Archer, standing in a corner where two roofs link up, blinks in disbelief as he witnesses Elizabeth Vil kick a wall and avoid his fastest arrow by the thinnest margin. He lowers his huge bow and rolls his large shoulders to chase away the stiffness in his muscles.

He absent-mindedly starts unstringing his weapon while watching as the Red Dwarf carries Wraith through Kruzser, avoiding swords and constructs as if she has eyes in the back of her head to go along with her inhuman reflexes.

Archer scowls as he notices the woman adjusts the length of her stride as she approaches an intersection even though she doesn't make a turn. It's clear she is keeping her options open, this allows her to be able to either dodge or change direction if anything happens.

“Why did you stop shooting?!” Spy asks as she lands atop a nearby roof.

“She's left my range.” Archer calmly replies.

“Wraith still lives.” She immediately responds.

“That will not last now that he's fallen in her hands. My arrow would have killed him too cleanly, since she can circumvent the Exemplars, then she can go.” The Shade quietly responds. “Brute is avenged, my task has come to an end.”

“... she's too dangerous.” Spy mutters. “We also have a duty to deal with Enemies of the Empire.”

“That may well be but we both know the Exemplars have acted too hastily.” Archer rebukes with a frown, aware the Shade is more fearful of the woman than he is despite her ability to disguise herself and that she is holding many a secret about the Red Dwarf. “The Order had not reached a unanimous agreement on how to deal with Elizabeth Vil but it is now forced to hunt her down with their priority being to preserve the lives of their brethren for risk of internal conflict if a single Semplar were to fall to her blades, she is not the kind of warrior you can take down without making sacrifices.”

“...” Spy falls silent at her comrade's long-winded answer, knowing Archer spoke so much to obliquely remind her she's taken liberties she shouldn't have as well. “Understood, but don't forget you're not allowed to kill any more Nobles from this point on.”

Her warning has far more to do with her bruised pride than real concern. Archer reluctantly nods, aware he has no more excuse to hunt Nobles now that Wraith is as good as dead.

“Let us return to the Vault, I've found the origin of the breach and could use your expertise in tracking down the culprit.” He says, causing Aisha to stiffen for a brief moment.

She barely notices as he swiftly takes out one of the huge arrows from his quiver and launches it with a flick of the wrist. The projectile flashes past her shoulder to cruise towards the head of a Lord crossing a distant street in his carriage to flee Kruzser. The man's head explodes like a ripe watermelon.

“Just this last one, for the road.” Archer explains with a wild corner smile.

“Th.” Aisha fails to repress an impish laugh at her companion's remark and lion's leaps into the night with him.

--- --- ---

Yvonne Shipwold startles as she hears the destruction her best friend unleashes and the floor trembles under her feet. She witnesses the Hospitaliers in the staircase stumble and fall right atop the Exemplars climbing the stairs.

The elites kept their footing under the shaking but their weight forces them to stop to avoid falling. Their leader frowns under his helmet and realizes their caution may have cost them a shot at capturing Elizabeth Vil.

They feared traps and ambushes from the deadly unpredictable woman so much they decided to encircle the building while entering as a unit instead of going through the windows.

The Exemplar doesn't regret his choice, after all he values his brethren above taking down a woman who has only ever been a threat to Nobility, and there shouldn't be a way to escape this area now that it's been locked down.

The issue is that he didn't expect Elizabeth Vil may fall for an ambush herself, which is a problem because the Empire needs warriors of her caliber to fight Hersirs and she may hold precious knowledge on Rykz constructs.

Yvonne, realizing Jessica made her move because of the noise and the fact the flat floor is now a shaky slope, quickly decides that it's best to go hide her friend's secrets while they investigate the explosion rather than slowing down the Order.

She slips back into the apartment she hid in and freezes at the sight of the Little one's lower body buried in Wraith's back up to the elbow. She shudders as she picks up the body to throw it in the chest.

Yvonne then pulls the coffer and the liangi's case back into the closet before activating the defensive runes she engraved there. Moments later, a powerful scanning wave comes from the same floor where the destruction first began.

As it goes through her, she peers into it to find it is aimed at detecting living beings of a certain size and sighs in relief. Moments later, an Exemplar barges into the apartment and goes straight for her.

The temple guard takes off her helmet and her eyebrows rise in surprise as she recognizes Yvonne. She makes a small salute and turns around to report that Elizabeth Vil isn't there. During the next hour, the Order tries everything it can to look for the woman or her body but come out empty handed.

--- --- ---

As Leomi Lance hugs her fiancee, she strives to suppress her loud heartbeats to feel her lover's yet still detects naught coming from her jay's chest and so begins panicking.

She seizes Jessica's wrist, passing her thumb over her veins while her other hand flies up to the jugular to confirm her dreadful hunch, finding despair as she catches no pulse.

“Honorary Duchess.” An Exemplar speaks up as she walks over. “Jessica Freepath must answer to inquiry.”

She came from the Templar lines on the other side of the headquarters where E.Vil was thought to be headed towards. She removes her helmet to reveal a bandaged face and a fierce gaze. Lance, still distraught from her discovery, ignores the woman as she lock eyes with her lover.

There she finds the spark of life, saving her heart from shattering without hope for recovery as Leomi has lost so much she would be unable to bear the death of this most important being, of the woman who is still teaching her how to love.

This tiny thumping saves her as true as the never waning passion she witnesses in her two fiancees eyes. Lance instinctively knows both are awake at this time but only one is in tremendous pain and requires her care. No, her unyielding protection.

As such, she breaks eye-contact to direct a ruthless gaze at the Exemplar who has dared to interrupt them. She says naught, yet it is enough to induce the woman to execute a tense but respectful bow.

“Do so much as touch a hair on my fiancee's head and the Order will have to declare two more Enemies of the Empire this night.” Leomi coldly announces while tightly holding onto her love.

“... Answers will be required but we are not unreasonable, we can wait now that Elizabeth Vil seems to have been dealt with.” The woman concisely responds.

Lance scowls as the Exemplar turns to leave. Her mind swirls with various thoughts, one of which being that the secret her fiancees hold will soon be uncovered and so they must leave Kruzser before it happens.

They may believe E.Vil dead while suspecting that they were tricked but whose to say whether or not they'll figure out the truth later? The jay on her shoulder pecks her cheek.

“Jess, do you agree to go to the University? There is no more time to waste.” She asks intently.

“I, don't know, if we should, trust anyone.” The woman responds tensely.

“What choice do we have? Your heart is at the limit.” Leomi presses.

“It is, but I can keep it, going. What if...” Her fiancee starts but is cut off.

“Trust me, please, I'll protect you.” Lance pleads.

“Okay but, walking... might be, an issue.” Freepath responds hesitantly.

Leomi frowns in worry, knowing it is a wonder her lover can even stand, but then pauses as she feels slight movement between her breasts and notices Jessica is rubbing her breasts with her cheek. She blinks in understanding and suppresses a smile as she picks up the woman in her arms to carry her away.

--- --- ---

Inside the Midnight Palace's eastern wing is a dining hall where a long rectangular table is set. There are eight seats, two at the heads of the table, one is purple and gold to stand for the Emperor while the other is made of redwood to represent the Lake's glorious flames.

The last six seats are smaller and symbolize the six Kingdoms. As of this time, five are filled by titled Nobles while Caeviel's is empty. Duchess Roskal never had a chance to sit upon it as she never had the clout to call upon a meeting.

Ironically, her goal was fulfilled in death for her demise shocked all present into action. Yet, can a reunion truly be called an act when each of these representatives has different goals and most have higher concerns than one Elizabeth Vil?

“They should have lost.” Mirus' representative, a Countess with graying hair, speaks up.

“But obtained victory.” A Count of Steso with royal blood says. “Honorary Duchess Lance evidently holds cards that overturned her weaker position.”

“The golden jay she carries is no vain adornment.” A Countess of Telnur remarks. “It should be considered an extension of her will, the Lake only knows how she could forge such a mythical construct.”

“Elizabeth Vil is one to be wary of, she extinguished Roskal's runic defenses with a single move.” Fringia's representative utters. “Not to mention her bloodthirsty nature and murderous impulses.”

“King Cenwalh's warnings ring truer by the day.” Telnur's Countess notes.

“Armies must be raised!” Mirus' Countess exclaims. “Soldiers armed, loyalties ascertained, gold secured!”

“We must prepare for turmoil, indeed.” A Count from Haitia acknowledges with a touch of disdain. “Some more than others.” He adds with a pointed look to Telnur and Mirus' seats.

“Prince Arkur has forged a relationship with both honorary Duchess Lance and Jessica Freepath, we will be on our guard.” Telnur's Countess says, omitting to mention that they are equally wary of King Cenwalh.

“You're inviting a wolf in the hen-house.” The Countess from Mirus grumbles.

“And you're attempting to draw us all in to fix mistakes of your own.” Haitia's Count counters without pity. “Their strength is higher than expected but it remains trivial in face of a Kingdom's power, we have worse enemies to deal with and Mirus better fulfill its agreements or there will indeed be armies raised!” He finishes with a powerful voice.

“Indeed.” Steso's Count somberly agrees.

“Rhr.” Mirus' Countess grunts in anger. “So you will stand by as Nobles are sent to the front-lines as criminals?”

“Why would we act?” Telnur's Countess questions. “Caeviel and Mirus' Nobility overstepped their bounds in face of an Imperial decree, such was always going to be the price to pay.”

“The Emperor is using this as a pretext to weaken us!” The Countess from Mirus exclaims.

“Ludicrous, his Phalanxes have seized a victory not a day ago that will safeguard our eastern border for months to come, during the worst of the Lisilese Hordes' assault!” Haitia's Count intervenes. “Weaken us? He has saved ten of thousands from our four Kingdoms with this sweeping victory.”

“Besides, the decree itself arose because Duchess Roskal ordered the assassination of a former Exemplar.” Steso's Count quietly remarks.

“Our Emperor holds the moral high-ground in this, he even has proof of the Duchess' dealings with this Wraith. There is no failing to His reasoning, we must not fall to infighting when under assault by Rykz and Lisilese.” Fringia's representative calmly explains. “Were honorary Duchess Lance and Jessica Freepath to push their luck, then He will be forced to personally take action or face censure from all six Kingdoms.”

“Agreed.” The Count from Haitia nods.

“Agreed!” The Countess of Telnur firmly acquiesces.

“Agreed.” The Count from Steso inclines his head.

“Hmph.” Mirus' Countess snorts but has no choice but to allow this.

--- --- ---

Lance thinks quickly as she carries her weak fiancee past the Templars and Hospitaliers into her carriage, paying no mind to the astonished expressions and colds looks thrown their way.

While her prestige matters immensely to her and it was hurt by Elizabeth's 'death' at Jessica's hands, the loss holds no meaning to her because her fiancees survived.

She'll no doubt lose clout over the Hospitaliers because of this but victory on the battlefield will take care of this. Her current pressing concern is how to explain the state of Jessica's heart to the specialist they are to meet with.

Lance looks down to the sleepy lover nestled against her chest and gently caresses her head as she ponders only to pause a mere minute after she began looking for an idea.

“Ha, of course.” She murmurs.

With the solution found, she spends the rest of their journey peeling Jessica out of her armor while coping a feel or two but always careful not to send her heart racing, which Leomi takes as a delightful challenge.

As they approach the University, their ears catch sound of town criers spreading recent news which Lance immediately ascertains is a move from the Emperor to divert attention from Duchess Roskal's death and take minds off the recent chaos that shook the capital.

“Hear, hear, people of Kruzser! Our Emperor Rasaec thereby declares victory on the fields of the eastern front! Not two days ago, three Rykz Hives were intercepted at the gates of Steso and Fringia, they were defeated by the fortifications erected by the Eleventh, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth! Glory to the Empire! Long may Emperor Rasaec, Chosen of the Lake, rule us!”

“How?” Leomi wonders aloud, surprised the Phalanxes snatched victory so soon after the loss of the Twelfth.

“Hrm.” Jessica clears her throat, her expression showing signs of worry. “Fortifications, meaning siege weapons to crack the Rykz' tight ranks.”

“Shh.” Lance softly blows in her fiancee's ear. “Don't exert yourself.”

“I would also guess they used pheromones to disrupt their coordination, not the friendly type but the one that purges which would have greater effect on the drones because Princesses would have a much harder time to give orders.” Jessica continues, needing to speak aloud to confirm her guess. “All of it likely followed by a charge of the Order's heavy cavalry, the largest group of Templars was in that area last we heard after all.”

“Quiet down, my love, the Rykz weakened themselves by sending so many of their drones to raid Steso so it isn't surprising they would suffer defeat if they tried to press their advantage.” Leomi soothes.

“They won the east, but what about the south.” Jessica mutters with her thoughts swirling as a smile arises on her lips.

Lance pauses, realizing that her fiancee is right. The Order must've deployed their Templars for that battle which means the southern route leading into the Rykz Contested Highlands would theoretically be much easier to cross.

“You think the Silver Hive made it back home?” Leomi asks with an uncomfortable twist in her guts.

“I know so.” Jessica grunts. “I can feel it.”

--- --- ---

At the time of their conversation, a being with a dozen tendrils and brown flesh rises to her full height in the familiar plains of her childhood, breathing through the holes running alongside her ovaloid head to savor the air.

She tastes smoke, dust, blood from the humans and Lisilese they went through, but most importantly a wisp of pheromones informing her that their advanced bases still stand and hold the supplies her Hive desperately needs.

Celyz of the Silver Hive swipes a tendril at her escort to tell the drones to move forth while turning to the west, wondering if the being she loves is well and whether she is thought of.

“Rhyy.” A soft lonely sigh escapes her.

--- --- ---

Lance's carriage enters the University through a gate not used by commoners and engages in a paved street that leads to the Tenth-Summer training field built deep within the campus where young aspiring Phalangites are sent to learn what they lack in comparison to their unit.

These children are no older than ten, most are low born and either second or third born depending on whether their parents revere the Order or the Phalanxes most.

They are behind their comrades in terms of physical fitness as well as knowledge but their growth is to be supplemented with constructs and they are to be taught the basics by the best teachers the Empire has to offer.

The Director of this camp is old, he was one of the best flow-smiths back in the day. His knowledge has long since become obsolete but his dedication to the Empire has not waned and so he perseveres in doing everything he can to help it stand the test of time.

He gazes at the carriage as it approaches, his eyes falling on the white and light-blue crest with a lance splitting the center. He rubs his long white beard and takes out a neatly folded letter from his pocket to once more read his Emperor's orders, not to question them but to ensure he follows them to the letter.