Elinor’s gaze moved to Yesenia as the Emperor left, and his youngest daughter hurried through the halls to act as her guide. The snake woman seemed to be pondering her display, vision shifting to Edmon, still in his stationary position.

Yesenia’s tone was somewhat hesitant. “Empress Elinor … could I have some time in private to discuss a matter.”

High Seaweaver Lonuarag leaned in to whisper to her, but the woman shook her head. “I appreciate your caution. He doesn’t understand me … and I can’t understand him. My translator is currently sleeping.”

“Mmh?” Elinor chuckled, hands clasped behind her back. “High Seaweaver, I am feeling generous. I understand you have a difficult time communicating with … you call her the Sea Empress, Yesenia, correct? I will have my Royal Gatekeeper translate,” Elinor prompted, gesturing to Edmon.

The Doom Guard’s wicked-looking armor fluidly moved to direct his attention to the pair as the other royal attendants and guards observed. He was certainly an imposing figure between the sapphire fog that represented the man’s eyes and the mist that exited the black helmet’s faceguard.

The lizard’s eyes narrowed, focus sliding to her guard. “That … would be most helpful, Empress Elinor. Also, might I inquire about your guard’s title … Royal Gatekeeper? Is that a high position within your kingdom?”

Edmon was the one to respond, and his deep voice was easily heard within the chamber, mixed with the soft sounds of running water. “I am known as Edmon, Royal Gatekeeper of the Empress. I lead the Empress’s armies in defense of her enemies while serving upon the Royal Court’s advisory cabinet for my liege.”

“In short,” Elinor commented with a small smile, “he is one of the nobles within my kingdom that acts as my defense.”

Lonuarag’s black tongue slid through his teeth as his face creased slightly. “It appears you have the means to handle yourself without such intervention, Empress.”

Her light giggles carried far within the silent hall; the Nalvean guards were eyeing them cautiously, but after the Emperor’s statement that she’d be welcomed further throughout the palace, there wasn’t much they would likely do.

“Oh, I have many bulwarks to act for me, but I thought it appropriate to demonstrate a small portion of that force with your Emperor present. Empires must show they are a force to be reckoned with … don’t you agree?”

“Indeed,” Lonuarag evenly replied, “and I will graciously utilize your offered aid.”

He turned to Yesenia, expecting his words to be translated, and Edmon complied with the tone his station demanded.

“My Empress of the Seas … I agree that understanding our new guests is of importance, but we have many things to accomplish.”

Yesenia’s lips fell with dissatisfaction. “Lonuarag … I must speak to the Empress. There is nothing else to be said.”

Elinor was a little amused at her blunt dismissal, and her own royal guide arrived shortly before the close of the conversation.

“I see … might the two Empress’ be acquainted in some manner?”

“Yes … in a way,” she mumbled, still giving Elinor a guarded stare. “She has answers I seek.”

Lonuarag didn’t seem to enjoy the response, but there wasn’t much he could do about it. “Very well. Can I suggest we hold off for a time?”

“I cannot wait,” Yesenia responded, lips clearly falling with displeasure at his insistence. “We may continue our previous meeting as soon as I speak with her.”

He resigned himself to a stiff nod, turning his attention back to Edmon. “I find it strange that you can translate while speaking both Nalvean and the human tongue.”

“The Empress has many great powers, which includes the ability to share the linguistic talents of any creature within her care. Praise be to the Empress.”

“Indeed,” Lonuarag whispered. “If that is the case, then I will send a guard to escort the Sea Empress to the nearest private chambers. I will await the conclusion in another with my council. Empress’...” He placed a hand across his chest and left after Edmon reported the information to Yesenia.

With his exit, Elinor smiled up at Yesenia. “I look forward to our conversation.”

“Yes … I will meet you there,” she stated, body swaying back and forth as her lower half carried her into the space beyond Elinor’s sight.

Her attention moved to the patient Nalvean that had recently joined her small group.

The princess bowed her head to her on approaching, proceeding cautiously around Edmon in case he had any objection, and placed her left hand in a similar salute with the previous action. Within Nalvean culture, her position was no different from her father; the only person Elinor was expected to recognize as the High Ruler himself.

“Empress,” the young Nalvean greeted, “I … understand there will be a short meeting between you and … the Sea Empress.” Respect for Yesenia seemed to be difficult for her, and Elinor noticed the odd crystal formations on her back that were present on all the royalty; the High Ruler and his line came from extremely powerful Seaweavers.

Elinor nodded, beginning her path to the stairs and her minions below. “I believe your name is Tal’tamine, correct?”

“Yes, Empress!” She responded, eyeing Edmon and the two flanking guards.

The Lich took a moment to eye the girl she’d be spending a decent amount of time with while inside the Nalvean Capital.

Tal’tamine was relatively slim, even for her race’s female physique, and a bit shorter than most, standing around Edmon’s height. Her green and blue gradient scales were well polished, and her silk was embroidered, which was something unique from what she’d seen.

Her draconic, salamander-like features were mixed with the plated scales and monstrous spikes used as an anchoring point for their coverings. A necklace of yellow, orange, and red stones was strung around her neck. A few leather straps were tied around her left foot, and a single draping metallic headpiece with flaming jewels adorned her head to indicate her royal position.

“Tell me,” Elinor gestured at the group ahead of them from the top of the stairs; her two Quen’Talrat only slightly below their eye-level, “what are your customs concerning my escort? I understand security within your walls is of the utmost importance; I would expect similar treatment when a foreign party entered my own palace.”

Tal’tamine hid her nervousness well in the face of the apes, and she must have seen them while rushing to get her. “Hmm … I could better answer your question if I knew their stations,” she said with a bright tone.

Edmon swiftly pointed to each and identified them, and Violet was back in her spider form, silently crawling along the walls while scanning for threats.

Her royal guide nodded once understanding their roles. “Your maids are of course welcome to join; an Empress requires her aides.”

“However,” her cheeks peeled back a little in a somewhat threatening manner, but by the tone of her voice, she was giving Elinor a forced smile, “I hope you understand, but our people have a very … turbulent history with the Quen’Talrat. Many would be more comfortable if they were to await your return on your vessel. There is no objection to your Royal Gatekeeper.”

Without saying a word, both Quin and Lecra’Moro bowed, returning to the city with her silent commands; Quin didn’t have the skillset to avoid notice, but the hulking assassin could slip into the city’s shadows to be close in case he was needed.

Tal’tamine gave a small start when Elinor kept an expectant gaze on her. “Oh … thank you for your compliance, Empress!” She bowed with the salute again and motioned her to follow.

Emelina and Aileen positioned themselves behind Elinor, beside Edmon, but the little twelve-year-old girl was abuzz with questions, directed to the Head Maid through the Nexus.

Elinor’s mind drifted for a moment, logging all of her minion’s movements.

Klaus met with the Shadow Hand members to begin the hunt for a capable specimen to help increase her Royal Court, among other tasks he gave them.

Camellia and Imiunarus were still off on a distant mission to one of the City Statesmen to the west that Klaus had singled out for his Shadow Hand contacts.

Iris’ position hadn’t changed, but it was difficult to identify even large distances traveled with how distant the Spider Queen was from her, and a worry began to ebb its way into Elinor’s brain as she studied the link.

If I continue moving south … I might lose all contact with Iris’ direction at all. It was becoming difficult to target at first, but now even that link to her is diminishing, and it’s not anything to do with her, but the Nexus’ strength itself. If I hadn’t increased its level over the week … I might not have even been able to tell the distance.

Her new member pulled her attention with the news passing between Edmon and her; Castella was a bit distressed with how annoyed and pointed some members of the Emperor’s council were becoming because of her answers. Edmon calmly talked the Undead Nalvean through the proper responses to illustrate what had happened to her.

Klaus had already explained that their actions were bound to cause waves, but that was precisely the splash they needed to be recognized as a nation. They needed legitimacy, and the Nalveans were the best ticket to establish their lands among the neighboring kingdoms. A bold approach was necessary while they worked in the shadows to further expand their influence.

Elinor expected the closed council meeting between High Ruler Nukulara and his advisors would be a prolonged event that would carry far into the night, which was why she pushed for a royal escort. They needed the Nalveans to spend an exorbitant amount of time overthinking things and giving her Empire more strength than it actually held.

A light hum rumbled in Elinor’s throat as she eyed the aquatic-themed architecture that mirrored the mixed Egyptian and Chinese styles. The written dreams across the hallway walls and grand pillars were somewhat hilarious to Elinor; many were rather unimpressive stories. She could understand them, but it was more of an instinctual knowledge of each line’s meaning than it being translated into English.

The Nalvean’s written language was much more emotion-driven and broad within its scope of meaning, yet also more concise. A simple weaving line of symbols could translate into an entire chapter within English. A simple mistake could change the whole context of a story.

Most were about rather mundane things, yet a few were of the romantic type that had Elinor lifting an eyebrow at; none of them were exceptionally raunchy but far more risqué than what human society would allow in a hallway frequented by guests.

“Hmm…”

Tal’tamine’s bright green eyes darted to her. “Yes, Empress?”

Turning her attention away from the enticing language, able to tell an entire story within a quick scan, Elinor continued with her part within Klaus’ Nalvean play. “Your culture is very new to me, yet has similarities to many others I have visited … including the political atmosphere.”

The princess’s eyes fell to the floor, not missing her soft tone of voice. “Is … something concerning you about what you have seen so far? If you wish, we can move to another location; this is merely a branch we must take to reach the room for your meeting.”

Elinor softly shook her head, glancing back at the Nalvean guards behind her maids. “I’d rather not insult your Empire with what might be my ignorance of your culture.”

Tal’tamine didn’t miss her direction and swiftly told the guards to follow at a further distance; Edmon retreated with them to keep the pair’s attention, and with the extra breathing room to speak her mind, Elinor gave the lizard a small smirk. “You are quite observant, Princess.”

She giggled at the compliment. “No, Empress, I wouldn’t go so far as to flatter myself. I am curious about your own opinion of our ways … you have a very unique ability,” she swallowed with a nervous chuckle. “You seem acquainted with Sea Empress Yesenia.”

“Hmm … hehe, Sea Empress is an interesting title. I am aware of her, but our connection more or less ends at our previous world. She likely wishes to ask if it is possible to return.”

“To … return,” Tael’tamine repeated, vision growing wider with the implication. “She wishes to return?”

“Oh, there will be a few things asked, I am sure,” Elinor mused, “but that will be among the forethought of her mind, I expect.”

They slowed their pace, licking her lips with a black tongue as her vision darted back to the guards; Edmon was keeping them at a reasonable distance with his own tailing speed. “Is that possible?” She asked in a low whisper.

Elinor breathed out a slow sigh while shaking her head. “I’m afraid it is not, Princess … not by any conventional means that are at our disposal. I suppose I was right then,” she said, glowing green irises shifting to view the girl out of the corner of her eyes, “your court is fracturing.”

Tal’tamine’s forehead furrowed, giving her forced smile that could come off as menacing. “I don’t know what … is there something in particular that you’ve spotted?”

Her ghostly eyes lifted to the grand arched ceilings. “Mmh … indeed, I have. Yesenia has the support of the Seaweaver Council, and they believe she is a holy figure, or at least, that’s what they wish to convey on the surface, but I suspect it might be a power play.”

The princess looked as if she had bitten her tongue, and she motioned here into a side room with a worried expression. “E-Empress, please … refrain from such talk while so exposed!” She hissed, glancing back with a forced smile at the guards escorting them. “Please wait outside for a moment.”

A small smile played at the corner of Elinor’s lips as she motioned for Edmon to wait outside as she allowed Tal’tamine to usher her inside an empty room that appeared to be a study, complete with several books and furnishings.

There was a small window to the back of the room that Elinor went to, staring out as Violet secured the space and the young Nalvean closed the door with a few more words of assurance to her guards.

“S-Sorry, Empress, but … will your maids wait outside, as well?”

Elinor motioned to her maids to wait by the wall. “I think you misunderstand my servants, Tal’tamine; they are utterly loyal to me, including your previous guard, Castella. Your father is discovering that as we speak.”

The princess appeared to be working through her casual revelations while staring outside the window. “Unlike your Empire, my army answers only to me, and I can command them without being present within the room or speaking at all. I am never alone, and your father is learning more about what makes me so frightening as an enemy.”

A lump dropped down Tal’tamine’s throat as she glanced between her and the maids; Aileen was doing her best to mirror Emelina’s dispassionate posture that made the woman look artificial, but the failed attempts were cute. “... Are you our enemy?”

“Oh, darling, no,” Elinor stated, finding the word slip out with a light chuckle, and Tiffany’s fervent orange irises came to her mind with a small smile. “I came here to develop a mutually propitious relationship with the Nalvean Empire that I believe will work for both our benefits.”

Turning back around, Elinor gestured to one of the strange seats, designed for the creatures’ tails. “I will be quick.”

She hesitantly sat, mouth tightening upon the direction she’d taken the conversation.

“I hold ultimate authority over my army; they will do what they are told without question, and their loyalty is without fault. However, I cannot say the same for the Nalvean Empire … that troubles me. When I arrived, I was not expecting to find five potential factions struggling for power within this grand kingdom.”

“Five factions?” Tal’tamine asked, seemingly confused about which extra players she might have missed.

Elinor smoothed out her dress while sitting, giving the girl a patient smile. “I am counting the Royal Faction as its own entity, but each of your siblings is striving to obtain the highest position possible.”

The implication made the girl’s face lighten slightly. “I … you can’t mean to overthrow our father…”

“No, no, dear,” Elinor laughed her statement off. “You each wish to stake a claim upon the succession, which is your right, no?”

“... It is,” she mumbled, adjusting her silk a bit with her discomfort. “We are dedicated to helping our people…”

“Yes, and you each have your own thoughts on how that should be done,” Elinor finished with a casual wave of her hand as if this could have gone unspoken. “I couldn’t care less about any of those little differences, to be honest. I only care about having a strong southern ally for my nation, and if you are divided…”

“We are weakened,” Tal’tamine mumbled. “Who … are these other factions you spoke of … how do you know so much about our current affairs?”

“Ah,” a small smirk lifted Elinor’s lips, “those are important questions. However, I must choose which side best suits my own aims … I am in the business for an ally, not charity work.”

With those words, Elinor rose to her feet. “Think about my words. You are not the only person that might seek my support in the growing unrest that is building within your political structure.”

The princess’s muscles were tight, tail pressure causing the thick wood she sat on to groan under the stress at her ending words; Elinor’s ghostly green eyes rested on the girl as she activated Imperial Presence. “As the youngest of your father’s daughters, you need a powerful sponsor to prove you are worthy to sit on the throne. You only have one opportunity to sway me to your side, Tal’tamine, so ponder your offer carefully.”

Letting her statement sink in for a few seconds, she moved to the door, easing off her limited ranged ability; Aileen was the first to react, opening it with a proud smile directed at the Head Maid.

Elinor’s lightly entertained voice followed as she stopped at the open exit, turning to smile at the sweating princess. “Shall we continue? Yesenia is waiting.”

Tal’tamine’s legs seemed to have trouble operating correctly for a moment, but she soon composed herself and silently guided her to the proper room, not too far away from where they’d spoken. She didn’t talk any further, but judging by the limited scope of Elinor’s understanding of Nalvean expressions, she was seriously considering her options.

Once arrived, Tal’tamine stated that she would wait in the hall with the guards and maids.

Elinor entered with Violet as her unseen support; Edmon did a quick sweep of the room to make sure they were alone before leaving with a showy bow to her.

Yesenia silently observed the process with tight lips; she was too large and long to sit on any of the chairs the Nalveans had, which meant the snake woman simply waited in an open space for Elinor to take her seat.

Once the door shut, a lump dropped down her throat and her gaze shifted to the corners of the room. “... I assume we’re not actually alone … you didn’t do that to the Nalvean Lieutenant … you’re a necromancer.”

“Sharp,” Elinor giggled, but she didn’t elaborate on Violet. “You seem to be doing better since we last met.”

The woman tossed a few of her thick braided locks over her shoulder, possibly a nervous gesture, and slowly settled on her. “Why are you really here? If you conquered all the Ri’bot,” her expression and short pause after the name told Elinor all she needed to know, “what is your purpose in Nalvean lands? Are you here for the Clavex?”

Elinor sat back against the side of a Nalvean chair, as not to fall out the back with her much shorter stature, and crossed her legs, resting her hands on her lap. “Straight to the point. Well, I have a few questions of my own, Yesenia. Have you met a creature that’s promised you something? Honestly, he looks and sounds like a demon whispering sweet things into your ear.”

Yesenia’s arms folded under her large chest; it had grown dramatically with her transformation and expanded frame. The thick Nalvean silk she wore to cover her top was wrapped in layers to provide more modesty.

“So … you do know about the voice … he said you would come.”

A small smirk lifted Elinor’s lips. “Of course, he did. I call him Demon, personally.”

“Coming from someone that raises the dead … that’s rich,” Yesenia scoffed, and her focus darted to the door. “Did you raise your own parents? He told me what you did to them.”

Elinor’s amusement fell a little at the turn in their conversation. “I’m sure he told you just enough of the truth to make me look like a monster and ignore what I have to say.”

“... Basically,” she replied with a scowl. “However, I’d be stupid to believe everything he or you have to say. He said there was a way I could return home … return to normal. Did he promise you that?”

“Oh, he’s tricky,” Elinor mused, fingers tightening around each other at the revelation. “I’m sure there is a way. I have no doubt he knows how to guide us home, but the price is simple, our powers, and his next goal would be to invade our world. Normal doesn’t mean alive, either. Removing the spiritual seed inside us could kill us, but we’d return to normal.”

Yesenia’s jaw tightened. “It’s a valid point. He has offered me advice that’s helped me to gain support from the Nalveans, though. What can you give me?”

Elinor fell silent for a moment. “... What can I give you? Yesenia, I think you know I am no longer some little teenage girl that randomly rolled into your town with her parents. I’ve changed … a lot in these last several days, and I’m sure you have, as well. I’m not attached to our old world … not anymore.

“I lost my parents, and yes, I did something that I regret … dearly,” she mumbled, glaring down at the bamboo-like rug. “Yet, at the same time, I would not have survived had I not done that … Demon might have even taken over both of our bodies had my … Tiffany hadn’t drained so much of his strength when attacking me.”

Her focus rose to the snake woman. “I cannot offer you sweet words to bring you home, but if your family is here … even if they are dead, I can reunite them with you.”

“I figured,” Yesenia’s nose twisted with disdain. “You seem smart enough to know Demon would tell me you’d say that.”

“Yes,” Elinor replied with an even tone, “which is why I will tell you the side effects. They will be exactly the same; however, they will gain abilities that are meant to serve me and will be returned with an undying loyalty for me. I am the light in their darkness … that doesn’t mean they can’t still be your loved ones.”

Yesenia’s arms tightened around her body. “Yes … but they’ll turn on me … you’ll use them against me because you won’t kill the Ri’bot … and I will.”

Elinor breathed in slowly before letting the air escape in a long sigh. “I suspected you couldn’t let that go … I understand it. My mother and father were taken from me by a few individuals of that race, and I wanted genocide at first, too.”

“They’re evil!” Yesenia growled, arms shaking with rage, but Elinor didn’t feel as if she’d lash out. “Do you know what they’ve done in the past … the atrocities they committed … not just to me, but … countless worlds, peaceful creatures.”

A frown fell over Elinor’s cheeks. “I only know a small fraction of this world’s history, and I can’t guess what Demon told you…”

“Is it true, though; is he lying?” Yesenia pushed.

“... I can’t say,” she slowly replied. “Perhaps. I don’t think Demon technically knows how to lie, or maybe it’s not a part of his character … I don’t know, but what I can say is that he’s manipulative. I met a Warlord that devastated the nations around us … his ghost.”

She paused, focus returning to the floor as she brooded. “I know he couldn’t lie to me … it’s a part of my abilities while communicating with spirits, and he worked with Demon for much of his life … Demon made him powerful, and a force that required an insane amount of united creatures to finally defeat his Empire.

“However, Demon was only after one thing, and once he got it, he abandoned Ke’Thra’Ma. His usefulness had dried up. What does he want from you?” Elinor asked, eyes digging into the woman’s reptilian yellow globes.

“... He wants to see the destruction of the Ri’bot … he wants to help me,” Yesenia replied. “He was unrightfully imprisoned and wants to help me. Isn’t it only natural to help someone that offers you support when you need it … how much worse could he be if he’s as helpful as you say he was?”

Her yellow eyes were challenging daggers. “Maybe he did abandon this other person, but didn’t he fulfill his end of the bargain?”

“You’re missing the point,” Elinor stated, taking a deep breath. “He did give Ke’Thra’Ma everything he asked for. I’m not disputing the fact he follows through with his deals … everything I’ve seen so far proves it. I’m saying you must follow through, even if it costs you your life.

“I can guess that your wish is to eradicate the Ri’bot, return home, and bring back your children … to return to normal. Correct?”

“... Yes,” Yesenia replied in almost a hiss as her forked tongue slid out.

“I’m telling you that he will help you achieve that … but the results will not be what you hope. He will strip you of your powers, and once you’ve unleashed him, he will move on to Earth, and to revive your children … who do you think he needs to go through to do that?”

Yesenia’s lips tightened as Elinor answered, voice like a honed blade.

“There’s a way … me. Did he tell you that, or did he say he would make it happen without explaining a thing? How … by stripping the power away from the Lich Empress in front of you. As you said, I’m not stupid, so you shouldn’t be, either. Where does that put us?”

The Naga in front of her lowered a little to the ground. “Are you planning to kill me here?”

Elinor’s cold eyes creased with a smile. “Where’s the fun in that? I could, but I have no doubt Demon’s prepared you with the proper kit to counter anything I’ve brought with support from the Nalveans.”

She rose to her feet, smoothing out her dress while leering at Yesenia. “No, I’m not going to kill you at this time, but we’ve just entered a collision course that I hope you’re prepared for, and I’m not your only concern.”

“I’llll take the risssk,” Yesenia hissed, words becoming more slurred with her agitation.

Elinor clasped her hands behind her back with a playful smirk. “A shame. I believe there is a path where our goals can align, but for the moment, tread carefully, Sea Empress. I suppose we’ll be seeing more of each other than you think.”

Aileen opened the door with a bright smile upon Elnor’s prompt and parting words, rejoining her royal tour guide.

She’s not the troublesome foe … what is your next play, Demon?