The flagship Elysium sailed through a starless night, the soft glow of its propulsion engines giving off enough light to see the bottom edges of the clouds beneath it. Far away in the distance, golden rays from the supply lines leading to Babylon Headquarters streamed across the night sky.
A figure clad in pure white stood in the command crescent of the airship, gazing outside the window at the vast network of highways that stretched across the starry sky. Her ocean-blue eyes shimmered with a mixture of melancholy and hope.
Elaine Escathos sighed and turned around, her long white hair flowing behind her as the airship approached the fortress city.
The golden walls and domes of the massive structure were already visible in the distance. A myriad of streets and alleyways that wove between the gigantic towers and buildings of Babylon crisscrossed each other, creating a beautiful lattice-like pattern of lights in the darkness.
Elaine could imagine the pedestrians gathered in the streets, the lights and colors of the marketplaces holding their attention. The sweet scents of dessert wafted through the air as merchants peddled their goods and cart sellers hocked their native street food.
She shook off her thoughts and walked towards the control panel, where her assistant awaited her. The young man had short, spiky black hair and a pair of black-framed glasses. He wore a wrinkly white shirt and black pants, contrasting sharply with Elaine's uniform.
"Good evening, Miss Escathos," the assistant said, bowing respectfully. "We'll be arriving at Babylon Headquarters in a few minutes. Is there anything you need me to prepare for your arrival?"
Elaine shook her head. "No, thank you, Evan. I will retire to my chambers to prepare for my meeting with the Chancellor. Please make sure the crew is notified when we've landed."
Evan nodded and turned back to his console, his fingers flying over the buttons as he relayed the message to the crew. As the airship began to descend, Elaine approached the back of the ship, where her private chambers awaited. The room was small but elegant, with a large bed covered in soft silk sheets, a desk, and a chair. Elaine walked over to the desk, pressed a button, and picked up a small device.
"Sebastian, are you there?" she asked.
A voice crackled through the device. "Yes, Miss Escathos. How may I assist you?"
"I need a status report on Operation Mistletoe," Elaine said.
There was a brief pause before Sebastian spoke again. "I'm afraid the news is not good, Miss Escathos. Civil unrest has been gaining ground in major cities, and our forces are stretched thin."
Elaine frowned. "What about the new pilots? Have they started training yet?"
"Not yet, Miss Escathos. We're still processing them," Sebastian replied.
Elaine sighed. Her meeting with the Chancellor was in less than an hour, and she had a feeling it wouldn't be pleasant.
"Understood. Please continue to work on it. I'll contact you later."
"Of course, Miss Escathos."
Elaine placed the device on her desk and gazed out the window. She stared out at the city and the tall spires that made up Babylon's headquarters. Maybe she wasn't as powerful as Rhiannon or as influential as the Chancellor. Maybe her work as a coalition president was unglamorous and tedious, but she had to try.
She sighed and pulled out a small pocket watch, checking the time.
"We're here, Miss Escathos," Evan said over the intercom.
Elaine took one more look at the window and turned around. "Very well. I'll be down shortly.
She picked up a small messenger bag that contained her files for the meeting and walked out of her chambers and into the hallway. The decor of the airship was unlike any other airship she'd seen in the past. The walls were covered in art from around the world, hung on black wooden frames. The ceiling was adorned with white, slow-moving clouds.
Elaine made her way to the staircase that would take her to the main deck and walked down it. A moment later, she emerged on the main deck of the Elysium.
The night was still, with only the sounds of the Elysium's propulsion engines and the slight humming of electronics from the control panels.
The crew members were all standing outside the airship, standing at attention. Elaine looked at them and said, "You are dismissed for the rest of the evening and may do whatever you wish. Thank you all for your hard work."
The crew members saluted silently and turned to file off the ship.
"The Chancellor is expecting you, Commander," an aide informed her, bowing as she descended the gangplank.
Elaine straightened her uniform and took a deep breath, steeling herself for the meeting.
As she walked through the halls of the headquarters, she spotted a tall statue in the middle of a hallway. It was a life-sized sculpture of an armored knight mounted on a horse. The knight wore chain mail and carried a sword and shield. The detail in the armor was exquisite, from his silver helmet to every scale on his massive warhorse's barding. His armor was decorated with intricate designs that glittered in the light. Beside him stood a sculpture of a familiar woman in a sorceress's robe, holding a mirror in one hand and her staff in the other.
The plaque at the base of the sculptures read 'The Paladin and the Witch.'
Elaine stopped to take in the sight of the two statues before her. She was never told their whole story — only snippets and variations. Still, she felt a strange sense of wonder and admiration. She could almost imagine the clashing of swords and the woman's chants; it was as if the sculptures were alive, and the tales they told were just waiting to be uncovered.
She made her way towards the Chancellor's office, a grand room with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the bustling streets of Babylon.
The Chancellor was a tall, imposing woman with an air of authority about her. Her long green hair was pulled back in a tight bun, and she wore a crisp, tailored brown suit. She stood up as Elaine entered the office, swishing a glass of wine as her yellow eyes were illuminated by the light of the moon outside.
Elaine bowed her head. "Thank you for having me, Your Excellency."
The Chancellor smirked, lowering her glass, "Now, now. There is no need to be so formal with your grandmother, Elaine."
Elaine felt her heart skip a beat. At roughly thirty years of age, the Chancellor looked like she could have been Elaine's peer. It was strange, sometimes unnerving, even. Although it'd been nearly six years since the Chancellor's revelation, Elaine still hadn't wrapped her head around the idea that she was technically a relative.
The people in the upper echelons had long suspected that the Chancellor was using some sort of magical rejuvenation to maintain her youth. Still, it was a taboo subject that nobody dared to bring up.
Inhaling deeply, she began to speak, "I am here to discuss the ongoing matters concerning our security in North America, Your Excellency. Er, Grandmother. You are aware of the growing number of demonstrations protesting the mistreatment of immigrants from Earth?"
The Chancellor swirled the wine in her glass and took a sip before responding with a smirk, "I am aware of the situation, granddaughter. And rest assured, things are fully under control."
Elaine's forehead crinkled in confusion as she cocked one eyebrow. "Really, grandmother? Things seem to be getting worse and worse by the day, especially with the miners going on strike down in Pepperton City. Senator McDougal wrote a letter asking for more troops from the National Guard to be sent to help, but with all of the attacks here on Earth it doesn't seem like we can spare anyone right now."
The Chancellor hummed, her lips pursed thoughtfully. "Yes, I understand the situation. But it is all according to my plan, it will all turn out for the best in the end." She smiled knowingly and took a sip of her wine.
Elaine narrowed her eyes, a feeling of unease coming over her. Bracing herself, she opened her messenger bag.
"Then, let us also discuss this for a moment."
She reached into her bag and withdrew a dossier. A middle-aged bald man's mugshot was on the cover. There was a small ID card below that. Elaine placed the dossier on the Chancellor's desk and slid it towards her.
The Chancellor's eyes flicked towards the dossier, twinkling as she put a single hand on it. "Now, what is this, Elaine?"
"This is of course, Ezekiel Novak, a decorated soldier from Earth who had seen his share of battles. A former member of Earth's British Special Air Service, 23rd Regiment. Novak had survived countless operations in the Third Chaos War, and when the Fourth Imperatore vanished without a trace, he was promised asylum and citizenship in Shoreline City. His story is a harrowing one that has quickly captured public imagination and discourse. So, I'll ask you this — is he part of your scheme?"
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The Chancellor's smile never left her face as she shook her head. "Novak was simply a mentally ill terrorist suffering from post-traumatic stress. He and his 'activist' cell acted of their own accord, and he will suffer the consequences for his actions." She paused for a moment, her eyes fixated on Elaine.
Elaine bit her lips. She knew the Chancellor was giving her a half-truth, but she couldn't prove it.
"I see," Elaine said, trying to keep her voice steady. "Grandmother, with all due respect, we cannot afford to lose the public's trust. We need to show them that we are not the enemy, that we are here to help them and keep them safe."
The Chancellor's scoffed momentarily, her lips turning into a thin line. "And what do you suggest we do, my dear?"
Elaine took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was coming next. "We have to free Novak and his team. We must lean on Congress to fast-track Proposition 189, which would grant immediate citizenship to Earth immigrants. We can position this as a peace offering, an olive branch to the people of Earth."
The Chancellor laughed, the sound ringing in Elaine's ears. She sat on her seat and sipped her wine, her eyes never leaving Elaine's.
"Dearest granddaughter, there is far more at play here than you realize. I understand the unrest will be a source of concern for you, but I trust you will get a handle on the situation. Releasing a resourceful, loose cannon such as Novak in this political climate would be a grave error."
"He's a war hero, and his release would go a long way in building symbolic goodwill," Elaine began.
The Chancellor's smirk grew wider, "And what do you know about heroes, Elaine? You spend your time cooped up in your office, shuffling papers and pretending to be Commander-in-Chief of the world's forces. You have zero idea of what it takes to lead reform and change."
Elaine felt a jolt of anger surge through her at the Chancellor's words. "I may not have led a revolution, but I have fought for what I believe in. I have seen the horrors of war, and I know that we cannot solve this issue with violence and oppression. Things will only worsen at such a delicate time."
The Chancellor's eyes narrowed, her yellow irises piercing through Elaine. "You would best be careful with your actions, child. Remember that I have led this world in its battle against the dark creatures of the Beyond. For centuries even, before you were conceived."
Elaine stood her ground, her hands clenched into fists. "And yet, here we are, with our citizens protesting in the streets, our allies questioning our motives, and our opportunistic enemies using this as propaganda against us. How much longer can we afford to stay on this path?"
The Chancellor stood up, towering over Elaine. "You know nothing of the path we walk, Elaine. The weight of our responsibility is beyond your comprehension. And yet, you question me at every turn, like some petulant child."
Elaine felt a wave of anger wash over her at the Chancellor's dismissive tone. She clenched her fists, trying to keep her emotions in check. "I am not a child, grandmother. I am a soldier. I am the Commander of the Northern Coalition, and I will damned well do what I believe is best for our people."
Her jaw tightened as she stood her ground. "I understand that there are complexities, but we need to make a move now before things escalate further."
The Chancellor sighed briefly before gracefully making her way to the door. "Come. Let us go for a walk. There is much to discuss, and a stroll will do us some good."
Elaine trailed behind the Chancellor, their footsteps echoing in the lengthy corridors until they reached the emblematic knight and witch statue.
"You are just like him, Elaine," the Chancellor said, gesturing at the statue of the Paladin. "Always trying to do the right thing, but never understanding the consequences of your actions."
Elaine gritted her teeth but followed the Chancellor as she walked towards the statue.
"What do you mean?" she asked, her tone sharp.
The Chancellor turned to face Elaine, her eyes blazing with intensity. "Your progenitor," she said, her voice low and dangerous. "He was just like you, always trying to do good, to make a difference. And look where it got him."
Elaine's heart sank as she thought of the legendary knight before her.
Elaine was adopted as an infant and raised in a reasonably middle-class home where her parents cared greatly about providing her with the best opportunities and education. From a young age, she was groomed to understand the importance of structure, discipline, and dedication. Throughout her upbringing, Elaine's parents shaped her into a person with a deep moral fiber, an unwavering sense of responsibility, and a strong will. She'd grown up with the common man. Yet, she'd gone to the best schools and had the best tutors. She'd graduated at the top of her class at the military academy and placed first in the Armed Forces officer training program. She was the best of the best.
Of course, she'd later discovered that she was a test tube baby whose entire life had been planned out by her 'grandmother' as part of an experiment. Elaine did not hate the woman standing before her, but she had always felt a sense of betrayal and abandonment. She knew all too well that for the Chancellor, she was another cog in her utilitarian vision.
The sheer depth and breadth of the Witch of Babylon's plans were staggering, and Elaine couldn't help but feel small in comparison, having her entire life unwittingly staged. She had always known that her grandmother was a powerful and cunning woman. Still, the full extent of her schemes was beyond her imagination.
As they walked past the statue, Elaine couldn't help but feel a sense of reverence for the Paladin. He had been a symbol of hope and justice in a time of darkness, and his life had paved the way for the creation of Babylon.
The Chancellor noticed Elaine's gaze and let out a bitter laugh. "Don't let his legacy blind you, child. He was a fool, just like you. But, he was my fool."
"You loved him, didn't you?" Elaine whispered.
The Chancellor paused for a moment. "More than you would ever understand, Elaine. Let me tell you a story, then."
Elaine listened intently as the Chancellor began to speak.
"There was once a sickly girl with kind eyes, who would dare to dream of making a machine that could change the world."
Elaine watched her grandmother's expression soften, her eyes filled with longing. It was a rare moment of vulnerability from the Chancellor, something Elaine had never seen before.
"Tell me about her, Grandmother," Elaine said softly.
The Chancellor let out a heavy breath, "She was the daughter of a Duke, who despised her and saw her as nothing more than a burden. She'd grown in an era where beauty and obedience was valued. Where brilliance was not a virtue and creativity was not welcome. But — there were none that would humor her, save for one boy."
Elaine listened intently as her grandmother continued her story.
"This boy was a rough, uncivilized brute. A nobody, by the standards of the day — a Baron's third son. But, he saw something in her. Something that others couldn't see. He encouraged her to pursue her dreams of building a machine that could move on its own, even when everyone else laughed at her and told her to stay in her place."
Elaine was surprised by the Chancellor's story. She had never heard anything about her grandmother's past. It was like a whole different person was standing in front of her.
"What happened then?" Elaine asked.
"The boy became a hero. A demon slayer. A paragon of justice and virtue. The first one to fell what we categorize as a Viscount-class Aberrant today. He was the Champion of Escathos. A symbol of unity, virtue, and justice."
"And the girl?" Elaine asked, her heart beating fast, her eyes trained on her grandmother.
"She would learn everything she could to see his dreams come true. She learned arcane secrets by candlelight. Science. Medicine. Alchemy. She became his shield. The one who would wait in the shadows and strike down his enemies when the time was right. She was the one who would make sure that when his enemies struck, he would never be caught off guard. He would be the light of the people, while she would do what would be necessary to protect him from the shadows."
There was a moment of silence as Elaine digested the story.
"What ultimately happened to them?" she finally asked.
"The rest is a story that is best left buried for now, my dear. A story of unrequited love, heartbreak, disappointment, and the passage of time. Know that I do all that I do now, because of what happened to him."
"And what did happen?"
"He died, Elaine. He died and I could not save him. It was not just my love that perished that day, but my soul. I could not continue being the shield of the one man I had ever loved. A man I'd promised to help save the world with. And let us just leave it at that."
Elaine looked at her grandmother with sympathy. She knew how much the ancient witch had sacrificed and how much she had worked to build Babylon. To an extent, Elaine could understand the Chancellor's dedication to her work and the sacrifices it entailed.
"I am sorry," Elaine said, but the Chancellor shook her head.
"As I said. You are just like your father. You think it's about the good of the masses. You believe that it's about the greater good. But people like us, Elaine, must make the difficult choices. There may come one day that you may need to make a decision that will cost many lives. In the end, it will be the right choice for the people. I have borne the weight of my decisions. Far more than you could imagine even during your tenure as Commander. I have made decisions that have led to the deaths of millions for the sake of a promise. I have left a mountain of bodies in my wake, and I have never regretted one of them. However, that is the path that I chose to take to reach my goal."
Elaine looked carefully at her grandmother, taking in every word she said. She had never really thought about the weight of the Chancellor's decisions. But it was clear to her now that it weighed on her.
"I understand," Elaine said her voice low. "I will do what is necessary to protect our people, even if it means making difficult choices."
"I know for a fact you won't, and that's why we need you," the Chancellor said while shaking her head. "You can be one of the greatest leaders this world has ever seen, but you have much to learn until then. I will do everything in my power to make sure that you are ready when the time comes. Know that I will continue to shoulder the darkness by your side until my endgame."
Elaine looked at her grandmother in shock. She'd never thought that the Chancellor would praise her in any way. Never thought that she'd be given credit for her achievements. It was unsettling to suddenly be on the receiving end of her praise.
She nodded silently as she turned to gaze upon the Paladin, taking in her grandmother's words. The Chancellor's story of love and heartbreak had left an impression on her. She wondered what it must have been like for her grandmother to have loved someone so deeply and to have lost them.
It was a pain that she never wanted to feel.
The older woman turned to Elaine and spoke again.
"Elaine, love can be a powerful motivator. It can drive us to do things we never thought possible. But it can also blind us to the truth. The Paladin and I learned that the hard way."
Elaine could see the pain etched on her grandmother's face, and she knew that the Chancellor's love had been a double-edged sword. It had driven her to achieve great things but also left her with a deep sense of loss and regret. She listened to her grandmother's words, knowing that there was a deeper meaning behind them. She couldn't help but wonder what truth the Chancellor was referring to.
"I'll keep that in mind, Grandmother," Elaine said softly. "Thank you for sharing your story with me."
She watched as her grandmother's expression shifted from one of vulnerability to one of hardened determination.
The Chancellor nodded, her expression once again cold and business-like. "You have a lot to learn, Elaine. We may disagree, but to me. To Edith Escathos — The Witch of Babylon, the ends will always justify the means."
Elaine felt a chill run down her spine at her grandmother's words. The Chancellor had always been ruthless in her machinations, but now Elaine understood it had come at a high cost.
The Chancellor turned to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"...And I will do whatever it takes to achieve my goal, Elaine. Some things are beyond your understanding now, but you will learn. Now, come with me. I have one more thing to show you."
Elaine nodded and followed her grandmother out of the room, feeling like a pawn in some grand game she didn't understand. It was clear that the woman in front of her had a plan. Still, she couldn't wrap her head around how sparking dissent could be beneficial at such a delicate time.
She realized that the Chancellor was willing to do whatever it took to ensure the continued safety of their people. It was a heavy burden that Elaine knew she would have to carry if she wanted to succeed in her career.
But her grandmother's words echoed in her mind.
Would she ever be truly capable of carrying that burden?