"And as you can clearly see, there is no need to worship an existing deity, as both a concept or a person will be enough to allow the manifestation of holy mana. Usage of borrowed spell matrixes aside, it's as good as what the humans are using." Aki pointed out as they watched from behind a glass pane enchanted to look like a wall as three pride demons infused their bodies and spells with what was clearly holy mana.

"But, how?!" Exclaimed the Head Dean of the arcaneum.

"Because it's a mana type centered around belief more so than the rest. Who could possibly believe more than a self serving egocentric that thinks themselves a genius? So long as they do what they think is right, it works." He shrugged, dissing the same young men and woman he had been indoctrinating with praises and focused advice moments ago. "It's not like it is the only mana type that is completely unavailable if you repudiate and ignore it." At those words however, the looks people in the room were giving him turned confused, some turning to the royal mages and arcaneum educators in attendance.

"That… is true." Realized the Dean and the Director of the arcaneum at seemingly the same time, both sharing a look that seemed to say how much was actually going in their heads.

"The only beings truly unable to cast spells of different elements are elementals, and that's because if they somehow manage to cast them they are so irrevocably changed that saying they would be the same being would be incorrect." Scoffed Aki, his arrogance and certainty easily dominating the room despite the several powerful pride demons present. "And don't you scholarly fucks decide to suddenly reveal that you had inklings about such, because I don't have the time to deal with acusing you of treason for lying to the imperial family when you attempt to do the same thing a second or fifth time."

Sera had seen a similar scenario coming ever since she realized there would be so little time before they actually reached the capital, but this was certainly much less dangerous than expected. With so many people of importance seeing what was going on, there was little chance that Aki would be killed for his manners before he contributed most if not all his knowledge to the Empire!

Though at this rate it was also doubtful whether he could even be killed.

Others might not know, but how could she not monitor his usage of credits? The man had many, and by the end of his willingness to teach, he might as well have the equivalent of what some of their oldest operatives accumulated through their entire careers!

Although they were an old dynasty that had both the capability to pay their debts and held the foresight to limit the distribution of such resources that could not be bought with money, Aki was also a shrewd immortal who might very well become a drain in their treasury so long as he didn't die.

Not one of her siblings or aunts brought forth the idea of expediting such a development however, and without the input of the royal family their short sighted officials would not be able to move with abandon.

Despite the greedy and shameless bitch being more than willing to suck them dry, he was also more than working for it, and she knew for a fact that after curing her father he intended to go liberate wild zones.

By himself.

The domains of beast lords were not dangerous only because of their rulers, some of those actually going out of their way to firm a non-aggression pact in their own way, but rather because of the fact that such places had old and diverse ecosystems more than capable of killing off any who might want to intrude upon it, both plants and animals practically made for killing and spouting the most diverse strategies.

And yet she couldn't help but hold onto hope that he would actually be able to do it.

Not only would the resources they could take from such ventures allow them to nurture several elites, but the increase in safety for the already established settlements surrounding such areas would surge to the sky, their economy flourishing as they became springboards for the explorations of secured areas.

Who knows, they might even find ruins with depictions of their revered ancestors. Perhaps that was even why he had decided upon the wilds for his next mission instead of the battlefield.

Admittedly, it'd surprised her that he wanted to abstain from joining their newest offensive, but hearing that even he still feared being assassinated was rather… good, in a way, if only to make the Fae spirit seem more like a person instead of this force of nature and wisdom.

Though it did bring back some not so happy memories of her eldest brother.

Luckily that was where the similarities between the two of them stopped, so she didn't develop any weird complex about the spirit. Pride and fear aside, they were just too different. And her brother was dead. Bringing him up like this was not good for anyone.

Neither was leaving Aki to himself in a room of politicians though.

"And why should I care about that? Talent is useless without work ethics, and a child should be still forming their character instead of spending the time trying to learn something difficult. They should focus on creating a basis on which to further their future studies at most. Children grow in personality more easily, while adults grow in knowledge so long as they can properly dedicate themselves, and so it is the duty of the elders to ensure this efficiency while learning from the individual, making it so life is enjoyed throughout it's expectancy."

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His words were… not very conciliatorily to the empire's culture and needs. She could already see some of the older generation getting ready to fight him with both words and fists, so it was about time to move on. Luckily no one dared question her despite her relatively low status in the royal family and they were soon walking the corridors of the palace, going to her office. Not that waited until they got in and turned the wards on before speaking however.

"It makes absolutely no sense to me how your civics are so underdeveloped. The border with the humans and beast lords can be held simply enough, but with the industries of the empire as they stand we will be fucked if some sudden efficiency increases don't happen in the coming years. We need to talk." His sudden whispering cut off her own admonishment before they could begin. Suddenly, they were inside, the whole room shining with mana as the enchantments were reinforced.

And a very memorable book was put in her hands.

"You stole from my father?!" She made to hit him with the book, but thought better on it since this could very well contain sensitive information that could not so easily be rewritten or transcribed. "You are going to put this back where you found it and then we're having a talk with the Demon king, and this is an order." She practically hissed at him.

"Already intended to do that, so no go. Rather, you need to read this and the country needs it badly enough that I will need to keep trying to do something like this if you say no." His tone was steady and seemed to suggest she was overreacting, but honestly, dealing with him was very tiring and she didn't want to do it at this point.

"No. We are going now." It hurt to see him look at her like she was an animal that did not know good from bad, he was just that good at showing pity, but maybe, just maybe, this was indeed the wrong… no, you can resist his mind fuckery and you will do the right thing. If they didn't already share this with you it was for a good reason.

Surely her father, aunts and the ministers were already working on whatever problem was in that notebook. And she wasn't about to fall for whatever faery trick this was.

……………..

The next time she saw Aki, it was two months later. The prideful spirit looked defeated.

Bags under his eyes, stimulant tea in hand, several empty potions on his belt. While it was normal enough to see him with ruffled clothing and hair, even his voice was not in the best of states, nor did he smile as he ordered several enchanters all around the room.

"Oh, Sera. We're almost done with your father's thing." People looked at him in shock and anger, and indeed this was ridiculous. It'd been months since he had come to the Empire, that he had yet to learn how to act in public was simply not acceptable anymore.

She could barely even remember her reasoning for coming personally after such a gaffe, but she did have a message to deliver, and if this was how he wanted to act then so be it.

"Spirit Aki, your manners remain lacking I see. Despite my own and other's leniency, you seem to simply not take polite society seriously, leaving me with no choice but to send you for punishment." Seeing no reaction from, his face, she ordered someone to accompany him as well.

Despite her seriousness though, all she received was an apathetic look that seemed to ask if she was done. Whether or not he was using magic to seem that much more punchable was hard to tell, but her will to do so was certainly there.

"Any new orders?" He asked as the silence stretched. She sighed and shook her head.

"You are to come meet his majesty to discuss further assignments now that this project is coming to a close." She declared and he nodded, signing her to lead on and calling for a break of five minutes and to call the next team on rotation.

They walked, and for some reason she could feel that the silence was suffocating despite her being the one that had estranged their not so close relation. It wasn't the mana, of that she was sure as even now, despite his steady growth and usage of natural treasures, she retained the greater mana pool.

Stepping into the conference room, she couldn't help but wince internally at the sight of her honoured father, his skin faded and his eyes tired. She knew exactly from what, had even offered her spellcasting a few times, and we're it not him in that chair, she knew that even these months would have a man kill himself to escape the pain.

Yet here he was, still of sound mind and dealing with matters of state. Maybe she should look into helping with his (urgh…) paperwork, like her oldest sister.

"Sera, operator Aki, please sit." He nodded to the long table with a few open seats at which's head he sat, a map of the empire set up over it. She took her chair, close to her father and farther away from the fae. "Heimir, if you would.

"There have been sightings of human scouts in these areas." The head agent leaned over, pointing out several forested areas at the south easterner border. "And a team of operatives is being set up to deal with any possible infiltrations." He gave Aki a look.

"You know I'm not the best at spending long periods of time with people without compromising emotions, so I take it I am to be a counter slash bait to be deployed somewhere else, supposed to make a scene in the 6 human territory to needle a more obvious respons without letting them build up whatever they are doing in this mostly deserted area."

The way he said it held the confidence that such an line of thought and action was obvious, but she could honestly not see how those actions would lead to such results. She seemed to be the only one present to hold much doubt however, and the answer to that was soon given out.

"Someone else will do that. She has been preparing for a hit like this for much longer and our response needs to be immediate in hopes of getting the best reaction." What the fuck did she miss on the briefing and how did AKI know about it instead?! "Rather, you will be moved to internal affairs to help prepare for the incoming counter and likely unseen operation."

"Please tell me you mean I am too cull possible monster hordes and secure strategic and logistical resources." The Fae spoke through his teeth, suddenly very awake and ready to mouth off a storm. Especially as he received a small shake of head in answer to his question.

"You will be given an area of activity and are to observe for possible signs of infiltration and treason after making contact with local agents. Due to movement in personnel they will be without a cabal of mind mages soon and you are to substitute for them. Know that this is a post that has recently risen from mild to advanced alarm, so complaints and laziness will not be tolerated." Explained the old demon, his eyes probably sharing just as much information with his fellow grayskin.

"Yo voy a te mostrar la putita cuando tu esposa…" Muttered Aki in an unknown language while glaring back before suddenly breathing in deeply and seeming to calm down. "I will be done with the parts that need me in the black box project in another ten or so days. After a few more days for supplies and rest I will be ready for my deployment sir."

Seeing the resolution of an agent that would clearly see the job done despite not liking it, they went over to the details, preparations for departure coming together soon enough.

By the might of their best, the Empire would survive and the Empire would thrive.