-23-

[https://i.imgur.com/LoYByv0.png]

Exhaustion struck me hard after spending such a long time in the spring water pool.

After I dried off and changed into some comfortable clothes, I returned to the room prepared upstairs and promptly passed out resting next to Hailey.

I wasn’t sure how long I had been asleep, but it had been long enough that the sun had now set. A little flicker of light seeped in from under the door.

The elves had magi-tools for lighting a room they called luminators. A switch along the wall controlled the luminators in the ceiling, as well as any standalone ones installed on the walls or onto desks.

We had similar devices in Axio, though I don’t know if they had a fancy name. Most people just called them lights.

Only the government offices had lights that were controllable with wall switches. The majority of them were handheld and could be turned on or off with a knob.

I fumbled my hand along the wall trying to remember where the switch had been for this room.

Damnable technology. A light on the bedside table is just an easier way to avoid a silly situation like this.

My fingers drifted past the switch but I paused just before flipping it—voices echoed down the hallway.

Normally I wouldn’t care about anyone having a conversation nearby. It certainly wouldn’t be cause to shy from turning on the lights in an effort to avoid anyone knowing I had woken up.

Except the conversation I heard mentioned me by name.

The voices trailed off as they walked further down the hall. I crept my way to the door, opening it slowly. I peeked my head out just in time to see Hailey, Mei, and Julius turn around the corner.

Tip-toeing down the hallway, I listened in on them as the descended the stairway.

Julius’ voice resonated up the stairs loudly.

“Do you think she’s doing alright?”

“Just in general, or specifically since arriving here?

“Airis seemed fine earlier. We got a little tense talking about something in the springs, but Hailey started teasing her and she snapped out of it.”

“It’s that personality switch I’m worried about. There is a mountain of responsibility that has been dumped on her shoulders. I’ve sworn to support her as best I can, but since the founding of the OSW I’ve only become more distant…”

“Is that why you insisted on coming with on this trip?”

They had moved far enough down that I couldn’t make out which voice belonged to Mei or Hailey.

What do they mean Julius insisted on coming? Why wouldn’t he, he’s one of the most senior ranked military officers we have.

“I really wasn’t planning to. Originally I thought about sending Soren and Alistaire but the morning before, I accompanied her through the city on some errands and she didn’t seem herself.”

“She disappeared later that night with Rias too.”

“Now that you mention it… Yeah, she seemed a little off.”

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“Do you think she’s lonely?”

What!? Me? Lonely? Stupid Julius. I’m just fine. I may be sitting here eavesdropping on my friends… but that’s your fault for having a secret discussion about me.

“Lonely? I don’t think so… right? She has us to depend on.”

“Hmm, that’s wrong. It’s more like we have her. It’s true she delegates a lot of responsibility down to us, but none of us can contact the Celestials. And none of us can manifest that Chaos Magick. She’s pulled us from the brink of annihilation more than once now. All of our hopes are pushed up to her.”

“The Celestials… That’s one more thing that worries me. Speaking with the Gods just isn’t natural. It has to take a toll on her psyche. And I’m not sure I trust their intentions.”

“You’re questioning the Gods now, Julius?”

“If I think they’re using Airis, you’re damn right I’ll question them.”

Julius. You idiot.

I pulled back from the stairwell. I’ve pried enough and listening any longer wouldn’t do me any good. It was nice to have friends that worried about me, but they should just talk to me about it.

The lights turned on as I flipped the wall switch. I closed the door softly behind me and leaned against it, slowly dropping to the floor.

My travel packs had arrived some time while I was sleeping.

I should probably unpack.

Staring at the bags I tried to will them to unpack themselves.

Nothing happened.

Well, it was worth a shot.

I shifted along the floor towards my stuff. I grabbed the closest one, pulled the string-tie open, and started to empty its contents out.

My bags were mostly clothing with the occasional notepad or other stray document that couldn’t have waited until I returned to look at.

I unrolled one such document. A requisition form for supplies to be directed towards the dock reclamation teams.

I shook my head.

We don’t even have that many ships. Half a dozen barely restored fishing vessels at most. What would we do with—

TAP. TAP. TAP.

The paper form flew up in the air as my body acted on its own. I had flipped over a small table and was now seated behind it in a defensive stance, charging a pair of HOLY BOLT spells.

The loud tapping at the door brought back images of wicked rows of teeth and jagged claws. My stomach twisted, a dull pain aching across my abdomen.

“Empress? Are you awake? It’s me, Lira! Oh, do you even understand what I’m saying? I should go get Mei or Rias.”

No floating runes or words hammering in my head.

I dropped my shoulders and let my spells fizzle out. A deep sigh escaped my lips and I opened the door.

Lira had crossed half the hallway and spun around at the sound.

“Good evening, Lira. Was there something you needed?”

“Yes! I came to let—wait, wah?”

My ability to speak elvish had almost gone unnoticed.

“You’ve been able to… the whole time? And I… Oh, I am so sorry!”

“It’s nothing to worry about, what was it you were going to say?”

“What was I gonna say? Uhh. Ah! Yes, that the provisional government has cleared their schedule to meet with you tomorrow morning.”

“In the morning? We’ve only just arrived today. Surely they don’t mean to force us into a diplomatic conference with only a single night’s rest?”

“I only just heard about it at the garrison. Champion Varla said he had orders to bring a full raiding party as an escort.”

“Lira, have you already told the others about this?”

“Uhmm. Nope!”

“Please do me a favor and don’t let anyone else know about that part about the escort team. Okay?”

“Yeah you got it.”

What in the Aether is going on here…