The sun was further distant from her perch on the disk than it’d been before, as her heavily shaded eyes watched flares dance by on its surface. Concentrating, she pushed the orbital speed of the previously stationary platform higher as a group of pieces took the board. As the columns expand in width to allow places for those moving onto it, Julia crouched and set a hand near the platform’s edge. Though she doubted the need, Julia was doing everything she could to ensure the mental symbolism for her plan was right. As she stood, a stone dowel slightly larger across than her hand rose from the stone. When she lifted it free and saw more stone beyond where it had been, Julia hardened her focus, and the dowel vanished. Her thoughts insulated from Viper’s perception as Julia moved one step at a time, and when her concentration wavered, she released her focus on the mind palace.

Light from the actual sun was welcome as she took in the early summer’s morning. The constructed staging point Yngvarr had grown looked little different from three months ago, but the surrounding area had certainly changed. The ground east of town had rarely been put to use beyond as an unpopular camping spot. Rocky soil had made pitching tents hard, and was ill-suited terrain for the wagon teams’ hooves. A solid wall now ran from the shoreline to well past the ‘barn’, nearly a kilometre out, before arcing around and joining the original wall. While only a few farms had ended up within the wall this time, the Jarl’s council was already considering extending it.

An agreement of sponsorship by the King for the women’s training had included a wage, and the local merchants and artisans were prospering from it. With most of the women being Norse, they’d been glad of the offer making their role in the kingdom’s defence official. The women from other kingdoms had no intention of leaving their sisters and the King himself had awarded them citizenship. When the Dwarves had taken the lead with managing arrangements with the Seafang tribe and the local Kobolds, Viper hadn’t been impressed. Though it seemed Viper had her own successes, as Rana had unhappily passed word that the Elven Patheon had heard her name on other worlds along with Epochē’s.

The platoons had gained confidence with an increasing array of spells and disciplined drill. Foundations had been dug, stones levitated into place, and Dire Boars slaughtered, all pushing their Skills along. Julia had brought in tons of finely worked Dwarven stone for construction, and gravel from Kobolds for roadbeds. The only shortage presently was skilled labour, but masons from other areas were coming to gain more experience.

Julia had avoided questions about why the food and materials had all been ‘donated’. Though enduring the Jarl’s dinners seemed a requirement for the absence of questions; endurance was needed more for hostile stares than the hosts. Those dinners had let Julia catch onto schemas that Yngvarr had plans to handle - individuals needed to be less loud with their mental celebrations.

While the wall arc close to shore was still empty, the Jarl’s Council had space marked for future construction. New docks and some simple housing had already taken up the positions closest to shore. The new tenants were all former Thralls freed from their debt by Julia’s coin. The Jarl was still waiting for confirmation on his domain’s new laws regarding Thralls. Once they passed becoming a Thrall via debt would become impossible, the arguments continued for battle prisoners and criminals. The later Julia didn’t argue against for serious crimes, but crimes driven by desperation were something else.

Boots striking down on the stone parade ground grabbed Julia’s attention. As they marched into place, their echoing movements spoke of the hours of drill practice, and a glance showed they carried their expedition kit. The first platoons’ leaders opened the ranks and conducted a last check on everyone. They wouldn’t need their full kit this time, but the leaders decided it should be part of the exercise. Julia wasn’t shadowing them in a fashion others could see, and only a single subtle nudge was quite an improvement compared to only a few weeks ago.

Competition had been fierce for first place; Platoon Danmörk, despite officially having started drills three days after the first platoons, had taken the lead then held it tight. When their Leader signalled readiness, Julia walked towards the staging doors, and opened them for Danmörk to march into position. Víðarr and Sagga were waiting inside, as Julia had expected, with several Temple Guards and Priests to secure the staging post and to provide help if there was need.

“Eakcï,” called Víðarr in welcome, looking up the moment the stone doors opened. The near silent movement of the doors still had Julia envying Yngvarr his construction skill. She’d made progress in spell lists under his and Sírthel’s strict guidance, but knew she’d barely scratched the surface.

“Eakcï,” Sagga echoed distractedly, making no move to rise. The scrying orb on the table in front of her was already showing an image within it.

“Good morning all, thank you for assisting today,” Julia said, moving to greet each. After the busy months she now knew by sight those serving at many temples, she didn’t need Analysis to know their names with them all in their familiar armour today.

As she walked to her practiced location, Víðarr stood and moved into position, unaided. The cane in his hand provided him enough guidance to walk unaided in more places now. A light touch on his arm was all he needed to orientate himself as the platoon marched into position around them.

“Platoon, ignite,” Platoon Leader Solveiga, though a small lady, didn’t have a quiet voice. It was a feature at odds with her appearance and enabled her platoon to win more than a few bets on the loudness of her voice. In the now-closed building the snap of her order rang loud in Julia’s ears.

She had called the order as the doors shut, and in a synchronised motion, the platoon touched their inscription rings to Mana stones at their belt. While Julia had been planning to power them herself it hadn’t worked, as she couldn’t empower the inscriptions en masse. Considering alternatives led them to purchase the Dwarven inventions, and while they didn’t have enough for all members, they possessed enough to start. Especially since they could repeatedly recharge each stone before it needed an Artificer’s attention.

At a hundred golden knots, they’d better last.

“Area six is clear Eakcï, but a guard patrol is at the south exit,” called Sagga, her attention still fixed on the orb.

“Ready. Targets will be at forty metres,” Julia said, even as she spoke the excitement and nerves of the platoon built.

The deeper darkness didn’t unnerve them after the last week spent practicing teleporting into stone chambers Julia had carved out. While uneven ground set a few swaying, they quickly caught their balance and held themselves at the ready.

“Rank 1, fire.”

As soon as Solveiga’s order snapped out, the first spells were unleashed, and the rank crouched. Julia could hear their disciplined breathing as they cycled Mana to start recovery, even though they’d just cast. The second rank fired on command even as the spells smashed in uneven numbers into six patrolling Gnarls that had twisted towards them at the first sound. As the injured Gnarls ran towards them, Víðarr finished channelling a Blessing and faint steel-grey light wrapped around the ranks. Spells from the third raced past the front ranks and struck just after another patrol came racing into the chamber.

“Reset.”

Solveiga’s order snapped out even before the missiles hit, and the first patrol dropped. They stood and held castings till the order came, then crouched as before. Five of the sprinting Gnarls died to another cycle of spells. The lone survivor, barely having held out, died on a spike of stone shaped by Solveiga. Her loud voice was not the only reason she was a platoon Leader. When a larger group of eleven charged into the cavern, Solveiga snapped out more orders.

“Rank 1 crouch, Rank 1 and 2, prepare.”

Even as the order finished, Julia noted pairs coordinating for what their training told them would come next. The gnarls had barely started closing the distance as the order came.

“Pelt.”

They turned ten dead Gnarls to pulp as they tossed the bodies with enough force to throw nearly a ton of stone even further than their targets. The impact broke the dead bodies and living alike, and as soon as they’d cast, Rank 2 crouched as well. A Gnarl still left standing was the lucky recipient of the ten missiles from Rank 3 all to himself.

“Return,” Solveiga called hastily. Another group from the south wasn’t the reason for her order, but a Gnarl far larger than Julia entering the chamber mere metres away. Pleased at Solveiga judgement, Julia moved them without delay. When they reappeared safe in the staging post, the platoon’s cheers were deafening.

“Platoon Danmörk to order.”

Solveiga’s order brought them all back to disciplined lines. Though it wasn’t an order she could give at once since she’d been equally deafening in her celebration as the others. Julia was glad that whatever credited experience awarded none of it to her.

“Platoon quench.”

The platoon focused, and Julia could see the energy in the inscriptions dissipating. Not able to draw it into themselves, rather they dispersed it into the world.

Solveiga turned in the rank from her position close to Julia and smiled. The pixie-like features looked ready to break, the smile stretched so wide.

“Mission aim completed Lady Eakcï. Permission to go again?”

“Tomorrow, Solveiga, though I should make you run the obstacle course for using Lady Eakcï to me.”

“Sorry, Lady Eakcï, but you said yourself you’re not the boss of us, perhaps if the King’s Marshall commands it.”

“Lady Eakcï!”

The bellow was even more deafening and grew louder when the entire platoon joined in.

“Aren’t you glad you can cure deafness, Víðarr?” Julia asked when the noise finally died down, the opening of the doors at least easing the pressure of the cheering.

“Sorry Lady Eakcï, what did you say? My ears are ringing,” Víðarr replied, perfectly straight-faced.

“Solveiga, the next platoon will want their turn, shoo,” Julia snapped affectionately.

Solveiga got them moving as fast as she had provoked them into disorder. The next platoon marched into position as soon as they were clear of the doors.

“A good start, Eakcï?” Alfarr asked when Julia appeared at the Jarl’s table that evening.

“Fairly well,” Julia replied, resting her hand on the chair’s back. “Only the fifth and eighth platoons sustained any injuries and they were minor. Our goal today wasn’t kills but to get them through a live drill.”

“Was it anything they need particular practice on?”

“Nothing, a bit of bad luck for the fifth group. An archer was lurking outside the chamber. His first arrow was a direct hit, but only with enough force to bruise through Víðarr’s barrier. The platoon leader grew spikes to end him while the rest of the platoon stayed focused on the patrol,” Julia explained after she’d settled into her chair.

“And the other?”

“Something we’d considered but accepted it as a risk. Víðarr’s been calling on Týr to protect them after we’re in position. It lets us keep the advantage of surprise while they settle themselves. But the downside is they’re unprotected during the first casting. After the order came a few Gnarls threw rocks instead of charging as others had done, some grazes and bruises resulted but they held their focus.”

“You’re fortunate it wasn’t the other way around.”

“Agreed. At our after-action review, we decided in future to ensure their protection before we teleport in. While we’re scrying, it takes a while to check places, and the fixed position of the Scrying means it’s easy enough to miss something.”

“So you’re not perfect, Lady Eakcï?”

After all the last weeks of glaring, it surprised Julia to hear Eysteinn voicing anything, she’d almost grown used to not hearing his voice.

“I’m not trying to be perfect, Eysteinn. Though I know someone who is,” purred Julia.

“How dare you imply I think myself-” Eysteinn’s sputtered indigently.

“Master Farhad is who I was talking about,“ Julia interrupted flatly. “What you pass off as thinking I’m not interested in. Have you caught that rat yet?”

“The problem with female rats is they have so many young,” said Eysteinn, his biting words malicious. Only catching his thought confirming he intended the words as a dig stopped her from acting on his threatening tone.

“I didn’t know you had a female rat hiding inside you Eysteinn,” said Julia, giving him a sorrowful look. “Give her my condolences! Have you tried dresses to let her out a bit, finely scented soaps perhaps?

“You two really are like oil and water,” Þiúðmundr stated, shaking his head.

“How many platoons moved forward with attacks today?” asked Ǫlhildr, giving her husband a quelling look.

“Thirty, some killed a few dozen Gnarls on their turn at the outposts,” Julia answered. A server setting a platter before Julia interrupted the reply, but she just gave them a smile of thanks before she continued. “We need to recharge the Mana stones for the inscriptions. Unfortunately, they hold little for what they cost but it’s a useful buffer.”

“Frivolously wasted coin.”

Eysteinn’s bitter words drew Julia’s attention back to his position along the table.

“Do you begrudge buying the Guards' weapons and armour as well, Eysteinn?” asked Julia, raising her voice so more would hear as she smiled too sweetly. “Since I know you don’t actually have a combat path. I’m sure you’re the wrong person to ask what can make a difference in battle.”

“Enough,” sighed Þiúðmundr, shaking his head. Though the gaze he directed towards Julia held nothing of annoyance.

“Perhaps less meat tonight Eakcï, it seems you’ve got yourself all heated,” Alfarr murmured, and received a glare that made Ǫlhildr laugh.

“I do like this sauce Haldis has worked out for the Dire Boar roast. You should try some of it Eakcï,” Ǫlhildr suggested, pointedly overriding Alfarr’s remark. The knowing look Ǫlhildr gave Alfarr showed she’d clearly heard his words.

“She should try putting her mouth on something,” Alfarr agreed affably, before grunting as Julia’s foot landed on his.

“Your last message was over a hundred cycles ago Eakcï, I’ve got things piling up for you to do. I know you’re not Plane locked.”

Usd’ghi words snapped sharply from the energy sphere nearby, though her words were for Julia alone. As soon as the message finished Julia replied with her planned response, glad for the months she had helped the ladies.

“I’ll be back in twenty-one cycles. Will stop by a Treasury, and bring back a few thousand Mortal Souls, rich with corruption. After that I’ll go through the Necropolis a few times and collect Souls.”

With the words of the message focused into the spell, she released it and the Spatial Mana barely flickered in her perception. It was only a few moments later when a reply returned.

“Oh, very nice youngling. I’ll look forward to the Souls you’ve collected, and the ones to come. The Sisterhood’s fighting has expanded beyond my expectations, they’ve conflicts ramping up on three planes. You should be safe coming through Ùeqräkas, we rarely see them within the city in recent cycles. I’ve a gift waiting for you, don’t be late or I might eat him myself.”

The relaxed timbre of the Usd’ghi’s words drew a relieved sigh as Julia picked up the next Mana stone to recharge. She needed to read more on the use of mental constructs and imaginery in psychic fighting tonight. While she had three weeks, they’d likely disappear fast.

The platoon’s mood was disciplined but fierce as Solveiga cycled through the ranks as fast as they could cast. When the second cycle of ranks dropped more Aggravated Flaws across the building’s ceiling and walls it gave up. The spider-webbed stone burst apart, and the main barracks collapsed in on itself, only a few within alive to scream. Guards were already running in their direction, and another casting dropped a wall onto those charging to attack. Dire Boars in distant pens gave them sizeable targets to send pots filled with sticky oil catapulting across the cavern.

As the flames ignited and stuck on their toughened hides, the recipients charged away in fright, smashing out of their enclosures. Chaotic bellows and burning flesh brought a group of Gnarls out of another building. The surrounding air crackled as each rank set Stun Clouds in place and kept them convulsing, the overlaid spells turning the effect lethal. Spells continued being cast, until many in the platoon signalled low mana, and Solveiga called for the return.

When they arrived back at the staging post, Solveiga didn’t snap snapping commands in her booming voice as she had other days instead, turning quietly to face Julia.

“Platoon inward face,” Solveiga ordered, and the three ranks all turned to face towards Julia and as soon as their boots struck down, she called again. “Platoon, present arms.”

A Roman Legionnaire’s salute was the only one this world knew, so the Platoons had adopted it, and gave it sharply now.

“Lady Eakcï, thank you for the chance you’ve given us all and your time in the last three weeks. We were proud to earn the right to go as the first platoon against the Gnarls, prouder three weeks later to give our best showing. While you’ve told us Sírthel will take your place from now till we’re done, she won’t, not really. Teleporting us to battle isn’t taking your place.” Solveiga’s words had none of her usual volume, and silence’s weight in the staging post was the only way all could hear her.

“If we’d survived to be rescued at all, we would have been objects of pity, living off charity if we didn’t simply kill ourselves when free of the manacles. Instead, you gave us the chance for so much more. We will always remember you, Lady Eakci, wherever your travels take you. You’re not our boss, but you’ll always be our Lady Eakci. Now we have Hope and can help others avoid what befell us.”

Solveiga dropped the salute, and Julia could tell by the tightening in her gaze her control was hard-pressed. Julia didn’t need to read her mind to keep her response to herself; any reply would make emotions spill before the Platoon wanted.

“Platoon, forward face.”

The platoon moved with sharp precision and returned to their prior position, and following Solveiga’s orders despite their fatigue, marched out the opening door.

“Well done,” Víðarr stated. “What have you done to them? It was a question I asked you a year ago in ignorance. For these women, I don’t need to ask; I know you have done well by them.”

“Thank you, Víðarr, but it wasn’t only me, it was your sacrifice and that of others,” Julia said, turning toward him and taking his arm to guide him. “Shall I take you back to the Temple?”

“If you’d been what I believed, you would have ended us all. Let’s go back, but not your fast way,” replied Víðarr. “We’ve time to walk the distance before the gates close. I’m sorry there’s been no word since Torm set out to search for Sarah.”

“Teleporting lets you cover a lot of distance, but the arctic circle is a big place. She’ll at least get the note and know she’s not alone,” replied Julia. “Hopefully, Torm can help her till I get to see her again.”

When she walked out the door with Víðarr, the farewell celebration waiting for her wasn’t a surprise. Still, she tried to Act the part, and the system paid a dividend on the attempt.

“You’ve got the spell, and you’ve scried my room in the temple, so you know what it looks like. I’ll always have a book for your messages on my desk,” Livia said. Her words sounded like she was trying to comfort Julia, but the tightness of the hug told a different story.

“I’ll get her enough to keep her happy for years, then get out,” Julia replied, trying to reassure the little miss.

“That’s the plan, but you said they don’t always work, remember the contingencies and don’t fuss,” scolded Livia, briskly giving Julia a frown. “Now go before I want you to stay another day. If I ask, you’ll break your word to her and it won’t go well.”

Julia kissed Livia on the cheek and opened the conduit. A rank coppery odour came out in waves as the other end appeared above churning waters of a blood-red sea. Stepping inside Julia gave Livia a last look, and nodded to Yngvarr, Verdandi, and Alfarr waiting in the courtyard with her before hurrying through the passage. As the end of it sealed the sight of them away, Julia transformed from Wood Elf into the Succubus form she arrived in the Abyss with long ago.

The shadows vines stretched, allowing the wings to grow, and hugged her form like a second silken skin. Their dark green turned to blood-red cloth, growing as it did to cover her hands, feet and features, leaving only the eclipse orbs of her eyes exposed. Torm’s true sight couldn’t see through the Unseelie apparel and Julia hoped it would block any Demon possessing True Sight from seeing beneath.

The gate’s Guards came to what passed for attention, clearly fearful of their fates, as the Succubus clad in blood silk appeared near the gates. Those swiftest among them pushed those queued for the gate out of her way, as the wards screamed her priority to their senses. Only the bravest of them watched her sway through the gates, and she ignored them like trash as she passed. When she vanished into the hold of Ùeqräkas’ streets, they turned back to the queue of angry Demons and screamed threats till they settled down. Only when the Dominator on watch held the crowd fast did they allow any to proceed.

The stage in the square was empty as the Spatial Mana of the pathway’s enchantment released Julia. Stalls within the market though were still as busy as she’d seen them in the past. The ward across the Treasury door looked unchanged, but when Julia touched them the Plane shifted around her. Instead of stepping into the storefront, she found herself in a large, doorless, black marble chamber, the feel of chaos rich in the surrounding air. A stretch of black marble flooring separated her from a dais with two chairs set upon a grey rug, Usd’ghi sitting comfortably in one. Her form was still the younger one Julia had seen her in, and instead of her hollow mist-filled eye sockets, they burned with black flames.

“Come sit down youngling; you’re nearly half a cycle earlier than I had expected. Lucky you’re prompt after so long away,” said Usd’ghi, her tone at least as casual as Julia remembered. “I was considering eating my gift, regardless.”

“Lady Epochē,” Julia replied, as formally as she could manage, and moved towards the chair.

“I’m sure I’d told you to call me Usd’ghi, youngling,” Usd’ghi replied as Julia stepped from the black marble to the grey rug. “So Eakcï, and Viper, what am I to do with the pair of you.”

“We’re working towards a common goal, aren’t we?” Julia asked, keeping her composure. The clear implication was hardly a surprise given the Orcs.

“Are we little one, are we really?” asked Usd’ghi. “It’s a nice trick you pulled, hiding all your moves from Viper’s perception; however, it just makes me more concerned. You’ve been dawdling instead of working on getting enough strength to be a worthy Herald. So I have some training planned, somewhere you’re familiar with.”

Usd’ghi gestured, and a wall turned to crystal, allowing Julia to see the Necropolis’ landscape. Their view looked over the edge of the Pit, but now the pea soup fog that had filled it was merely wisps, while the sky was obviously darker.

“All these Souls trapped in a Plane that is now ironically dying. Its collapse will waste all the valuable torment held within them, resources that my plans could well use. All of it lost because this decaying fruit is ready to turn to dust, while the only one who can harvest them was off playing with Mortal Souls.” Usd’ghi growled, gesturing toward another cloud whose fire seemed to flicker within.

“I’ve a chamber set up here for you to condense Souls; we’ll handle the ones you have now. Then you’d best get busy and stay that way till I say my war coffers are full. This isn’t in the Necropolis; it’s a little dimensional pocket that I’ve attached to it like a leech.”

“That isn’t the deal we had,” Julia replied, wondering how much trouble was heading her way.

“I know the deal we had, and I had expected it to last millennium without end,” Usd’ghi growled, “Except your passenger has told me you’re looking to get out of the Abyss, little one. Not only are you seeking a way out, but you’ve also got Celestials advising you. This puts me in a bit of a bother, especially now since - how shall I say it - we’ve got a deadline. One you caused by waking the Titan’s servant. So before you escape the Abyss, if you even can, I’ll be having my share of what’s out there and whatever else you can bring in.”

Usd’ghi gestured sharply at the Necropolis.

“It’s time to earn your keep. But just to make sure you’re properly motivated,” said Usd’ghi, setting a grimoire in her lap, the cover bound in pure white leather - an odd sight in this place. “This contains the rarest spells of concealment, an entire list of them that, when fully mastered, could allow even a Celestial to walk the paths of Hell. I’ve heard of a God or three who uses them to venture into places they shouldn’t.”

She knows I want to get into Hell. Fuck you Viper, have you told her all my secrets?

“How long before the Plane collapses?” asked Julia, glancing at the sky again.

“Who knows, it could be a dozen cycles, it could be five thousand. If you retrieve enough Souls by the time it collapses, I’ll give you this grimoire, as well as your share.”

“And if I don’t?” Julia enquired, wanting to know what stick she held.

“Let’s not talk about what nasty things might happen,” Usd’ghi said, the friendly smile alien to her face, as the flame in her gaze killed light around her. “As for your gift.”

When Usd’ghi gestured again, a bound demon that Julia recognised appeared on the rug between them. Ebony spider webs didn’t stop Julia from recognising Tras’laqì. Even though Julia hadn’t seen the strange ferret since she’d traded with him on her first day in the Sisterhood, he was clearly the worse for wear.

“He’s already bound to this Plane,” Usd’ghi said. “I received information from a contact in the Sisterhood that he was the one that set Lêdhins on you for his bowl. While I’m still looking for Lêdhins, you can kill this one, well you can if you gather at least a million Souls.”

“I thought he was a gift!” objected Julia.

“Capturing him for you was a gift youngling; handing him over is another transaction.”

Julia glanced between the grimoire and the Demon on the ground and flowed to her feet. The first time she’d tried Analysis on him, the skill had shown her barely anything; this time, she actually learnt some details.

[Demon Species: Greater Gilöglp

Name: Tras’laqì

Class: Spymaster / Arcanist / Sage / Merchant

Level: 12 / 45 / 52 / 48 / 65

Details: Formerly a spy in the Treasury faction, he has recently fallen out of favour with Lady Epochē. His home plane has been recently reset to a Primordial Demi-Plane constructed by Lady Epochē’s magic.

Condition: Disabled]

Minor my arse. Even the Sisterhood didn’t see through his act. He was working for her.

“If he’s a million Souls, how much is the grimoire?” asked Julia.

Usd’ghi shrugged, wiggling her fingers on the arm of the chair as she thought.

“At least twelve million.”

“I have a lot to do in that case,” Julia said firmly. As Usd’ghi smiled in reply, a door opened seamlessly in the marble wall to her right.

“The condenser is through there, and there’s a doorway to the Necropolis beyond it; You’ll be able to re-enter that way while the Necropolis lasts. Let the Soul gems collect for now; we’ll take them to Judgement when you’re gotten all you can.”

“There is one Soul I have I’d like to keep,” said Julia.

“Another Priest of Set?” asked Usd’ghi, her gaze weighing on Julia for her delay.

“A Priest of Tiamat,” Julia answered.

“That isn’t a game you want to play, she’s not like Set. I wouldn’t play against her, even Greater Powers don’t play games with her. There is a reason that the Titan had to release four of his Servants to deal with one of her spawn,” Usd’ghi sighed in frustration. “Whatever he did that got your attention, or risk you think his freedom poses to your plans, now he’s dead that’s not the case. She likely doesn’t even care about him, she’s so potent nothing but Dragon worshippers can get even a fraction of her attention. It’s like an ant trying to get power from a hurricane. Exposing itself to the wind it will get to fly, but that doesn’t mean the hurricane cares about it if it falls away.”

“So whatever the Cult of Tiamat is planning?” asked Julia.

“Pointless to her scale of things,” Usd’ghi snapped, before motioning to the door. “You have work to do. Though if you work hard enough, I might even allow you breaks to search Ternòx for the Royal Souls.”

Fucking Viper!

{{I’m busy!!!! }}

Grinding her teeth at the contemptuous anger in Viper’s response, Julia turned and headed for the door, ignoring the possessive smile Usd’ghi directed at her back. The chamber beyond was like a Treasury’s warehouse rather than the fancy audience room she’d appeared in. Two of the Coven members were present beyond the doorway, and as soon as she stepped within, the door closed behind her. A circle did not surround the condenser this time, but considering she was in a Demi-Plane made by Usd’ghi, that ship had already sailed. Releasing the Souls into it as quickly as she could, Julia didn’t wait for any of them to be processed, but immediately headed for the exit.

When the exit closed behind her it didn’t seamlessly disappear, but the moment she took a step away it began shimmering like a heat mirage. After another step away, it vanished, Julia stepped towards its position and it reappeared, the door opening easily at her touch. Letting the door swing shut on its own, Teleport placed Julia on the edge of the Pit, and she looked down into its depth. The shape of it a reminder of the shaft driving into the depths beneath the Pyramid. Similarly, galleries were encircling the pit here at regular intervals. These though were far larger than the galleries within the Pyramid. A similar distance distortion she’d experienced in Culerzic brought its depths into perspective, and through the Pit she saw broken ground thousands of kilometres below. A hollow shattered from the rock showed where the Titan’s servant had lain.

Weird, I only saw an open sky above his body.

((Like attracts like.))

((My brother had been close to death, and as he came close to true death, he drew death from the worlds to him.))

So since his true death would have been significant, its approach empowered this place into existence.

((That is what I believe given what you see before you, but your senses limit me.))

Is there anyway you can get a clearer picture?

((You really would risk that after what you endured with the minor Celestials?))

Minor! Yeah, maybe not. She’s not even complaining about your voice.

((Another has her full attention; I can sense her pulled like a strand from you.))

Not comforting, especially since we were just in Usd’ghi company.

((Indeed, you left, yet she is still speaking with her.))

Like attracts like.

“Time to put my grinding shoes on,” Julia muttered before teleporting to where the mass graves waited.