Chapter 60: Diplomacy 6
Eira nodded, and instead of going directly to the gates, they followed along the academy’s raised wall, where they had an overhead view.
Elania’s eyes were drawn to the prisoners, their faces etched with despair. It took several minutes, but then their jailers began to unhook them one by one.
A large man picked the first criminal up and tossed him into the shimmering blue field like a bag of flour.
Some fought against their fate, thrashing and screaming until the very end, while others accepted with a resigned silence. A few even walked into the barrier of their own accord, their heads held high in defiance.
As each prisoner passed through the crackling energy, their flesh sloughed off their bones, leaving behind only bleached white skeletons. Somehow, they didn’t just fall apart.
Elania’s breath hitched when other skeletal figures appeared from deeper within the barrier.
The newly condemned prisoners began to move frantically, as if suddenly aware of their fate. Then, the waiting skeletons approached them, taking their hands in a macabre gesture of welcome, and led them away into the depths of the dome.
It was another surreal sight that Elania couldn’t relate to any of her experiences on Earth.
She turned to Eira. “Are they feeding them to the Celestial Engine?”
Eira shook her head, a grim smile appearing. “Just watch.”
Elania focused her attention back on the scene. The process repeated itself, an endless cycle of condemnation and transformation until all the prisoners were consumed and led away.
“I still don’t understand,” Elania said.
Eira’s voice was cold and matter-of-fact. “It’s the gates to Hels.”
Elania frowned. “Is this your… ‘Divine Paradise’?”
Eira laughed, the sound harsh and grating. “No, this is just the physical gate to it. The servitors are forced to maintain it while giving up their energy to sustain the engine.”
So they were being fed to the engine?
Elania frowned. It all seemed so very contradictory. “For eternity?”
Eira shrugged, her armor clanking with the movement. “Until they are used up and return to the energy of the world, at least. Anything more would be a philosophical question.”
Elania tore her gaze away from the gate. “I’d like to move on to the academy now.”
Eira nodded, gesturing for Elania to follow her. “This way.” She led Elania and the escort towards the main entrance of the Arcane Academy, leaving behind the macabre scene.
Elania’s eyes were drawn to the intricate designs etched into the stone of the academy’s entrance. Scholars in purple and gray robes moved with purpose, their noses buried in books. It certainly gave off an academic vibe.
An older mage approached them as soon as they crossed the threshold.
“Welcome to the Arcane Academy. We’re honored to have you here, honored Obsidian.” He turned to Elania. “You are welcome as well, honored Envoy.”
Eira dismissed the main escort with a wave of her hand, then gestured for Elania to follow. The mage led them through winding corridors, the walls lined with ancient tomes and a wide assortment of unique items including what she thought were dyed mana shards.
They arrived at Rynor’s wing which turned out to be an entire section of the academy dedicated to the high mage.
Maybe Rynor was a bit more important than she had initially thought. But his personality and her conversation with him just didn’t add up to “head mage of an entire institution.” The more she considered it, the more confused she got.
Which was a seemingly constant state she found herself in since coming to Hels.
When they stepped into his chambers and Rynor greeted them with a broad grin, it just jammed home the jarring feeling.
“Eira! So good to see you!” Rynor greeted.
Eira rolled her eyes. “Don’t be so cheerful. You’ve caused me extra work.”
Rynor’s gaze shifted to Elania. “Oh! You’re that demi-divine... right, I invited you.”
Elania nodded. “I’m grateful for the chance to see more of Hels.”
Eira cleared her throat. “Don’t forget about the demonstration, Rynor.”
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Rynor’s eyes widened. “Oh, that’s you! Right, right? It shall be ready in an hour.”
Eira scoffed. “You forgot, didn’t you? Five minutes after being informed.”
Elania glanced between them. She was starting to sense a certain type of familiarity between them.
Rynor waved off Eira’s accusation. “I didn’t forget. I’m just a busy man.”
Eira snorted. “That’s a lie.”
Elania applied her most diplomatic smile. “I’d be delighted to have a tour while we wait.”
Eira’s eyes narrowed. “No restricted areas.”
Rynor chuckled. “Everything is restricted according to you. She might as well just come along with me while I prepare the demonstration.”
They moved through the academy, the dark-hued interior illuminated by warm arcane torches.
Eventually, they reached a massive chamber, its space divided in half by an enormous gap in Hels’ dome, a giant shimmering blue wall of energy. Skeletons and immaterial spirits flew around inside the field, their movements eerie and unsettling.
Elania gaped. What had Eira said about “working?” This looked like a group of wild spirits having a party.
“The view always is a surprise for outsiders,” Eira said while eyeing her.
Elania could only nod.
Rynor led the way to one side of the chamber, pulling a gemstone from his robe. It looked like one of the dyed mana shards. He cupped it in his hands and gestured toward the energy barrier.
Halfway there, an outcropping of stone rose from the ground on its own.
Elania observed the process. It felt close to artifice but not exactly the same. Her [Enhanced Mana Sense] was frustratingly vague most of the time, but this had a distinct flavor. Raw “arcane” magic, maybe? She tried [System Analysis] on the stone, but it just popped up Rynor’s card.
Would it be too pushy to ask about it right now?
Rynor continued, drawing out more stone and shaping a rough shooting range for her. When he seemed satisfied, he turned to her. “Is this fine?”
Elania studied the range, a frown tugging at her lips. “Double the thickness.”
Rynor groaned. “You better not be making me go through extra effort.” Despite his protest, he reinforced and thickened the stone. Then, he created several stone pillars at three different ranges.
“Impressive,” Elania remarked.
Rynor shrugged. “It’s a trivial working for a high mage.”
Elania’s fingers brushed against her revolver. Impatience bit at her slightly. She wanted to show off Yolani’s masterpiece. “How long until the others are here?”
As if on cue, a man in an ornate robe with gold accessories and a long salt-and-pepper beard strode into the chamber.
Elania pushed [System Analysis] at him by reflex.
[High Merchant - Human - Level 102]
Despite his level, he exuded an air of importance. Elania guessed merchants didn’t engage in much killing, so his level wasn’t indicative of his merchant-ing prowess—if that was a thing.
The man greeted them, and Eira stepped forward. “Elania, this is Roran Aldor, High Merchant and Councilor of Hels.”
Roran nodded as he appraised Elania. “A pleasure to meet you, demi-divine.”
Elania inclined her head. “The pleasure is mine, High Merchant Aldor.”
Roran chuckled. “Please, call me Roran. We’re all friends here, aren’t we?”
Elania’s gaze flicked to Eira, who remained stoic, and Rynor, who seemed amused by the exchange. She turned back to Roran. “Of course, councilor.”
Roran clapped his hands together. “Excellent! Now, I believe we’re here for a demonstration of something of value? The message I received from Isara was quite intriguing.”
Elania’s fingers brushed her holster. If it had been something else, she might have felt nervous. But she’d put the weapon through its paces with Yolani and knew what it could do. “It won’t disappoint.”
Aria Lysander, the Chief Engineer, and Kyran Thorne, the Militia Commander, arrived with a small group in tow a few minutes later.
Eira’s brow furrowed as she provided the names to Elania as they approached. “They’re all here early.”
Rynor waved off her concern. “I’ve finished, so the demonstration can begin when everyone’s ready.”
Thorne exchanged a curt greeting with Elania, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. But Aria was the opposite as she stepped forward, her gaze alight with curiosity.
“I heard there was an artificed weapon,” she said.
Elania nodded, her fingers brushing against the revolver at her hip. She drew the weapon, its polished surface gleaming in the light. “This is a weapon crafted by my oracle, so it’s more ornate than most, but it’s something that can be mass-produced for soldiers to use.”
Aria’s eyes widened, and she reached out a hand. “May I inspect?”
Elania handed over the revolver, then showed her the loading mechanism. “The bullets are inert. It’s powered by a single mana shard. There’s an older version that uses mana crystals per shot, but we developed a process that allows multiple discharges at high enough intensity from large shards.”
Aria turned the revolver over in her hands, her fingers tracing the intricate designs etched into the handle. “Fascinating. And the range?”
Elania gestured to the shooting range Rynor had created. “I can demonstrate, if you’d like.”
Roran cleared his throat. “I believe that’s why we’re all here, isn’t it?”
Elania took the revolver back from Aria. She turned to face the shooting range.
Thorne crossed his arms. “Let’s see what this weapon can do.”
Elania stepped up to the firing line Rynor had created. She raised the revolver, lining up her shot with the nearest pillar. A sudden wave of gratitude washed over her as the memories of the hours she’d spent practicing with Yolani at the shooting range flashed by.
She squeezed the trigger, and the revolver jolted slightly, the weight of the weapon and the strength of her grip keeping it steady. The standard ammo Yolani had designed blasted out of the barrel, obliterating the target pillar in a shower of stone and dust.
Elania glanced back at the others, gauging their reactions. While some looked surprised, most wore critical expressions.
Thorne spoke up first. “Impressive for such a small package, but any of our artillery weapons could do the same.”
Elania met each person’s gaze in turn. Disappointment was evident on their faces.
She turned back to the range. A grin appeared on her face.
In rapid succession, she let off her five remaining shots. The first two obliterated the remaining stone targets, while the last three drilled a hole through the firing range, the final one slamming into the blue barrier behind it.
Elania looked back at the others, satisfaction surging through her as she saw their astonishment.
Aria stepped forward. “Can all the weapons shoot like that?”
Elania nodded. “They can use larger magazines, up to thirty shots, or fire several high-powered shots, like this one.”
She paused, a smile tugging at her lips. “And I was using normal ammunition a soldier might use, not anything special.”
Eira’s stoic demeanor broke. “You mean you can shoot more powerful ones than that?”
Elania grinned, pleased at the reaction she’d elicited.
A messenger hurried into the chamber, his face flushed with urgency. “High Chancellor Valaran has declared an immediate council session,” he said. “Demi-divine Elania’s presence is expected.”