Shiru stood by the entrance of the gigantic temple.

It’s single doorway was about one hundred meters wide and fifty meters tall.

It led into a vast space which was designated for prayer.

Sitting at the centre of the space was a platform atop which sat a dark crucible within which burnt a flame.

Sitting next to the crucible was a gigantic woman who sat in the centre of the crowd of worshippers who gathered in silent prayer.

A fundamental aspect of the Black Flame faith was that all that diverges was bound to one day regress and coalesce only to be burnt again as fuel for the Flame.

The Flame at the heart of the cosmos birthed all into existence, but like a lonesome parent, it yearned for the return of its children. All of whom were bound to return as ash.

Shiru stared at Llana who was dressed in a rather revealing black lace dress that allowed all to see the binds around her wrists and ankles.

Black binds that were seemingly a part of her.

Either that or they were embedded that deeply into her flesh.

Llana was slated to sit in the temple once every three days to guide everyone in silent prayer.

Shiru wad fascinated by it all.

She turned her attention to the space magicians who were working alongside darkness magicians by the farthest wall.

They all stood atop various floating invisible platforms which allowed them to work without making a mess below.

Leading them was an artist and architect named Eanix.

He was a close friend of Serylea and they were both Farin’s students.

Work on the dome above was almost done and what was taking the most time was something Shiru had actually requested.

She had asked that the crest of Coh be etched onto the wall.

“Aren’t you going to enter?” Thneia asked from behind Shiru.

“And pray? Mmm… I would but there is much work to be done. Actually, I was on my way to the war room.” Shiru said as she turned to face the Draconic Knight.

“Then let’s go.” Thneia said but just as she and Shiru turned to leave, the sound of a distant explosion filled the air prompting everyone in Coh to rush for cover.

A Kommáti suddenly appeared before Shiru and Thneia only there was a hole on the left side of his abdomen and his armour looked as though it had been burnt.

“Venetrix… the Stormhawk has escaped from Site A.” He coughed.

Shiru rushed to hide side and helped him stand.

“OK, now go get help quickly!” She cried with a trembling voice.

The Kommáti nodded before disappearing.

Shiru then turned to Thneia who glared at the sky with glowing eyes.

“Tsk!” She sounded.

“What do we do?” Shiru asked but Thneia signed as she seemingly composed herself.

“Lets go check just how much damage she caused.” She said and it wasn’t long before they were standing on the edge of another crater just beyond the outskirts of Coh.

Shiru’s legs trembled as she gazed into the rather shallow and wide hole.

Countless space magicians and Kommáti and various other Rendaro could be seen sifting through the rubble and one of them, a man known as Neaj, walked up to a petrified Shiru.

He was dressed in simple clothes and had a strange thin, and dark coat above them.

“I’m afraid it’s as bad as it looks. The maniac blew a hole straight from the third floor to the first with the first being completely destroyed. It seems as though the incompetent bunch didn’t completely destroy her Cavumium bones-“

“And what about Aevana?” Shiru shrieked, but Neaj dismissively waved his hand while rolling his eyes.

“She’s fine. She was assigned a personal Kommáti, much like you and I. Although the same can’t be said about the others.” Neaj said.

“Alright, see to it that the Site is restored.” Thneia said but Neaj frowned in response.

“Ma’am, as I’m sure you are well aware, my talents are needed elsewhere. Surely someone else could be assigned supervisory duties.” He whined but Thneia simply crossed her arms and the man seemingly shrunk in the process.

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“Err… on second thought, I should be able to sort everything out in no time.” Neaj said with a nervous chuckle.

Thneia nodded before accompanying Shiru to a separate spot so that she wouldn’t have to stare at the crater.

“Try not to worry too much about this. This changes nothing. Our plan is still on course.” Thneia said but Shiru simple stared at the sand morning sunlight struggled to pass through the many clouds that rolled over.

“I heard it… all the way in Eimvu…” Shiru muttered as she tightly wrapped her arms around herself.

“I watched as a pillar of smoke and light rose from our home.”

Thneia remained silent but eventually gasped as Shiru’s face twisted seemingly in agony.

“This can’t keep happening.”

Thneia nodded before wrapping her arm around a trembling Shiru.

She eventually calmed down and with Thneia’s arms still around her, she made her way back to Coh and into the war room where she grabbed a certain document.

She sat on the chair next to a rather large, vacant one and poured over the document’s contents.

“Sable Soldiers…” She muttered as Thneia went over various reports.

“When will you and Deag be leaving for Disahn?” The Draconic Knight asked.

“As soon as everything is fine here. I would not be able to even think if I wasn’t completely sure that his people were fed.”

“Alright, I’ll create a suitable entourage for your journey.” Thneia said before focusing completely on her work.

Shiru did the same although since she had much to learn, she spent most of her time reading.

She read about the past of the Rendaro, the history of Rahadiya, the history of Lanceberg and these would all help her define her vision for the future.

.

..

The work day eventually ended and Shiru loudly stretched as the last of the evening’s light disappeared.

Light magicians created countless orbs lighting up Coh’s many buildings and Shiru couldn’t help but smile at this.

She caught a glimpse of her future vision of Coh, but just as it grew clearer, a voice called.

“Ma’am?”

Shiru turned to find a joyful looking Llana standing behind her.

Her body was covered in a large, woolly coat which hid the fact that she was still wearing her lace gown.

“Mmm? What do you need?”

“I wanted to thank you. For allowing me to resume my duties. The hearts of those who attended today’s prayer were indeed heavy, but I think that, with time, they will come to accept their circumstances and gain the necessary willpower to work on overcoming them.” Llana said with a big smile.

Her smile, however, dimmed a little as she glanced at Thneia who was still working away.

“I’m glad to see that everything’s working out. Be sure to let me know if you need anything ok?”

Llana nodded before leaving the war room.

Shiru took a deep breath before organizing her section of the large circular desk in the centre of the war room.

She then stood up and made her way back home.

She opened the door to find Erna and Qualel standing side by side with a wooden box in hand.

“Surprise!” Shiru yelled as Shiru approached.

“Aww. You shouldn’t have. Coming home to you both us more than rewarding enough. Although I am curious as to what you’ve been working so hard on.”

“Ah-ha! Everyone back in the mess hall kept talking about how you were now a big shot and stuff so I asked Qualel if we could make you something to show how really cool you were. I wanted us to make you a big hat, but… Qualel said no.” Erna said with a pout but her she smiled again shortly after while offering her mother the simple wooden box.

Shiru accepted the box before being led into the bedroom where she was left to change.

She removed her jacket and simple dress, revealing her petite body.

She felt nothing but shame and anxiety as she realized just how little she could do in a world of dragons and gods.

Her small fingers, weak bones and uneducated mind were of little use to anyone.

Shiru sighed and opened the box to find a beautiful black silk dress.

A smile formed on her face as she raised it.

She tilted her head upon seeing a small black silk wristband at the bottom of the box. It looked haphazardly sewn together, but also surprisingly structurally sound.

Sitting next to the band was a small badge.

The badge of Coh.

Shiru slipped into the dress and it snuggly fit her proportions.

It’s form fitting design was complimented by the elasticity of the silk.

It had a modest, high neckline and had lace trimmings around the wrists, truly a work of mastery.

Shiru wore the wrist band and placed the crest of Coh above her heart.

She then looked out of the window and peered into the night sky.

But the target of her stare was not the bright moon which generously lit her body, it was the darkness beyond.

Shiru felt- She knew that of everyone in Coh, she had the closest idea of what Katsíki would have wanted and so, after taking a deep breath, she returned to the living room where Erna sat on one of the four couches with a smug expression.

“Well? What do you think of my- our hard work?” The silly little girl asked.

Erna’s words filled her mother’s heart with joy and so Shiru did a little spin before facing her daughter.

“It’s beautiful and so is this.” She said as she raised her right hand.

“Yeah, well, if you’re happy then I guess it was worth it.” Erna said in a desperate attempt to look cool.

Shiru smiled before turning to Qualel, who sat on the couch next to Erna’s.

“Thank you both. Now, let’s eat up, wash up and get some rest.”

.

..

“Goodnight, my dear.” Shiru said as she wrapped her arms around Erna.

They snuggly laid beneath a layer of blankets that protected them from the ever cooling air.

“I can do it.” Shiru muttered.

“Ma’am?” Qualel asked from within the subspace where most Kommáti usually hid.

“I can help lead the Expanse. That’s what I’m telling myself, at least.” Shiru said.

Silence filled the air as the minutes of the night slowly ticked by.

“Permission to speak freely.”

“Go ahead.”

“I think you’ll do just fine, ma’am.” Qualel said.

“What makes you say that?”

“Mmm… I’m sure Raer can concur, but lord Katsíki wasn’t a natural born leader. If anything, he just bumbled his way through every day.” Qualel said with a giggle.

“Indeed. If you shared our perspective you’d see just how often he whined on and on about how much he hated his job from atop lady Yna’s thighs…” Raer said with a weak laugh, but that laugh quickly died as silence returned to the room.

“He was not perfect and neither are you. Your purpose, your duty as leader will not be to charge into battle ahead of your legions of men, nor will it be to write laws that dictate the lives of those beneath you. No. I believe that a leader is but an anchor. She who will keep the many souls of Coh bound to a single vision.” Qualel said.

“Mmm… thank you for your insight. Also, this is the most you’ve spoken ever since we met. What changed-“ Shiru gasped as the two Kommáti suddenly materialized.

“It’s all thanks to you and lady Erna. We Kommáti, by design, adapt to the wills and needs of those we watch over. You want to build a safe home for the Rendaro of the future and we are committed go protecting you until you achieve it.”