---------Madeline Front, Vernicus War Camp----------------------

Inside the command pavilion, Luxia looked at the large woman dressed in blue Invoker robes before her.

"Eldris you say? If you're here to see to the Church's Comet Legion you'll have to wait for them to return from the front. They've been proven most effective at flanking Hervalle's forward troops. I have to thank the Church for lending them once more."

"Que-no Lady Luxia, I'm glad you've found the Comet Legion effective. I'm sure I speak for them when I say your thanks are appreciated, but not necessary. The opportunity for them to help suppress destabilizing powers in this critical time of unrest is more than reward enough. I'll be sure to meet with Commander Rioscol after this meeting and reaffirm his orders to remain among your men."

"But I've come not as an Invoker, but as an envoy. The Church wishes to continue to strengthen the bond between it and the Vernicus Kingdom by sending a prospective Hero and their party to help in your war with Hervalle."

Luxia's blond eyebrows rose in surprise. "A prospective Hero party? Does the Church of Radiance truly view the Hervalle Empire as such a threat to the world?"

Eldris gave a hearty laugh in response, "Not really. Truthfully the war seems to be a good opportunity for a new Hero party to grow through strife much like the Comet Legion seems to have already done. The Church sees monsters like the Flood Dragon in the Western Isles and the rapid growth of new shadow organizations across the world as indicators troubling forces are at work sabotaging the Church's reign of peace. The development of a Hero's party is just one of the Church's actions against such threats."

Luxia gave Eldris a level look, "And I assume bringing me closer to the Church through supporting the war is another such action to fight these upcoming threats?"

Eldris gave Luxia a cheeky grin. "The Church is always willing to ally with like minds no matter the threats it faces Lady Luxia. Times of strife only accelerate the process. The Hervalle Empire has proven resistant to the Church's guidance so it's only natural for them to be suspect to the consequences all who stand against the Radiance must face. It's wonderful to see the Vernicus Kingdom under your leadership has proven so open with the Church. The Pillars desire such an attitude towards the Church be maintained through whatever means required."

Luxia ignoring the hint of a threat in Eldris's words, dismissed the Invoker by giving her the response the Church sent her for.

"By my authority as the Grandmaster of the Order of Justice, I welcome the future Hero's party to the Madeline Front."

Getting the answer she needed Eldris responded with a friendly expression. The butch woman letting some of her more casual self shine through now that her official business was done.

"Great to hear! Whelp I'll be off to see if I can hunt down Commander Rioscol and his Comet Legion wherever they are in the field," Eldris spoke showing her desire to chase down the Church's people as soon as she could as she made her way out of Luxia's command pavillion.

After the Invoker left, Luxia called her Spymaster out from his hiding spot, as for her economic manager Lucille she was currently back in the Vernicus Kingdom capital working to keep the Kingdom alive economically. "Calithur what did you think of all that."

The middle-aged man who had some strands of white stepped out of the fake pavilion curtain and checked to make sure Eldris had actually left the pavilion's proximity before responding.

"My Lady, we knew the Church was aware of my Eyes clashes with Hervalle's Shadow Guard and Tyrant, but it still seems as though they haven't identified who the forces belong to. Tyrant's sudden collapse after conflicts with its own rebel factions of Nox, the Iron Guard, and finally the Constituency seems to have drawn the Church's Pillar's attention to the sheer number of shadow organizations present in the Central Continent." Calithur coughed into his hand and continued his thoughts.

"The Church's recruiting efforts we saw after the Flood Dragon's appearance two years ago appear to be increasing in intensity. My Eyes report they've approached the Flame Emperor Arden again despite having the last recruits the Church sent to fight to the death for his entertainment. My Eyes also reports Numina has capitulated further under the Church's authority. The Pink and Purple Pillars visited their Trade Emperor and returned with his much younger brother. Additionally, many independent Mages at the fifth level or higher and many Mage organizations have been seen receiving increasingly generous offers from the Church in return for their recruitment; however, my Eyes report few independent Mages have agreed favoring their own independence over the Church's offers."

Luxia pressed Calithur, "Really they all refused? Have any notable independent Mages or organizations agreed?"

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Calithur seeing Luxia's surprise explained, "My Lady independent Mages at such a level rarely desire to give up their freedom in return for short-term benefits. They value independence and the ability to live their lives without being at the whims of an organizational hierarchy far more than what the Church can offer. As for Mage organizations most survive by being under the leadership of a powerful independent Mage. Hidden Valley and the Grey Spiders are both examples of the latter being Mage organizations founded and led by independent Mages of the 7th who turned down the Church's offer. However, you are correct in assuming all of the Organizations so willingly refused the Church's generosity. Maelstrom Tower led by their Grandmaster a fire and light dual Mage at the 7th level, agreed to send one of their most promising members, reportedly a direct apprentice of the Grandmaster themselves to the Church."

Luxia gave a thoughtful expression putting her hand through her blond head of hair. "Do you think she'll be a part of the upcoming Hero's party or the Hero themselves?" She asked.

Calithur responded resolutely. "I believe you're guess is correct. Though I suspect the Maelstrom Tower's apprentice will be joining the party as simply a member."

"Despite our intelligence in other continents is not as developed as it is here my Eyes did report the Church sent an emissary to visit the Northern Continent's Boreal Warband. They're rumored to have an exceptionally talented heir who managed to become a Mage of the Sixth before turning sixteen. I suspect the Church will offer the Boreal Chieftan whatever they can to convince him to let his child join the Hero's party, likely as the Hero."

"Why would they allow such an exceptional heir to leave?" Luxia asked mentally perplexed assuming why the Church had embarked on a fool's errand. What kind of leader would let such a promising heir join another organization?

"The Northern Continent is a harsh and unforgiving land. The Warbands that fill it are only able to thrive in the wild continent by hiring themselves out as mercenaries and returning with required supplies and equipment purchased with their pay from the other continents. Such a culture of war has led to the Warbands developing a brutal culture often pushing their young to do impossible challenges resulting in rapid development or death."

Calithur caught his breath for a moment before continuing.

"As a result, many Warbands in the North have young heirs at high Mage ranks for their age. The Boreal Warband alone is believed to have two other viable heirs at the Fifth although both are older than the one the Church is planning to recruit. With this in mind, given their mercenary nature, I think it's a real possibility the Boreal Chieftan will agree to the Church's request."

Luxia's expression remained emotionless but a glint in her eye gave away her suprise. "Well, that's good news then for us. Having a Hero's party led by a Mage of the Sixth will put pressure on Hervalle's forces without having to expose myself to a possible counterattack. Keep some of your Eyes focused on the party as it forms and let me know if there are any developments. They're a resource I could use to end this war."

"Yes, my Lady." Calithur bowed his balding head before leaving the Pavillion through a secret entrance.

Alone Luxia's thoughts returned to her war at hand thinking about how she could capitalize on the Hero party's support. With them, she could put increased pressure on Hervalle to see if her suspected sibling would show themselves. Luxia wasn't so sure it was the Hand anymore, suspecting it was someone more in the open like one of the newer council members.

Calithur had managed to place some of his Eyes around the Empire's Council Members although the more influential members like Davim Farfeather still proved impossible to get near given his unusually high security and tendency to constantly be out of the Empire supposedly maintaining his Merchant Network although Luxia hadn't been able to find significant evidence supporting the claim.

In truth, the elusive Farfeather was slowly creeping up her list of sibling suspects. Luxia had already tried to use the Eyes to dig deep into his past to uncover any signs of him being replaced with an imposter, but the Hervalle Council had proven rather tightnit regarding the Council's history.

Their odd cone of silence and lack of infighting even led to Calithur saying he suspected a secret ruler, a type of Shadow Emperor actually controlled Hervalle Empire using the Council and the actual Emperor as a smoke screen. Even the rumors about the Crown Prince, the current boy Emperor's sibling, were likely just manufactured drama to make Hervalle seem less unified than it truly was.

Luxia had assumed her sibling was ruling the Empire from the shadows from the start. What other position would a creation made by her perfect master ever deign to occupy? It was such an assumption that had forced her to be careful where and when she fought.

To avoid exposing herself to an ambush from her sibling Luxia couldn't allow herself to stay overlong in any fight during the war or appear where they could be lying in wait. She also didn't want to reveal herself as a Mage of the Eighth as it would no doubt lead to forces like the Church of Radiance placing even more importance and attention on her. Something she definitely didn't want if she was to blend in with the forces of good after all she still didn't have a good way to explain how she appeared in Vernicus eight years ago as a fully grown adult with no history.

She had thought about crafting a fake past but knew it would likely just fall apart so she decided if worst came to worst she would rely on the best blanket and definitely not cliche excuse she could think of. Amnesia.

With the appearance of a Hero and their party Luxia could use them to place pressure on Hervalle's forces and try to draw her sibling out of hiding so she could be the one entering the fight with an advantage. Such a fight would determine the winner of the war and put an end to the constant problems it was causing the Vernicus Kingdom which she found herself leading.

Thinking of the timely help coming her way Luxia couldn't help but wonder if her creator had caused this opportunity. What was she saying? She reprimanded herself mentally.

Of course, it was an opportunity presented by her creator. What a forgiving entity he was giving her every opportunity in order to accomplish the simple mission he had given her.

Encouraged by her "finding" Luxia began creating strategies for her success. Not willing to let this opportunity go to waste she was going to meet the "great expectations" of her creator no matter what. She would make sure of it.