“You should probably get down and into the airship,” Mother said.

I glanced out over the balustrade of the balcony we were on and shrugged. “They’re still loading things. That’s probably going to take a while.”

“Everything else ready?”

“I still don’t know if Yarani wants to come. Apart from that, we’re all ready. Took us long enough.”

We’d decided on this two weeks ago. But packing up parts of the lab needed time, especially since I delayed long enough to witness an important test a few of the researchers did for the new electrical plant. Mother had also kept me busy. Despite what I’d thought, we’d talked a lot in the last two weeks, mostly politics.

“A shame you’re not actually going on vacation,” Mother said, smirking. She tapped the papers lying on the table beneath us. “At least we’re finished here.”

I nodded and sighed, forming a barely visible cloud in front of my face. It had been getting cold, but due to my cultivation, I barely noticed. Despite a few clouds, it was a nice enough day we’d taken the meeting outside. The balcony was facing east, so the morning sun gave us some of its warmth.

“Many local communities already have some democratic elements,” Mother said. “It’s not like we’re breaking completely new ground here.”

“Well, it’s pretty much just a field trial,” I said. This plan would introduce democracy on a local level, in handpicked regions of the Empire. “You’ll get a few complaints, though.”

Mother took one of the papers, glancing through it again. I propped up my hand on my chin and looked back to the logistics hub, where they were still loading up airships.

“Before we go, something else I wanted to talk about,” I said, turning my attention back to her and waiting until she looked up from the plan. “While I’m there, I’d like to start a university in Blue Valley City.”

She put the paper down and straightened up. “A university?”

“Yes.” I raised an eyebrow. “You could start one here in the capital, as well. To be honest, I’m surprised it’s taken you so long.”

“Hmm.” Mother tapped a finger on the table. “You’re aware things work very differently here than on Earth. The clans and sects aren’t going to like this.”

“They’ll deal with it, and hopefully, adapt. Once it’s grown enough.” I gestured down to the building housing my lab. “This can’t be all the technological innovation we’re hoping for. My team is good, but we need more than a single team. I’m planning on recruiting people in the south, as well. Maybe some ‘experts’ who’re disaffected with their sects would like to teach at the new university. I’d like to focus it on the natural sciences, of course.”

Mother nodded slowly. “I suppose we have more than enough knowledge to get something started.”

“Exactly. I’ve already had copies of suitable texts made.”

Mother was silent for a moment, then nodded. “Alright. I’ll do the same here in the capital. I assume you’ll want more than that, though.”

“Of course.” I grinned. “I’d like to see new research institutes and universities all over the Empire. I’m sure they’ll produce enough results to speak for themselves shortly. Even if many clans or sects forbid their members from joining, we should still find enough educated and talented people. In time, I think some of the old elite will see the advantages and join in. Although a general reform of the education system might not go amiss.”

Mother shook her head. “I guess you have a good point. I just hope you’re not overestimating the practicability of this.”

I leaned back in my chair and ran a hand through my hair. “We’ve already introduced a few new technologies with a big impact. But we need innovation across the field, not just that.” I shrugged. “On Earth, besides maybe a few individuals, the industrial revolution and new technologies were driven by public institutions and companies. On Aran, things are different and I suspect clans or sects might play a role instead of corporations, or alongside them.”

Mother leaned forward, obviously caught up in the conversation now. “But on Earth, it happened pretty much across the world, at least later on. We don’t have that kind of communication between nations here.”

I shrugged and mirrored her gesture. “We have a country spanning a full continent and big parts of others, and actual magic. If we can’t manage an industrialization, what’s the point?”

Mother chuckled. “Okay. Maybe I’ve been too timid. Go ahead and do what you think best, just try not to create any revolts.”

I stood up and tossed her a grin. “I’ll do what I can.”

After a second, she stood as well, her expression turning serious again. “Let’s go. You have your communication talismans?”

We started walking, and I glanced at my storage ring, which was pretty full right now. “Yes. And I’ll send telegrams if possible.” At least no one else should speak English, outside our family.

We walked the rest of the way in silence, at a quick pace. Since Mother’s and my guards surrounded us, I felt a little crowded, but didn’t say anything. It didn’t take long for us to reach the courtyard we would depart from. A few airships waited for us, including one I’d used before, for the war.

“Al isn’t here?” I asked. “I know you said he can only join us later, but I thought he’d want to see us off.”

Mother shook her head. “He’s in the middle of a minor breakthrough, best not to bother him.” She came to a stop a fair distance from the airship. “Well, goodbye then, Nari. Have fun.”

I forced myself to smile cheerfully at her and return her goodbye, before I hurried away to join Tenira and a few others who were obviously waiting for me. Yarani just disappeared inside the airship. On the way, Xiaodan ambushed me for a hug.

I detached myself from her, promising we’d be visiting each other, then hurried into the airship. Something was tickling at my senses. I frowned and focused on the strange sensation, then shook my head and turned to survey the interior of our transportation. We were taking along a contingent of soldiers and guards, but this airship was filled mainly with people from my team and other specialists, as well as equipment. Everything seemed to be in order, with people settling in for the long journey.

“I’ll rest for a bit,” I said.

Tenira nodded with a smile, and the others turned away, already continuing their conversation.

I went through the door, two guards in tow, looked around to check the small room, then opened another door that led into a little cabin. Its small window stood open, letting in cold air and the sound of people moving around outside. The guards waited outside the door.

“I hope you’re not trying to come along as a blind passenger, spirit,” I said.

Beside the window, the presence in my qi senses popped into visibility, a vaguely child-like outline of swirling qi. The spirit tilted their head up. ‘Daughter of the Moon, I am to give you a message from the one known as Mior. We thought you would like privacy.’

I crossed my arms. “Alright. What’s your message?”

‘Mior has taken note of you and will speak to you. Go to sleep.’

I showed him an amused smile. “Well, I suppose that’s as nice as I could ask for. Thanks.”

The spirit nodded, then their figure compacted and flowed out of the window. I felt their presence moving away, darting around the people outside.

Shrugging to myself, I left the room, then navigated through the airship to find the room they’d assigned to me. I met a few other people, but only gave them absent nods. A few guards followed me, even inside the airship. After how many people tried to kill me, I wouldn’t complain.

Finally, I got to my cabin, which was small considering we were on an airship, but had a bed taking up half of its space. I lay down, pulled the covers over me, and closed my eyes. After a moment, I sat up again, forming a technique that would block sound from the rest of the airship and laying it across the room. Then I got back into bed and tried to sleep.

I fell asleep surprisingly quickly. Maybe because I’d worked a lot but not slept much the last few weeks. Pretty much only with Yarani a few times, for a couple of hours.

This time, I drifted in my dream without creating any detailed scenery. Instead, I focused on my memories of meeting Mior, and tried to recall what the spirit’s presence felt like. It didn’t take long until I became aware of a foreign mind, some distance away but clearly pulling my attention to it.

I hesitated for a moment, then brushed my dreaming mind across the spirit’s, feeling a connection click into place. I emerged into a misty landscape that resembled the one we’d met at before, but I could tell it was a shared dream. I felt Mior’s influence guiding the scene. Experimentally, I tried to lighten it, and the mist brightened.

Mior waited for me there, looking the same as last time. I spared a moment to make sure my own self was reflected correctly in this dream. It looked like my physical body did, even wearing the same clothes, but obviously awake. I walked forward a few steps to meet the spirit.

‘Little Light,’ Mior greeted me with a nod.

‘Hello, Mior,’ I returned with a smile. ‘I’ve been wanting to talk to you.’

The spirit sighed. ‘So I’ve noticed. How did you know it would work?’

I shrugged. ‘I guessed.’ After all, they were clearly associated with the Moon in some way, and I figured it couldn’t hurt to try. So I’d been attempting to contact Mior in my dreams, and now it seemed my efforts had borne fruit.

The spirit popped a chair into existence and sat down, leaning back on it. ‘I see.’

I also created a chair for myself and sat down. I felt a little weird to share a dream with another person, but I tried to focus on the conversation. ‘So, I have a few questions. After all, you guys left me with Rijoko’s bloodline without much of an explanation.’

Mior shrugged. ‘Such things manifest based on the individual. There isn’t much I could help you with, and it would likely be better for you to figure them out yourself.’

I shrugged. ‘Okay, but that’s not all. I want to know what Rijoko’s plans are. And about his enemies. Why are the Pioneer or Jideia after me? They tried to kill me. I can’t just let that go.’

Mior sighed and regarded me in silence for a moment. ‘I presume it’s because of the bargain your mother bade with Rijoko, as well as the fact you’re his daughter. Unless I miss my guess, he’s been inciting some people in the Zarian Dominion against you as well as arranging that poisoning. I’m not sure if Jideia gave him the order or if it’s his own initiative.’

I nodded. At least Mior was talking, but this wasn’t anything I couldn’t figure out myself. ‘But what’s their deal?’

Mior stayed quiet for a moment. ‘Rijoko and Jideia’s rivalry is old, and complicated. You should realize that all of this is but a very small part of it. The Greater Spirits are playing a very complex game against each other, with power as the goal and the playing pieces. It might be related to their worship in the mortal world.’

I frowned. ‘How does that work?’

Mior shrugged. ‘We spirits don’t need humans’ devotion or offerings, unlike what some people think. But it is still good to have. For Greater Spirits like Rijoko, even losing all of it would not diminish his power by much. Of course, every little bit might be important against the Storm and his ilk. Still, I doubt this is the reason for all of this.’

I ran a hand through my hair. This was interesting to hear, but a little frustrating. ‘You’d think they’d do better if the goal was simply to get more worship,’ I agreed. ‘But then where do I come in?’

Mior dismissed their char and stood up, cocking their head as they looked down at me. ‘Presumably, your connection to your father. I assume you are aware of that?’

A shiver ran down my spine. I stood and crossed my arms. ‘Yes.’ I could feel it in my qi if I concentrated, especially while cultivating. Something had changed about me since I’d awakened my bloodline. I could sense Rijoko, distantly. No more than a feeling of his existence, but maybe you could strengthen it somehow.

‘Your existence is shaped by his qi,’ Mior said, their eyebrows drawn down. ‘It costs him a tiny bit of his power, especially when you use the power your bloodline gives you. I think our enemies might be trying to use that connection against us. Perhaps they want to force him to intervene in the mortal world. Bait or trap him into making a move they want. Have him use too much power that will allow Jideia an opening.’

I shook my head, feeling another shiver run down my spine. ‘Get him to expend power to protect me? I think I’m starting to get a better idea of this whole thing.’

I didn’t know if my father would do something like that, especially if it was obviously his enemies’ plan. But I knew what this meant. I needed to protect myself.

Mior shrugged. ‘Or perhaps it’s about you fighting them here yourself.’

I sighed and started pacing while I thought about that. ‘Well, for better or worse, my future is tied to him. I’d rather do something against these jerks than wait for them to get me killed.’

Mior chuckled. ‘Well, good luck with that.’

I stopped and glared at him. ‘Come on. It’s in your interests, too, right? Give me some help.’

The spirit sighed. ‘There’s not much I can do. But alright. I’d advise you to focus on preparing your country for a coming storm. Pun not intended. Grow your strength. And …’ They hesitated, frowning a little. ‘Perhaps you could poke into the origins of your people, your ancestors. There might be something there.’

‘My ancestors? Like the origins of my clan?’

Mior started to walk away. ‘If that’s all, Little Light, I have places to be.’

I rolled my eyes, but didn’t fight it when the dream started to dissolve. There’d be no point in trying to draw this out.

Instead, I willed myself awake. Mior was right, I’d grow my strength, and the Empire’s. And take a trip to the coast when I went traveling.