Ingrid looked in awe at the unfathomable number of books in the spiraling shelves that vanished upward into the dim recesses of the library tower. Dozens of servants ran about with feather dusters, buckets of wax, wood sealant, and vacuums powered by Air Elementals. The fine rugs were being rolled up and carried away.

"Memories linger in this place," Ashe said. "Intent, emotion, ambition." She fluttered up into the towering stacks and vanished into the dimness.

Ingrid lingered and admired the activity and the beauty of the structure. She could not possibly imagine who would create such a place, or the wealth required to restore it. The library smelled of chemicals and musty leather.

"There you are!" Vaska said as she strutted through the room in her high-heel sandals. "Ah yes, the ancient library tower of House Veronika. Impressive, yes? Ingrid, I would advise that you find and read a history of your new adopted family."

"When did you arrive?" Ingrid asked.

"My aircraft just landed. I am unfamiliar with this region and your new home, so I could not use the Firstborn's projection. I have only read about this library tower in books."

"What happened to House Veronika?"

"You will need to read and find out!" Vaska said, pointing up toward the bookshelves. "Or wait for my father to arrive and explain it. He probably knows all about it."

"Here! Here!" Ashe cried as she descended. She was carrying a leather-bound book between her hands, a book that looked to outweigh her. She struggled, her face turning red as she held the book in front of Vaska's face. "Take it! Burn it!"

Vaska snapped the book out of Ashe's hands. It was bound in black leather stamped with silver filigree. The edges on all sides were sprayed with silver paint. Vaska opened the book and rifled through the first few pages. It was handwritten, with hand-drawn and hand-colored illustrations. There were clearly kings and queens being represented, and the likeness of various Elementals.

"Neat," Vaska said.

"Destroy it! Burn it with fire!" Ashe insisted.

"No, I'm curious now. I..." Vaska froze and her face went pale. She slowly closed the book.

Destroy the book, a sinister feminine voice said. The shadows in the room began to darken, and the High Daughter of Darkness materialized. Standing nearly twice as tall as Vaska, she held daggers in both hands and bled smoke into the air, absorbing the light. Summon the High Daughter of the Queen of Fire and condemn this abomination to ashes and dust.

"Even the Firstborn wants to destroy it?" Ingrid asked. Vaska nodded.

"Come Ingrid, my father is landing very soon. He has an escort of one hundred fighter jets. Don't you want to see? We can burn the book by the runway."

I advise that you go with her and burn it, Titania said.

"Sure," Ingrid said. She put the book out of her mind as she turned toward the entrance to the library.

The entire structure could have been imported from the Plane of Wing, because it was mostly constructed from white marble laced with turquoise veins. Occupying and obscuring the joint between the ceiling and the walls was a decorative cornice of turquoise crystal embedded with black and gold figures, perhaps altogether conspiring to tell a grand history of the home. The rugs were mostly red, laced with gold, turquoise, and dark blue. The hallways were decorated with landscape paintings that depicted the various Elemental Planes.

The field outside the home had been converted into a runway with the help of Stone Elementals. Imperial Marines wandered around with Fire elementals burning away the snow on the runway. Several hangars had been constructed across the runway with help from Metal Elementals. Ingrid's own Falling Leaf fighter jet was parked in the closest hangar. The door was still open, and powdery snow swirled at the threshold.

Vaska casually tossed the book into the thin layer of powder near the edge of the runway. She nodded to Ingrid.

"Fire of my Spirit! Destroy this book!"

The sleek form of the High Daughter appeared. She began to laugh, a wild, burning, roaring laugh.

Foolish latecomer, the Daughter of Fire said. You wish me to burn the mortal histories of your embarrassments.

"You are a fool!" Ashe snapped to the burning Elemental. "As foolish as the mortals who penned this book. None of your kind understand second-order effects! You think like insects!"

The High Daughter raised her flaming sword and stabbed it through the cover of the book. It began to turn orange, like a log left in a fire for too long, glowing from the inside. The pages began to curl like the legs of a dying spider.

"You are dismissed," Ingrid said. The High Daughter vanished.

After a few minutes, ten HY-3 Spearhead fighter jets flew past in a delta formation, followed by two sets of ten, three sets of ten, and finally four sets of ten. One hundred fighter jets in a massive delta formation that spanned the sky. A single Falling Leaf fighter, painted white and gold, lined up and began to deploy the landing gear and flaps. The single glimmering light on the forward landing gear crossed Ingrid's vision like a meteor. It pitched up just before hitting the runway and the rear wheels very gently caressed the smooth black stone. The nose dropped and it began to slow down.

A second airplane was following in the wake of the fighter. It was a tube with a pointy nose, narrow wings, and a T-tail just behind two engines. It was also painted white and gold, and it made an equally smooth landing.

Both airplanes taxied to and parked inside the same hangar. Natasha climbed out of the fighter jet, wearing a white fur coat and hat. The door to the tube-like airplane opened and soldiers on the ground inserted a short ramp into the opening. The Emperor marched down the ramp, wearing a fine military-style uniform as well as a golden mesh studded with crystals and a crown. Ingrid was certain this was the first time she had seen the man not wearing hunting gear.

"Ingrid!" Natasha said. "The new Commander of the White Ravens!" She reached out and kissed Ingrid on both cheeks.

Ingrid shook her head. "I think you need to find someone else. I thank you, for teaching me precision and discipline, but I feel like the Ravens need a commander with more passion."

"Of course. We need to speak at length." Natasha reached out and began to kiss Vaska on the cheeks. "How is the new home?"

"There is a solar prepared for us. Also a drawing room, a dining room, and... I forgot the name of the other one."

"A study I would imagine," the Emperor said.

"Yes, that's right. My Emperor, you and your family are welcome in my home." That was probably what she was supposed to say. She bowed just in case.

"Excellent, the flight was long and I am famished. Let us dine together."

The master servants ended up leading the group to the dining room, which had already been fully restored and freshly furnished. A dozen leather chairs surrounded a long dining table, and the Emperor sat at the head of the table with the Princesses on either side. Servants arrived with salads and drinks, which they placed on the table before gracefully vanishing.

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"A wonderful ceiling," Natasha said, pointing up at the mural overhead. It depicted very attractive and very naked people relaxing by a scenic lake in summer. Ashe fluttered around just under the ceiling, staying near the nude figures. "We had such murals in our palace, however my grandmother was prudish and ordered them to be destroyed."

"I remember," Vaska said.

"Mother did not appreciate art," the Emperor said, looking up at the mural. "A masterwork, really. Though it has been cleaned, the paint needs to be repaired in places."

"I am guessing it is four hundred years old or so," Natasha said. "The art from that era often featured similar elements." Vaska nodded.

"I am still so new to this place," Ingrid said as she reached out for a cup of tea. "I'm new to this lifestyle."

"Give it some time," Natasha said. "I'm sure you'll fit right in. But I digress. I have some updates, if you don't mind."

Ingrid nodded.

"The wreckage of the Ten Skies has been searched and Elizabeth's remains have been found. She has been transported to Heylin to be buried with honors at the memorial cemetery. A headstone and an empty tomb has been constructed for Ivan as well. The wreckage of his fighter jet did not contain any remains. Finally, the Federation of Kanti is suing for peace."

"What a novel strategy," Vaska drawled. "They have lost eight-of-ten Fire Elementals, most of the population of their capital city, and almost all military support from the Great Houses."

Natasha nodded. "Great House Demetra has fled to the Elemental Plane of Stone, Yorath has fled to the Plane of Heaven, and Rosalia has fled to the Plane of Light. Between the last three Great Houses, ninety-five percent of Kanti military air assets are unaccounted for. The Federation Army launched a military coup and executed the remaining members of the High Council. They offer us two choices, a brutal guerilla war or a white peace."

"And I intend to accept the peace," the Emperor said. "Conditional on the continued truancy of the Great Houses. Ambassador Rudolf has already been sent to Kanti, and a cease fire has been in effect for about five hours already."

"Which means that our next goal will be to invade the remaining Elemental Planes," Vaska said.

"Our fleets are busy patrolling critical locations in the Planes of Fire, Water, Lightning, and Metal," Natasha said. "So far, the other Great Houses appear to be licking their wounds. Also, there have been developments in fighter jet design that Vaska can elaborate on."

As they finished their salads, the servants arrived with plates of fine steaks and glasses of Heylin wine. Ingrid still could not imagine that there were people who ate such delicious food for their entire lives.

"The development of the HY-9 Skinny Meg is complete," Vaska said.

"Meg lost some weight?" Ingrid asked with a chuckle.

"Indeed. A two seater fighter jet with mechanical hydraulics and hydraulic fluid. It does not require any Water Elementals to fly. The pilots wear oxygen masks as well as earmuffs, and therefore Air Elementals are not required. Pilots can be trained in low G-force maneuvers, removing the need for Life Elementals. The single engine can be powered by a Fire Elemental, and it has room for six Dark-Three missiles that require Dark Elementals to operate."

"So it still requires Elementals?"

"It does, however the two pilots can both be sacrifices. A sacrifice from the Plane of Fire sits in the back, powers the engine and provides navigation support. A sacrifice from the Plane of Darkness sits in the front, pilots the aircraft, and shoots missiles at enemy fighters one at a time."

"Ah, a fighter jet designed specifically for sacrifices to operate."

"Yes, and it does not require any crystals. There is already a pair of pilots who can fly the machine. A young man named Zakx, and another young man named Task. They are very busy teaching their fellow sacrifices how to fly. There is a second type of aircraft designed specifically for sacrifices as well. I am very excited about it."

"Yes, however it is not a fighter jet and I doubt Ingrid would be interested," Natasha said.

"I agree," the Emperor said. "I have something that I need to discuss with Ingrid and Vaska will chat about her airplanes for hours if we don't stop her."

"Fine."

"Ingrid, you have helped my family so much. I would like to thank you, and inform you that House Maryy and House Veronika have historically been allies. I hope to continue this relationship."

"I don't know what to say."

"Let me begin with a bit of history. In ancient times, the Veronika family enjoyed the status of a Great House. They were framers during the binding of Ashe."

"What!?" Vaska exclaimed.

"Patience, daughter."

"I'll never forgive you meat bags for that," Ashe said as she grew to the size of a full woman and took a seat at the table. The servants froze in astonishment.

"Please bring us the rest of our meal and then give us privacy," the Emperor said. The servants bowed and scurried away.

With a desert of cheesecake and strawberries and fresh carafes of wine and water, the servants vanished for good and sealed the doors of the dining hall.

"Three hundred years ago the Great Houses of Demetra, Yorath and Rosalia pooled their forces in a desperate attempt to stop the spread of Great House Veronika. In the previous century, House Veronika succeeded in unifying this continent, subjugating the local noble families, House Aria and House Nadiya."

Vaska was transfixed.

"But I am too far ahead, I think. Let us return to the binding of Ashe. In those ancient times, the great houses feared one name above all others, and that was Titania."

Titania appeared, glowing brightly and holding her spear, floating several feet off the ground. She pointed her spear at the Emperor. Speak no more of my power, she commanded.

"As you wish. One important condition of the binding of Ashe, in order for all Great Houses to agree, was the additional binding of Titania as well. As an extra precaution, the method of bonding, and the nature of contracts, were both modified so that it would be impossible to bond or summon Titania. The Queen of Light agreed to this stipulation, and Titania was not seen again until just recently. Ashe was sealed away, and then history continued.

"Great House Veronika however wanted to find a way to release Titania. This is what triggered the sudden alliance between the three Great Houses of Demetra, Yorath, and Rosalia. They formed the Federation of Kanti, established an elaborate series of treaties and appointed a High Council, joined all of their military assets, and invaded this continent. Our family, House Maryy, entered into a military alliance with Veronika. We sent soldiers and materiel, and supported House Veronika with our intelligence communities, but we are on a different continent, and in the time before aircraft, our support was delayed by a terrible winter. By the time our forces arrived to help, the Federation forces were already deeply invested into this continent, occupying the Ayaru region.

"In spite of our efforts and many casualties, Great House Veronika fell. This building, the ancestral home of the family, was purchased by a wealthy merchant family, House Dren, and remained relatively well preserved until about a hundred years ago when they abandoned the property to live in Ayaru. Presumably it was too cold for them.

"House Veronika had discovered a way of making themselves and their heirs capable of bonding Titania. I do not know how. Even the conquerors did not know how. They consulted with the Queen of Light and she warned them that if they exterminated House Veronika, the capacity to bond Titania would be transferred to the person who killed the final heir. This so terrified the other Great Houses that they decided to not exterminate the family. Instead, they did the opposite. They started breeding heirs of House Veronika, and destroyed all history and evidence that the Great House ever existed."

Vaska turned and pointed at Ingrid. "So that means, she is actually a long lost heir of House Veronika!?"

"Yes, however it is a statistical sleight of hand. Almost three percent of the population of Taisia is directly descended from House Veronika with strong blood ties. It is not unreasonable for a random person from Taisia to have the ability to bond with Titania."

"And you, have some plan for me?" Ingrid asked. "Giving me this home, giving me this new name?"

"It is not a new name, it is your true name," the Emperor said. "As I said, our Great Houses were allies in the past. I believe it is the right thing to do. I hope that our families can continue to be allies for a long time to come."

"You are just terrified of Titania," Vaska mused.

"There is some truth to that. However, me and the other leaders of the Great Houses were all summoned to the Golden Tower at the same time to stand before the Queen of Light. We all needed to be in agreement about who would be granted a contract with Titania. Only scions of House Veronika had the power. There were tens of thousands of options, but one of them was already in a fighter jet flying very close to the portal. This information was reported to the Queen of Light by her network of ocular demon spies."

"My ocular demon was spying on me?!" Ingrid asked.

"Indeed. There are tens of thousands of invisible ocular demons all over the world and the Elemental Planes reporting back to the Queen of Light. It is how she learns about the locations of the portals."

"But the demons in the Plane of Darkness cannot communicate with her," Ashe said with a giggle.

"Yes, that must be why Titania did not know of the portal to the Plane of Darkness until we actually transported ourselves there using the Firstborn," Vaska said. "It also explains why Titania no longer has the power to sense portals. Her dark aspect has been burned away which means ocular demons will not speak to her."

"This is a lot to think about," Ingrid said. "I thought I was just a commoner. An orphan."

"It is very common for scions of House Veronika to end up as orphans," the Emperor said. "They are being actively bred even to this day, under the watchful eyes of House Nadiya. Lots of mouths to feed, some of them end up in orphanages."

"That makes sense. But what I do not understand is why? Why is everyone so afraid of Titania? She is just a normal Light Elemental, right?"

SILENCE, Titania bellowed, pointing her spear straight at the Emperor. He looked concerned. I am not bound by the silly restrictions placed on bonding by you and the other families. I can destroy you and your daughters right now.

"Perhaps we should retire," the Emperor said as he took the last bite of his desert.

Ingrid looked to Ashe. "That book you wanted us to burn?"

The Queen of Darkness nodded.

"Thank you," Ingrid said. "Let us be off."