"A Grand Human?" Zelnu asked, clearly surprised.

"Yes, you totes don't know? This little twerp is a Grand Human. I'd say I was totes shocked. But hey, at least you guys are getting one Grand Human, three Primordial Humans, and an Arcane Human!" Avriel smirked, leaning back casually.

"Punch me because I don't believe this is real," Zelnu muttered, turning to Freed. Without hesitation, Freed punched him square in the face, leaving Zelnu blinking in stunned silence.

"I didn't mean literally!!!" Zelnu exclaimed, holding his cheek.

Aurianna sighed. "Maybe I should send Avriel."

"Don't send me away!" Avriel cried out, and Aurianna rolled her eyes but changed her mind.

"Hmmm," Aurianna hummed, her gaze shifting to Boara, her eyes narrowing.

"Why are you staring at me like that? I mean, I can fly and all, so why me?" Boara grumbled.

"Exactly why you're going," Aurianna replied, her tone firm.

"Tch, fine," Boara muttered under her breath.

Aurianna then stared at her arm, and a spider robot like creature formed out of her hand before standing in her palm and staring at her.

"Oh, you managed to make a sucker?" Eva asked, surprise and pride flickering across her face.

"I had to! Your prices are outrageous!" Aurianna huffed, crossing her arms.

"Aurianna, is that a sucker?" Ostusi asked, examining the strange object in her hands.

"Yes, a new and improved version made from my own flesh and bones. No one else can use it unless they bear my mark or I allow them to," Aurianna explained, a proud smile creeping onto her face.

"So here," she said, handing it over to Boara.

Vatium raised an eyebrow. "So you could've come home?"

Aurianna shot Eva a glare, then glanced nervously at Vatium. "Cough, cough. I needed to explore a bit, alright? I didn’t want to go back to that country the same. The outside world is cooler than I expected."

"You could’ve just gone there and handled things yourself," Boara chimed in.

"No, you do it!" Aurianna snapped.

"Whatever," Boara shrugged.

"But first," Aurianna's voice turned icy, "to ensure our cooperation, I'll give Boara secondary authority to grant my mark to everyone there."

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"This is outrageous!" Camila protested.

Vatium sighed, trying to intervene. "Aurianna, everyone in this room is trustworthy."

"Don't test me, big brother Vatium," Aurianna said with an innocent yet chilling smile. "This isn't a request. Once Boara gets there, every single person will receive my mark, whether they like it or not. I don't care if it's harsh. I don't trust anyone unless they bear my mark. People can betray you when pushed to the edge. Our enemies will use any means necessary to get information. My power stops that. Even mind reading won’t work, and if they try to share information, they’ll explode and die—only to be revived in my white castle for interrogation."

"Aurianna…" Ostusi's voice was filled with concern.

"Ostusi, I'm being serious. If you all refuse, I'll let Boara kill anyone who doesn’t bear my mark."

"You wench! You're being highly unreasonable! I’m starting to understand Gaius now," Camila spat, her eyes flaring with anger.

"As I said, she's insane," Gaius muttered under his breath.

"You'd kill so many people just because they don’t have your mark?!" Helua demanded, her voice trembling with disbelief.

"Of course," Aurianna replied nonchalantly. "Anything to keep my plans from leaking. I won’t allow it."

"Aurianna, I have to object," Vatium interjected, his tone stern. "You can mark the leaders, but leave the ordinary people alone. I want them to live peacefully."

"Vatium, brother, please don't be foolish. Their lives would never be normal again after meeting us," Aurianna countered. "If they want peaceful lives, they must be ready to fight for it."

‘Peaceful lives? What a load of bullshit,’ Aurianna thought to herself. ‘Those people owe me their lives after I saved them. I’ll make sure they’re put to good use.’

"You don’t plan to change your mind, sister?" Vatium asked, his voice softer, almost pleading.

"Nope. Not even you can change my mind," Aurianna responded, her expression unyielding.

‘Why would I let useful puppets leave just like that? After all the work I did to save them? I could’ve eaten them, but I didn’t. No way. They’ll all be in my army,’ she thought coldly.

"I understand," Vatium finally said, resignation in his voice.

"Master Vatium, this is outrageous!" Gaius protested, his frustration boiling over.

"Remember," Aurianna said, her voice laced with a quiet menace, "you can’t use my white castle unless you bear my mark. So, if you go into any war without it, you’ll all die like pathetic lambs at the slaughterhouse.”

“You may be our sister, but you speak such foul words. We have confidence in our force,” Zelnu remarked, folding his arms in defiance.

“Oh? Then why hasn’t Vatium made you fight yet?” Aurianna retorted.

"That's what I'd like to know as well," Zelnu muttered, frowning.

“Why, can you predict the future now?” Mike chimed in, sounding skeptical.

“No, I can’t. But you’re lucky I’m on your side. If I weren’t, half your army would be dead by now. Chi, chi, chi,” Aurianna chuckled darkly, her laugh sending a shiver through the room.

Vatium sighed. “Yes, actually, I have to admit, I’m glad you’re with us. However, I’ll only agree to this if I maintain leadership over my own people. You won’t control them for your own bidding.”

“How annoying,” Aurianna scoffed. “Fine, I’ll allow that. But the people of the Infinite Nation belong to me. After all, I’m the one who saved them. The rest of those I rescued from King Girsal, I’ll give to you.”

“I may not like this, but... thank you,” Vatium replied, his tone reluctant yet respectful.

“No need to thank me. You’re my brother, after all,” Aurianna said, her smile softening briefly.

She turned to Boara. “Boara, you can go now. Do what you've been instructed.”

Boara blinked in confusion. “How am I supposed to give them your mark, though?”

Aurianna stepped forward, placing her hand on Boara’s. "Just use your hand to touch them." As she made contact, a gem-like tattoo appeared on Boara's ashy skin.

“This tattoo…” Boara murmured, staring at the glowing mark.

“Now go,” Aurianna commanded, handing the Sucker to Boara. She tapped the device, and it activated, linking with Ostusi’s Sucker. A portal shimmered before them.

Boara hesitated for a moment before stepping through the portal, disappearing from sight and so did the portal. Aurianna ended her call with Vatium, leaning back with a heavy sigh.

“Hah, I’m so tired from talking so much,” she muttered, slouching deaper onto the couch.

_____

“Hmm, so this place is your base, huh?” Boara remarked, glancing around the shabby area as she stood next to Ostusi.

“Aurianna,” Boara called out, her voice carrying a hint of irritation.

“Yes?” Aurianna replied, her tone equally annoyed.

“You’re able to talk to her?” Vatium asked, watching the interaction with surprise.

“All those who are connected to her can communicate, but she can choose to ignore you,” Boara explained, her four eyes blinking in unison.

"I can go to the Void Space if I want to, right?" Boara asked, glancing at Aurianna.

"But you're supposed to watch them," Aurianna replied with a hint of impatience.

"Fine," Boara muttered, folding her arms.

Ostusi glanced around the room, noticing the growing discomfort among the others. ‘This sickening pressure,’ he thought, feeling the oppressive aura of Boara's presence. Everyone wore tense, nervous expressions, some even trembling. ‘Her presence alone is terrifying…’

"I can't believe I have to babysit these children," Boara grumbled, looking down at the group dismissively.

She sighed before addressing the room. “Nice to meet you all, I’m Boara,” she greeted formally, her tone flat but respectful.

Vatium, despite his own trembling, stepped forward and extended his arm. “Boara, I hope we can work together,” he said, his shaky voice betraying him.

"Of course," Boara replied, her lips curling into a smile as she shook his hand firmly.

Vatium’s thoughts raced. ‘She wasn’t lying. This woman is really a Primordial Human.’