council's hall, and Marcel's look of frustration was quickly replaced with one of terror.

"Please! My Queen, do not make me beg. Let me rise, before the dwarf can-" He was cut off by roaring laughter as Ülwrick entered the room.

The dwarf had pulled the axe and hammer from his belt, clearly ready to fight, and his face had a massive grin as if he was delighted to fight something. However, he did not drop to his knees like Marcel, but he grew tense when he saw the drow on his knees.

Had he been expecting a fight without knowing what was happening in here? Something must be wrong. Celeste should do something, but she felt exhausted and let the farce continue.

"Who did this to you? Where is the enemy?" Ülwrick said with complete sincerity. Clearly, believing that the only way that the drow would be brought to his knees was through combat.

Selma had an almost predatory smile on her lips as she cleared her throat. Instead of addressing Ülwrick she instead focused on Marcel.

"Please, my advisor and trusted ally, rise." Her words seemed kind, but it was clearly a display of her power.

Marcel shot up from the floor. The power that he had been straining against just moments ago lifted. His face was purple, and Celeste was sure that he had to make last-moment adjustments to his body to prevent him from shooting through the roof of the building.

Ülwrick's jaw dropped, and his attention slowly turned to Selma. "Lass, did you do something stupid?" His voice was stern and hesitant, and Celeste couldn't help but notice the complete lack of mirth that had been there just moments ago. She would have thought that the dwarf would have been happy to see his rival humiliated in such a way.

Mayor Kingborn shook her head. "I have not. The Traveller granted me this gift." She pointed to her head, where the crown was shinning brightly, and it was like Ülwrick had only now discovered the halo radiating from her.

"What is that?" He asked, eyes piercing.

Selma was nothing but joy. "It is my birthright. My divine recognition. Every god in existence now acknowledges me as the true ruler of this land, " she said, and Marcel's gasp made everything click for Celeste.

She felt rather stupid for not putting the pieces together before. Why Marcel had been forced to kneel while Ülwrick could remain standing. The Purple Ilsher was part of Daikia's pantheon. What had Mordekai called them when she met him the first time around?

She could swear that she almost had a flashback as the game was happy to provide the information. Apparently, she had passed some kind of hidden stat check.

> "[...]Each of her children has been bestowed a gift of the divine, for she has been blessed by darkness itself. Now you understand that my power is not that of a demi-god, but that of a demi-ur-god.[...]"

The Ilshers gained power through Daikia and were forced to uphold their mother's commitments. Ülwrick, on the other hand, did not have any Divine Domains, and his power came from his weapons. Celeste was reasonably sure that the closer someone was to a god, the more the crown compelled them to acknowledge them as the rightful ruler of A'kastin and act accordingly.

Ülwrick looked concerned, but recognizing that the power dynamic had changed, so he didn't say anything.

"Now, my loyal advisor, why did you come to check up on me?" She asked Marcel, and judging by the Purple Ilsher's facial expression, Celeste would be surprised if Selma lived through the week. The crown was already doing its job.

"A massive crystal structure was seen in the lands where the orks are from. As the ruler of this land, I planned on holding you accountable for this development, Valsharess," He said through clenched teeth. However, this time, it was clearly to bite back any inappropriate words.

Selma paused and looked at the two advisors, and things seemed to click for her as well.

"Where is Esselaia?" She asked, noticing the one person lacking from the council.

Before anyone could speak up, a cry came from the town guard outside the council hall. Only one word seemed to carry on the wind as more cries joined the first.

"DRAGONS!"