A few days had passed since the war against the shrimp began and while hundreds of men and women had died, about a hundred thousand shrimp carcasses littered Y'shuah's southern coast.

Strangely enough, the super Shrimp had yet to leave the ocean.

It instead chose to watch the carnage from the coast. Almost as if it was studying the battle although none of the other shrimp came to it for advice.

Perhaps it was the only one that possessed a higher level of intelligence.

I turned to the north and watched as a group of five people hundred made their way further north.

Beyond the Elephantine Forest was a vast stretch of grassland and I imagined that’s where the group would establish their agricultural activities.

They were also in for a treat since that place was also home to horses that glowed beautifully as their hides were lined with HCT.

They were also five meters tall on average so I was looking forward to seeing how the Chofumah would tame and use the horses, if they even could.

However, it would take them a bit of time to reach the grasslands so I returned my gaze to the Forest where an exhausted Pazia stood face to face with the second last Shrimp of the day’s wave.

It stood protectively in front of a smaller Shrimp, one of the sort which could absorb Life Energy.

These smaller ones had wreaked havoc on the Chofumah and they had been made high-priority targets since they could easily kill groups of people.

Since the first Shrimp’s arms had been disabled, Pazia easily killed it by thrusting his spear straight into its head but just as he rushed to kill the one behind it, the Shrimp raised its many limbs and began siphoning Life Energy from him.

However, Pazia let out a wild scream before grabbing the creature’s head, which he ruthlessly ripped off while impaling its chest with his spear.

I then watched as the wisps of green light that had left his body returned to their place all while his body twitched and convulsed.

I quickly tried figuring out what had just happened and since his Life Energy levels seemed fine, I switched to Soul View and saw that his Uyil Belts were twisting until they resembled rope.

This only lasted for a moment as they quickly returned to their normal states and this snapping motion seemingly knocked Pazia unconscious, leaving his body to fall to the side.

His accompanying magician quickly rushed to his side and although Pazia was far larger and heavier than him, the magician dragged him to safety in a nearby campsite where he was assisted by other warriors.

I continued to watch over Pazia until he awoke but it didn’t seem like he remembered what happened.

Either that or he wasn’t sure if he could believe what he had done.

I quickly returned to my island and entered my doll.

I saw, turning within it, one of my Uyil Belts.

Using his sheer will, it seemed that Pazia had resisted the outside influence of the Shrimp on his being.

He had somehow twisted and tightened his Belts, and this seemingly reinforced his sense of self and fastened all facets of his existence to the boundaries of his body.

I tried twisting the Belt within my doll and I couldn’t even produce a thought before it shattered into countless pieces.

My perspective widened and all I could do was stare at the shards of Glass that littered the floor.

I…

I don’t even know what I expected.

A wave of shock and annoyance washed over me as I realized that this would probably also happen to whatever vessel I chose.

I let out a sigh before reconstructing my doll.

There was no point in making it any stronger since the strength it required to withstand me twisting my Belt probably required more Glass than I had so I abandoned the thought.

I returned my gaze to the north and watched as the Chofumah regrouped.

“What?”

I heard someone exclaim making me turn my gaze to the Cavern.

The Chofumah leaders were once again gathered in Pele’s home although it seemed as though he had said something outrageous.

“You want me… to bear the heir of the Chofumah?” Emunah asked with a face that was twisted with confusion and… joy?

Pele rested his head on a tightened fist and sighed.

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“Yes. I know it was you who suggested that I marry your daughter and I will not burden that poor girl with such a task-“

“But she is a married woman!” Ayit yelled making Kukiyah, who stood behind Emunah and Imani, lower his head.

“That may be true but to bear the heir of an entire group of people is no easy feat and it fills my mind with dread that she was willing to damn her daughter to such a fate.”

“Would it not be the highest honour?” Mashouah asked with furrowed brows but Pele shook his head.

“I know you were willing to do the same. Also, it seems as though none of you have figured out why bearing my heir would be hard so let me explain it in plain terms. I know that you are all after my position. Like froth-mouthed dogs, your desperation for power has led you to offering your daughters to a walking corpse of a man.” Pele said bringing a heavy silence to the room.

“Ayit, Emunah, Imani and even you, Mashouah. So filled with discontent that you aren’t even to accept the roles and duties you have to our people. No, you must have all thought. I must be the one and only leader and if not me then I shall rule by proxy. Your justifications probably differ and since I can’t read your minds, I can’t know for sure. What I do know is that I will have an heir and since two of the three chiefs have tragically lost their wives, I am left with no other choice but to take yours, Kukiyah.”

Kukiyah’s eyes rattled in their sockets.

“B… but why?” He asked only for Emunah to take a deep and loud breath.

“I humbly accept the duty you would bestow upon me and I wholeheartedly apologize for attempting to deceive you.” She deeply bowed making Kukiyah’s face twist further.

Imani, however, narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms.

“All is forgiven as long as you realize that the needs of the people come well before our own.”

Emunah nodded before walking up to Pele’s left side, next to Vah whose brows were raised.

“Alright. You are free to assist Kukiyah and Imani in leading but when the time comes, you will have to set everything aside and tend to my heir.”

“Of course.”

“Good. You may all leave now.”

Everyone other than Vah and Emunah left although Kukiyah broke into tears immediately after leaving Pele’s home.

Imani accompanied the weeping chief back to his home, although he kept glancing back at Pele’s house.

“So… will I have to live here from now on?” Emunah asked.

“Mmm… that’s not entirely necessary as of now-“

“Pardon my interruption but I think, to make things clear to the people, it would be best if I moved in as soon as possible.”

Pele’s left brow raised a little but he eventually nodded.

“Alright-“

“Also… does this mean that I am officially… your queen?” Emunah asked with a nervous expression.

“Eh-“ Pele sounded before glancing at Vah didn’t look like she knew how to respond.

“I… suppose so but don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten what I said-“

“Of course not! I just wanted to know my place.” Emunah weakly smiled but Pele dismissively waved his hand as if shooing her away.

“Yes, yes now, if you truly want to stay here, you’ll need your things so… go get them.”

Emunah bowed before leaving.

Vah turned to Pele as he deflated with a sigh.

“That was… eventful. I didn’t know you had a liking for older women.” Vah scoffed making Pele chuckle.

“I had to punish her somehow. She’ll think twice about scheming if it’s her son’s neck on the line.”

“What if she doesn’t?” Vah asked while sitting on Pele’s thigh.

“Then I would have failed but, regardless of whatever fate awaits the Chofumah once my reign ends, I will ensure our child grows safe and happily.” He said while offering Vah his hand.

She took it and gently placed it on her belly.

“That I can accept.”

I turned to Emunah as she returned to what would no longer be her home where her two daughters awaited her along with Kukiyah and Imani.

Silence filled the house as Emunah stood with lowered eyes.

“Let’s look on the bright side. At least we have a foot in the door now.” Imani said with an awkward smile but his eyes widened as Emunah’s face twisted with what appeared to be joy although her eyes trembled.

“I agree. Although I can’t help but feel a little bit sorry for you, dear husband.” She giggled while walking up to Kukiyah who’s lips trembled.

“Shh. Don’t say a word. I will perform my duties as queen diligently and I will continue to love our daughters in his care.” Emunah said while gently placing her hand on Kukiyah's cheek.

“I hope you can understand-“ Emunah gasped as Kukiyah placed his hand on hers.

“I-I understand.” He said through gnashed teeth.

“Good. Now help me pack my things.”

Damn…

Pele really walked into that one. I thought while turning to the south where I saw Ua, as always, in the palace.

Sitting opposite her in the dining room was Thabiti’s son, Akili, whose eyes were slightly reddened from crying.

“My deepest condolences for your loss,” Ua said while gently rocking Musa from side to side.

Akili, who was only fifteen, sat with his head lowered and His hands firmly clasped together.

“But… why do you want to take your father’s post? A smart man like you would do much better as a scholar.”

“I… I just want to continue my father’s work and continue to serve the people of Hatua.” Akili said although his voice was hoarse.

Ua nodded.

“Alright. Then you are, as of this moment, general of my armies. You stuck very closely to your father up in Abanafash so I assume you know everything you need to. All that’s left is for you to actually command my forces but the Fire Breakers should ensure that your commands are met with minimum resistance.”

Akili nodded before standing up and leaving the room where he was met by his mother who accompanied him to her room in the palace.

There they sat in silence while the mother gently embraced the son in mourning.

Thabiti had been buried in the Garden of Graves, an honour reserved for only the highest standing of Umande.

I turned further south and saw a peculiar scene.

Seated alone, in the shallow part of the Delta along the southern coast, was Heziyn.

Covering her body was a thin and damp piece of white cloth.

Her eyes were closed and her breaths were steady.

“Come.” She whispered and I knew exactly who she was talking to.

Floating several hundreds of meters in the air were five woman clad in pale white robes that covered everything other than their eyes which glowed brightly purple.

They also held in their hands curved daggers.

A single moment passed and the five figures rapidly descended to where Heziyn sat and just before they hit the ground, they used Gravity Magic to slow down their descent. They gracefully landed around Heziyn with their daggers raised.

They all faced outward as if protecting her but Heziyn frowned.

“Not fast enough.” She sighed before standing up.

“Good job, ladies but I need you to be a little faster.” She said but the women didn’t respond.

I knew this was because they couldn’t.

They were what Heziyn and Ed called the Ilem.

A group of women who had been stripped entirely of their identities, their tongues included, and had been made to train to such lengths that their strength was almost at the level of a Fire Breaker.

The thing, however, was that they weren’t augmented or enhanced in any way.

Also, to further support my theory that one’s understanding of the world increased their control over Magic, the Ilem could use Magic using Glass Energy in the very air and clouds.

These women were going to be key in Heziyn’s plan.

Whatever it ended up being.