Trillia's smile widened as she heard Layla's voice play out in her head with the last message. That also meant their mission to the main continent was a success.

When the knock came the next morning, Trillia put her book away and pulled out the board and it's many pieces to learn more about tactics. "Come in!" She shouted. If it was Maya they'd resume their daily telepathic conversations otherwise the answer was still given.

The door swung open, and Trillia was surprised to see Storm standing there in his drakken form. "Lord Storm! I was expecting Maya, sorry." She motioned to the board.

Storm walked over to the board and lifted one of the pieces, twirling it slowly in his hand. "I've given some thought to your training. Any perceived debts owed, both for transgressions against the balance of mana and nature. As well as what you may feel you owe due to the procedure to fix your mana channels and hand."

Trillia paused, first staring at the game piece in his hand, then at the thoughtful look in his eyes.

Storm gave the piece a sad little smile before setting it down with great care. "You aren't a physical fighter. You play at it, but everything I can find in my research says you're a potent mage. You think like a brawling mage. You even fight like one. Perhaps one day, you will get proficient enough with your rapier to channel magic through it. When that day comes, I certainly hope my clan is on good terms, as you'll be a force to be reckoned with, at least against my children."

Storm motioned for her to sit. He pulled out the other chair and sat across. "There is a particular immortal who owes me a favor. I'm debating calling that favor in to have you trained as a mage. She's an expert in the Aetherian Realms. She is also the strongest caster I've personally met."

Trillia tilted her head in confusion. "I...don't understand. Wouldn't that increase my debt to you? I don't imagine garnering a favor from such a person was easy. Or if it was, you've been holding on to that favor for centuries."

Storm gave her an affirming nod as he set the board up, motioning for her to take the first move. "Are you aware of how [Primordials] are sealed? Or perhaps, what their purpose is?"

Trillia gave a little shrug as she moved her first piece. "I sort of know they act as a form of population control, and it takes divine energy channeled through a pact-bound to seal them. I was also informed that the realm sees them as - what it called - a kill-switch. A way to end the realm if it grew corrupted. I'm not sure how that works exactly. How an entire realm can be corrupted. I fear such things are best left to my betters."

Storm paused, a piece in his fingers. "So you've spoken to Alirast."

Trillia copied the pause, and the two stared at each other. Wasn't that obvious? The trait would seem to suggest it. It did make her wonder why Alirast had taken her hand if it could have implanted the same vein in her neck as the dragons had. More questions began springing to her mind. "Why was that your response?"

Storm finished his move and leaned back in the chair. "Did you know - that most realms only have a single [Primordial]?"

Her face screwed up in confusion at that. "Alirast has five! This is all so confusing. Riten said he was fighting one, but the generals said they are thousands of miles below the ground. Alirast tells me one thing. Everyone else says something else."

Storm nodded at her words. "Some of that is because of rules. The [2nd Axle] enjoys wordplay. Many of the rules that he helped create revolve around that. Do you know Alirast's purpose?"

Trillia nodded, remembering a conversation about keystone creatures, keys, locks, and other such things during a meeting. "A prison, basically?"

"Yes. Particularly - a prison for the [2nd Axle's] first-born son. One-third of his soul is in Alirast. One-third in the first axle and the last third in the third axle."

Trillia had all but forgotten the board in front of her. She didn't think Storm was lying to her. He still had the traits about truth, after all.

"Most [Primordials] don't actually try to kill their core. It's the opposite. They do everything in their power to maintain mana balance and keep their core happy and healthy. It's symbiotic, as for what the young deity said. It's entirely possible both statements are true. If a deity is alone, things work differently around them. Even your patron, as young and new as he is. Can step across realms as easily as you walk across this room. Best not to dwell on the perspective of such things."

Trillia slouched in her chair, rubbing her eyes. Storm continued. "[Primordials] are normally sealed by a hero of the realm, such as your mother. Alirast is unique in how many it has. The balance of mana has to be much stricter here. It's why there are so many dragons about. In other realms, the population of dragons is much lower because the mana density isn't as worrisome."

"So. Then why does it matter here? If this is only one part of its soul or whatever?"

Storm offered her a shrug. "Alirast is millions of years old, by my best accounts, if not older. Do you know how dangerous something is to be imprisoned by three different axles across the universe? One of which is your own father? For millions of years? I don't. But I imagine it's pretty dangerous. The reason I bring all this up - the [Primordials] here on Alirast can be sealed with an overwhelming amount of mana. Mortals think it has to be divine in nature, but that's because of how the system tracks mana. The amount of mana you have at your disposal is the system max for a mortal. Any more, and you'd be forced to become an immortal. But that is the starting point for immortals."

"To my limited understanding, it just keeps scaling. If your maximum mana is a single point of immortal mana. I'd imagine greater deities have many thousands of times that amount. After all, even a deity such as your patron has to supply hundreds of thousands of followers with a sliver of their mana. That adds up over time."

Trillia offered a frown. "While I am always happy to learn, may I ask what the purpose of this discussion is?"

"An offer. I call in that favor. You are trained by a mage who has extensive experience in the Aetherian realms, one who has already declined my asking her to do the busy work I need you to do. Apparently, the favor doesn't extend that far. In exchange, you help me in the Aetherian realms as originally intended. You are in a better position to help your deity - as well as the lesser mortals of Alirast, survive the primordial purge."

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

"In exchange? I was already going to the Aetherian realms. There has to be something else, right?"

"I want you to convince Arlyss to enter into an alliance with the Storm clan. I also want him to sponsor my ascent into either an immortal or a lesser deity."

Trillia stared at the dragon seated before her. That made sense. Storm couldn't approach Arlyss due to her patron's curse. Storm also wanted to ascend and become something greater and lead his clan to greater heights. He cared little for mortals as a whole. "Do you truly believe that this mage can help me become strong enough?"

Storm thought about that question for a few minutes. Slowly moving a piece in his next move. "There are things I don't want to tell you. Things that may terrify you beyond reason. I have seen this mage wipe out a fleet of adult dragons on her own. I've seen her pull mana directly from the Aetherian realm. I think the only other person I know who could help you, who might be willing, is the queen of the humans. Alliyah doesn't owe me a favor. I'm getting the better end of this deal. My clan will be elevated immensely, and I will have secured an alliance with a deity who will rise to absurd levels of power, given his heritage."

Trillia held up a hand, causing the dragon to pause. "Under the condition that you owe me a favor. To be determined at a later time. Agree to that, and I'll see it as a fair trade."

Storm grinned at her words. Lifting his left hand and making a small cut before extending it to her. Trillia lifted her newly regenerated left hand and made a small cut herself.

A geas notification popped up. She looked at Storm one last time before taking a deep breath and accepting.

Titles unlocked!

New titles available: 1

Fairtrade:

You have made numerous deals with creatures far, far beyond your power and ability. You have always strived to treat them fairly and have sealed your deals with a fair trade. Powerful creatures, immortals, and deities will now see you as 'Trillia Demonsbane Fairtrade'. If you become a matriarch of your own clan or tribe. It will be known as the Fairtrade clan. Furthermore, while this title is your active title, all creatures will be more amiable to you and any suggestions you make concerning trades or bartering.

Trillia blinked a few times as the geas sunk in fully. Storm's grin grew even more. "I knew I sensed a faint power when I first heard you say fair trade. I suppose it's official now, Lady Fairtrade. I look forward to working with you for centuries to come. If you'll excuse me, I'll go and contact that immortal now. You should be good to look through the rest of your notifications now as well. Your mana channels have healed fully."

The dragon stood and left the room without another word. Trillia stared at the blood on her hand. Closing her eyes and hoping she was making the right choices in life. She mentally touched the ring.

"Still alive. Have left hand back. Working with dragons and immortals. Hope you all are well. Love, Trillia."

"Guess we will have to double our efforts to keep up. Happy to hear you are well. Sincerely, Malor"

Trillia remained in her chair, glancing at the board, her eyes slowly drifting to where her rapier sat by her nightstand. "Just playing at it." Whispering to herself and feeling a little hurt at the accusation. She stood and shook her head. "No matter. I said I wanted to get stronger. I said I wanted to make sure no one had to sacrifice themselves to the [Primordials]. I'll see it done."

Part of her wanted to curl up and cry - she fought the urge to be overwhelmed. Trillia walked over to the orange warming crystal and kneeled in front of it. Taking a deep breath, she began praying to both Ora'sys as well as Arlyss. She didn't pray about anything in particular. It was more like silent rambling, asking them to watch over her friends and family. As well as, assuring them that she was ok.

An hour had passed, and she found that praying helped calm her down immensely. It was as if both deities reached down to calm her nerves. With a little smile, she opened her status window. "This is becoming a mess, isn't it?"

Sitting back down at the table, she began twisting and warping her status window. Setting more and more limitations on what she saw. She hid all of her mastered classes, her bound artifacts. She shortened her mentor list to a series of first names. All the skills from them were maxed anyway. She just kept them there to make sure they were ok.

Her general skill list was a nightmare. It took her nearly thirty minutes to figure out how to break it up into sections. All of her resistance passive skills were hidden in a 'Defense" category. She threw her regeneration and various buff skills in that as well and created a trigger that would only tell her if a skill had reached its maximum level AND that it had an evolution available.

Next, she made another category called secondary skills. She put things like [Alchemy], [Cooking], [Herbalism], then gave it the same trigger she had with the 'Defense' category. She repeated this for offensive skills and utility skills. She completely hid her racial skills, even if she had gained some new ones with the changeover. She only cared once they hit max level or could evolve. The various skills shrunk into their categories with little plus signs she could focus on to expand them.

She hid her name, which she was mildly surprised to see even the system recognized her as {Trillia Demonsbane "Fairtrade"}. As well as her status and most of the excess information on her species. She hid all her traits from her status unless something changed or she got a new one.

Finally, she brought up the many notifications she had gotten.

Trait Acquired: Titan-Felling

Titan-Felling: This creature has done the majority of damage and killed a creature that is at least level 500 and is 10x this creature's level! Any damage it deals to any creature above its level ignores 10% of all resistances and armor. This creature also ignores divine resistances of creatures equal to or less than its divine rank or the divine rank of its patron!

Trait Acquired: Elemental Savage

Elemental Savage: This creature disrupted the natural flow of mana in a mortal realm by more than 300%, resulting in a call of retribution from a local equalizer! Elemental creatures will see this creature as an equal and have a more favorable attitude towards it. Elemental mages will become more irrational and angry at this creature without realizing why.

Species: [Mortal]; [Mana-Warped Orc] Level 0 -> Level 62

Subspecies: [Mana-Infused Orc-Teen;Runt] Level 83 - > 97

The first thing she did was sink all of her extra points from her primary species into Wisdom as well. More and more of her abilities relied on her mana regeneration being high. Even if her maximum was absurd, it didn't mean her regeneration was.

Class: [Acolyte of Retribution] Level 0 -> 61

Class: [Mana Conduit-Extendable] Level 7 -> 77

She scrolled through the notifications in both directions but found no new skills for either class. With Conduit, it was expected. The class itself called out not giving her anything by the level. But she had been expecting something at least from being an Acolyte. She'd have to ask someone about that later, she didn't think she'd be in combat anytime soon, so it wasn't a pressing concern.

The majority of the notifications were concerning various auras, debuffs, and buffs that she had gone through. As well as dozens about losing various traits and class features during the procedure to restore her hand.

Her hand...

Trillia couldn't help but look down at her hand, clenching and unclenching it a few times. It was still rather odd to her to see it there. Closing her eyes and shaking her head, she instead moved to sit by the heating crystal in her room and wait. Bringing up her condensed status as she did.

After a moment of staring at the various sub-sections of her status with a little plus symbol, she hid all of that as well under another category.

Species: Mana-Warped Orc

Subspecies: Mana-Infused Orc

Class: Acolyte of Retribution

Class: Mana-Conduit

Stats:

[Brawn: 444] + 50%

\Strength: 177 + Vitality: 267/

[Dexterity: 1567] + 50%

\Agility: 216 + Wisdom: 1351/

[Charisma: 500] + 50%

\Intuition: 246 Presence: 254/

Status:+