At the top of the stairs, guarding the massive, ornately carved double doors giving entry to the city hall, were a group of knights armored from head to toe in shining gold. They were not superhumanly built like the Northmen or Blood Legionnaires, nor did they seem to exude the kind of primal, feral strength that the southern beastmen had.

In fact, they did not seem to have the iron will and robotic discipline that the blood legionnaires had either. That was to say, the knights were not untrained. Actually, far from it.

Li stepped up to the double doors, and the knights immediately reacted. They stared at Li with the poise of soldiers used to guarding. They had that stiff-postured ability to somehow pay attention to you while staring straight ahead to look as intimidating as possible.

But it was not their skill or posture that impressed Li, if anything did. Their power levels were fairly low. Mid to late thirties, meaning they were definitively a cut above the norm, but not anything overwhelmingly powerful. The blood legionnaires, for example, had an average level that ranged in the late forties to early fifties.

Which, come to think of it, did mark out a kind of "mortal limit" for human strength, if there ever was such a definitive thing. It seemed that without remarkable talent or good genetics, the average human could not break past level forty.

In any case, what did vaguely impress Li was their equipment. Their golden armor shone with powerful magical radiance, and it was clearly evident that the quality of the armor far exceeded the levels of their wearers. Upon a closer look, he realized he recognized the armor too.

The Sunforged armor set. Lore wise, it was armor crafted from sunlight made solid through magic. It was extremely resistant to any dark or demonic magics, though they provided little in the way of standing against eldritch power. It also granted an immense amount of bonus health, health regeneration, boosted stats, and a huge bonus to holy magic based upon the number of set pieces worn.

The armor set was mythic tier, meaning it was to normally be worn by individuals of level sixty to eighty. However, the requirement could be waived to a large degree if the wearer subclassed in anything related to the light. So being a priest or paladin would suffice.

And all the knights were paladins or priests, it appeared from cursory glance

"Easterner," said a knight. He nodded to the others around him, and they moved with efficiency, moving past the doors and opening them.

Li took in that reaction to mean that the knights were expecting him. "I assume my presence is wanted somewhere?"

"Top floor. Audience room." The knight spoke briskly, almost gruffly.

"Shiny man," commented Tia. She squinted her eyes. "Eyes hurt."

The knights did not react at all, and Li passed them by without much fuss. Inside the city hall, there was a complete whirlwind of activity. Staff zipping by, carrying thick stacks of documents and calling out names and instructions every which way. Above, a droning and magically projected voice worded out directions for some staff to go this way, others that way, and so on and so forth.

There were no civilians as there usually were. Riviera was in full wartime mode now, using every ounce of its resources and manpower to organize a war effort.

"Busy," muttered Tia as her eyes darted about, trying to make sense of the hundreds of different threads of conversations and hurried bodies that zipped by her.

"A little too chaotic, I agree. Let's go somewhere calmer," said Li.

Up the familiar stairs, the same stairs he took to obtain to his herbalist's license so long ago, and passing the hallways of sculped, smoothed marble and facades that depicted a great many battles, he made his way to the audience room used by lord Lys. The floor itself was incredibly empty, forbidden for entry by common staff.

Outside the room, there were two more knights wearing sunforged gear, and they parted way to let Li inside. There were familiar faces seated around the round table of the audience room.

"And speak of the devil," said Swift as he nodded to Li, his feet crossed and upraised on the table in lounging manner. "Or, I should say, god? But that does not roll off the tongue quite as well."

Sunstar sent out a striking glare to Swift's way, and the young hero became uncharacteristically silent.

"Interesting," said Li. Lord Lys was at the table, as was Swift, the duchess, and Sunstar. "Though, as I think about it, not too interesting. It would make sense for the duchess to be here, at the heart of the war effort."

The duchess Vivienne rose from her seat at the head of the table and curtsied. "I would be no leader of mine people were I to cower under the safety of Eclat's golden walls."

"Then am I to see you fighting on the front lines?" asked Li rather sarcastically.

Sunstar sat beside the duchess, and he stirred, used to taking action against anyone who even slightly offended the sovereign, but knew he could not act out against Li.

The duchess laughed. "Ah, unfortunately, I would be more hindrance than help on the battlefield. But we were discussing that matter about you just now."

"I see," said Li.

"Will you not take a seat?" asked the duchess with a smile and a nod as she extended a white gloved hand towards an empty seat.

"My schedule is rather busy," said Li. "I am expecting to make my business here quick."

"Ah, a shame. Hopefully, at the least, I or the good lord Lys here may be of assistance?" said the duchess as she reached a hand out to the seat beside her, squeezing lord Lys's shoulder. Her fingers dug into the portly man's shoulder, and he blinked several times while nodding.

"You two certainly have the authority," said Li. "So let us move quickly. Why did you call for me, as if expecting me?"

"We were curious of your guild's stance in this war," said the duchess. "All other guilds of Riviera have backed their support for the effort."

"And?"

"That does not mean we are asking you for your support. We merely wish to know your stance, and whatever it is, we will accept it. After all, your guild is of significant merit and influence, not even beginning to mention that you have brought to light an entire new faith.

As leader of both, you certainly have your own say in what you desire."

"Quite accommodating. Well, you are all in luck, for I intend to march west with your war effort." Li could see the palpable surprise on Sunstar's face, but the duchess maintained a pleasant and neutral smile that gave away nothing.

"But as an independent power. My faith and the divinity bound to me do not obey any crown. I am no enemy, but I will not be commanded either. The power I have, I use under my desire, not anyone else's. My followers, too, if any join me, or if new followers come in my wake, will not follow under the orders of any except their own."

Sunstar's jaw set. His shining golden eyes flaring with an extra burst of brightness. "This is a war, not a sightseeing trip. Those that join the march must do so under proper authority lest there be nothing but disorganized chaos."

"Don't be such a hardass, Sunny," said Swift. "He's a good guy. He'll do good. In the end, that's all that matters, isn't it?"

"Good does not mean right," said Sunstar.

"I'll make this a lot easier for you to decide," said Li. "All of you by now know about the new demonrot. I know that you know that the priests of Light are powerless against it, regardless of what they do. You know how significant that knowledge is.

What will your people do when they realize the priests of the Light they so dearly worship are utterly powerless before the demons, demons that the Light is supposed to drive away? How much panic will rise? How much chaos? How much of the crown's authority will chip away?"

Li paused, letting his words sink in.

"I have a cure that I am willing to share with your soldiers and people, for they are innocent lives undeserving of corruption. However, you want me to stay? Then you face the rot by yourselves."