Hera jumped to her feet as soon as she heard a knock on the door. She was in her private room three days into their journey back to the Kalandria Empire. This time, the caravan was staying in a city built around the doorway. Since it’s been a while since the Ophidianite slept in her own quarters and the next day of travel would only make them cross a single room, she told everyone she would stay here for the night. In reality, that was only half the reason. The other half was to talk with the guides. She talked with them almost every day during the power leveling, but since they left, she didn’t get a chance to do the same.
There was another reason for her to talk with them. Delta. That man was too much of a problem. His very existence seemed like something the MAZE was against, yet here it was. Maybe this was a situation like the curse. And if that was the case, she could try to get some help to solve that problem.
She took a deep breath and opened the door. On the other side were Peaches, the green apple slime. Capri, the sheep with fluffy wool wings. Nina and Talpa, the kobold sisters. Kelp, the goldfish in a robotic suit of armor. Fritz, the heremit crab that carried his home on his back. Tara, the snake that helped Hera become an Ophidianite. And to her surprise, Lodi. The bipedal pink slime that had a small obsession with Peaches.
“Hey everyone! How are you?” Hera opened a big smile.
“I’m doing great, kid. Thanks for asking.”
“I still feel sadden about my room. The dwarves of Boothudurn were much more pleasant to look after than the humans that current occupy the place,” Capri huffed.
“Tell me about it. People stopped going to our dungeon completely. It was already bad after they found the kobold road, but now. It sucks,” Nina sighed.
“I know, right? And it really doesn’t make any sense. The kobold battlefield is a great place to train for a war. And it’s not like they can just send people who just started exploring the MAZE to the front lines,” Talpa nodded.
“Actually, that’s exactly what they are doing,” Kelp said.
“What?” Nina and Talpa gasped.
“Yeah. Humans are just getting new people and tossing them into the meat grinder right away. You didn’t know?” Lodi tilted her head.
“No! Why are they doing that? It’s basically a death sentence,” Talpa asked.
“Because the humans are being mind controlled. Or at least influenced by mind control,” Hera took the chance to join the conversation.
“Really?” Peaches frowned, looking back at the Empress.
“That’s what Blue told me. The guild is using some minor mind control effect to make people more angry at the Alliance, and the other species as a whole. Apparently, that is aimed at civilians, people who are still level 1. But when a crowd of people is telling you that something is wrong. You tend to accept that as the truth.”
“I thought you, well, the previous you had laws against using magic on people at level 1,” Lodi crossed her arms.
“Humans are supposed to have that. And I’m pretty sure the Alliance does too, even if for them is a bit different. We can argue about the reasons and what is actually happening back on Earth all we want, but in the end, it doesn’t change the facts,” Hera added with a sigh.
“Yeah. Let’s not go there. You’ve been through a lot,” Fritz said.
“And are you ok?” Tara looked up at the only Ophidianite in existence.
Hera sat on her tail to be closer to the Ophidianite Ancestor, “I could be better. Not gonna lie. But I’m ok. Thanks for looking out for me.”
“Who wants to eat? We have snacks!” Crimson shouted from the small kitchen before appearing, holding two trays, one with drinks and the other with various chips and other kinds of finger food.
“Oh. I want some!” Lodi jumped and rushed towards the half-Naga.
Hera glanced back to Tara, “If you want, Viper should be in the kitchen. He is trying to make some sweets.”
The Ancestor nodded and headed to the back of the private room, going after the second Spymaster. During the months that Hera was power leveling, Tara and Viper got closer. The snake was curious about the Naga and hoped to learn more through him. Unfortunately, that idea didn’t work. After all, the titled blades didn’t know what it was to be a Naga. Still, the two talked a lot and since both were introverted, they ended up enjoying each other’s company.
As Hera watched the scene of the two reptiles talking in the kitchen, she noticed how all the guides spread out, each talking with one of her titled blades like old friends. It was such a surreal situation that she couldn’t help but chuckle.
“What’s the joke?” Kelp asked.
“I’m just thinking how weird this is. Even by my standards. I’m technically having my multiple personalities talk with beings that are as close to imaginary friends as one can get, in a room that I can control like it’s a home makeover game. If I focus on the details, this is just wild.”
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Kelp looked back and nodded, “Yeah. When you put it like that.”
They had that small party for about an hour. Just talking about random topics and joking around while Capri took charge of the music. But eventually, they had to come back to business
Peaches asked everyone to sit around in a circle, and started talking, “Ok. We know Hera needs to sleep a bit early since she is going out first thing in the morning. So what do you want, kid? You said you had a question. Want to get that out of the way, or leave it for the end?”
“It’s two questions, actually. But one is quick. Let me ask mine, then you can tell me what you wanted to tell me. Is that ok?” Hera asked, getting approving nods from all the guides, “Ok. First thing. Do you all think I,” she paused and gestured to the court, “We know how to fight?”
“What?” Livy, Capri, and Kelp asked.
“If you didn’t, you would’ve died a long time a go,” Lodi replied, making Tara stare at her with wide eyes, “I don’t want to be mean, but Hera keeps doing stupid shit that can get her killed. So yeah, she needs to know how to fight.”
“Why are you asking that? We fought very well during this mission. Do you think someone is not pulling their weight?” Vulcan asked.
“Hang on. I’m not trying to blame anyone. Let me rephrase that. Nina, Talpa. Would you say I can dance?” Hera turned to the kobold sisters.
“I mean… Sort of?” Nina said.
“You know a couple of dances, but if we were to throw you in a club or something, I don’t see you just dancing to any song full of confidence,” Talpa added.
Hera nodded, “Exactly! I know a couple of dances, but I don’t know how to dance. Now, thinking about that. I’ll ask again. Do you all think we know how to fight?”
“I see. You are not questioning your ability to survive, but your mastery in actual combat,” Capri looked at Hera in deep thought.
“Exactly. Capri, Peaches, you’ve watched over me for a long time. Do you think that, right now. I’m a better fighter than I was when I was starting? Like if old Hera and new Hera fought each other, both at the same level, same items, skill, and everything. Would new Hera win easily?” the Empress asked.
There was a pause and eventually the two guides shook their heads, “The magnificent me cannot say that would be the case. New Hera would still win that fight. But it wouldn’t be an easy win.”
“I have to agree, kid. Don’t get me wrong, you have more experience. But I can’t say you are a better fighter.”
“I disagree,” Talpa spoke up, “If the two versions of you were fighting, you would win. 100% of the time and without any issues.”
Nina crossed her arms, “Hang on. What are the terms? Cause if it’s to the death. Yeah, new Hera wins almost right away. The problem comes if you are sparing. You know how to win a fight, Hera, not how to fight.”
Hera nodded, “Ok I wanted to hear if I was crazy for thinking the same,” she turned back to the titled blades, “I’m thinking that once a day. For at least an hour, we take a moment to practice some fighting style. Actual fighting style, not just flailing around. Delta was level 43, 13 levels weaker than me. Weaker than us. There is no logic that says we should’ve lost that fight. I don’t care whatever the fuck drugs and buffs he was on. With Livy Awakened, and the Phoenix Touch, plus all the buffs, we had to be stronger. But in the end, we are not fighting as a unit. Not really. Sure, we can follow up each other’s attacks, but that’s just because we are, in essence, one being. That gives us an edge and I think that edge became a crutch.”
The court nodded, and Nimbus added, “You know you didn’t have to ask the guides about this, right? You could’ve just talked with us, or told us that’s how you felt. No one would be against the idea of training.”
“I know, but I also didn’t know if I was just being weird for having lost that fight. And I thought an outside perspective would be better,” Hera gestured to the guides.
“I will always be here to assist you,” Capri covered his chin with one of his wings and gave a small bow.
“And what is the other question? Or what that it and we can talk about the skill?” Peaches asked.
Hera tilted her head with a smile, “Peaches? If I didn’t know any better, I would say you are anxious.”
“So what if I am? It was a lot of work to make this work,” Peaches huffed, his green cheeks turning a bit brown.
“Ok, the next question. Is the MAZE ok with what it’s happening with the Strength Spirits? Or is it something like the curse that it needs to get rid of?”
The mood instantly shifted from the light and happy to a more serious tone. Each of the guides glanced at each other without saying anything. After a pause of almost a minute, Kelp spoke up, “The MAZE… doesn’t care. Or at least, it never showed any interest in that kind of thing.”
“Really?” Hera was taken aback. The only thing she wasn’t expecting was indifference.
“Yeah… It’s not like the curse. We felt that was something the system wanted to fix. But as fucked up as it sounds. The MAZE already solved the problem with people abusing Spirits a long time ago.”
“How?” Forge stood up.
“Vulcan, they are our friends. Don’t lash out on the messengers,” Lurize put a hand on his shoulder just to comfort the half Spirit. In response, Forge just nodded and sat back down. Waiting for an answer.
When things calmed down, Kelp continued, “A very long time ago. The MAZE created a contingency plan for Spirits. When one of their habitats is attacked or targeted. The mana will start to dissolve. Eventually, the place will no longer birth new Spirits. Once that happens, a new place, somewhere in the MAZE will be flooded with that type of mana and new Spirits of the same kind will appear there.”
“So MAZE’s plan is to just cut its losses and start fresh somewhere else?” Hera asked. Hoping that if she was the one to say Vulcan, would be less agitated.
“Calling it a plan is a stretch, but in essence. Yeah,” Kelp nodded.
“But that doesn’t mean we approve of that. Guides that have Spirits in their room are usually very protective of them. They would do anything they can to protect their own,” Fritz explained.
“Right… I just… don’t know what to do with that information. It’s not like you can help me fix that, or just tell me where they are,” the Empress sighed.
“Actually…” Peaches glanced at the sides, sending a few messages for the other guides that only they could see. Hera had noticed that before. At times, they would confirm with each other if they could say something before speaking. Eventually, the green apple continued speaking, “Yeah, that can work. We can potentially get you a quest related to that. It will also be a great way of giving you what we prepared. That is the one thing we weren’t sure how to go about. But now, we can put it as a reward for the quest, if you like the way it is.”
“Ok… now you are making me curious. What did you prepare?”
“The skill to give your court a home inside the legacy,” Tara said with a smile, stealing Peaches’ thunder.