[ Incoming call from Grandma ]

[ Answer ]

She hovered her hand on the coiling metal. It was a state-of-the-art Spiritual Network Vane assigned to top workers in the office.

Her senses shut down for a while but was regained quickly. The office disappeared and changed to a living room. The cold marble floor and comfy couch that she had always lazed about since she was a child. Sitting in her wheelchair Grandma Lyudmilla was preparing food.

“What? Can’t an old hag give her grandchild a call?”

“O-of course you can granny. I’m not too busy anyway.”

She sat down on the floor as Zelmja greeting dictates. For a younger or similar aged person, one must sit at the same level. For those older or superiors, one must sit lower. “Sit low and listen with humility”, as her teachers said.

“You’ve gotten fatter. Only a year and you’ve become so unhealthy.”

“I’ve actually lost weight...”

“Hah? Why aren’t you speaking louder? You know your hag grandmother is getting old.”

Her wrinkled hands handed food to her. Virtual or not she old age never stopped her from doing housework. There must be something to being active as she was still sharp and witty for her age.

“Here. Sugar buns and freshly squeezed juice.”

The pungent and sour liquid that complimented the sweet bread was always her favorite growing up. They were too fatty but since she was in the Nexusphere, she didn’t mind indulging her grandma.

They ate while she got interrogated on how her life had been. She had made it a point not to contact home once she began working.

“I really missed your food granny.”

“Only the food?”

“Of course, I missed you too.”

“But?”

“It’s really freeing to be alone?”

Soon enough the food was gone. The same with the faint stress that she was feeling.

“Ok. Now that you’re feeling a bit more comfortable, might as well get to it. My spies, that I’m sure you know of are there, told me about how you’re being harassed and threatened. I don’t understand. Just let me execute a few of them to warn the others. It’ll be quick, painless and done at wane time. You’ll wake up wax time to peace and quiet.”

“Granny, I told you about it already. Lowkey, ok?”

“Milyaa, my dainty little child. I only care about your safety. A spy can do whatever it is you’re doing.”

“Granny.”

“Fine. Fine. Haah. You weren’t always so willful. Now that you’re all grown up my words don’t mean anything anymore. I remember when you used to perform poetry every night because your granddad requested to. You hated it but it made you more confident in the end.”

The old woman held her hands. It was aged and thin but its heat enclosed her own.

“Just know that your weak grandma still has some pull. It doesn’t matter if it’s the theocratic dogs, the imperials and those arrogant mages. They’ll have to complain in Hel if they try anything.”

Milyaa took out her hands and instead embraced the boney frame. She knew that there was no joke within those words. Her grandma didn’t build the fourth strongest faction in the Nexus through mercy.

“I’ll make sure to know my limits granny.”

After that short talk, most of her stress was gone. Still, it was justified stress as normal citizens would rather take their own lives than approach this place.

Nexus Central Office was home to people that can force conscript, subject one to horrible demon experimentation and massacre cities for laughs. They’ve done it in the past. They would be glad to do it again. Especially those that belong to the three powers.

The office complex could be divided into 4: the Gray Offices where the council was held and most governmental functions were and the three embassies. They had less people but their own buildings had extra spires and monuments that block the sunlight from the offices.

The Farsight Theocracy’s “Heroes Cathedral” smelled of strong incense in its regal red and gold. It was dotted by the Great Hope statues wherein heroes and saints’ bodies were cast into form by a great artisan. When he himself was dying, the artist cast himself into his own statue. If one searched, one can find a video of the artist showering himself with liquid gold while chanting “Let our devotion be eternal”.

The Mana Coalition’s “Mirror to the Universe” had 118 spheres for the elements being held engulfed by physical mana in the form of a liquid. It was said that if it was somehow ignited, it could destroy the capital planet. So, to pacify the citizens, a magus detonated a tier 8 fireball on it and nothing happened. The mana was inert and the inscriptions of who discovered the element and their life stories were untouched.

Of the three however, she prefers the garden of the one who leads the tribal confederacy, The Remus Dynasty’s “Governance Garden”. Blue and violet, tall and short, stinky or fluorescent. Plants abound while small animals and bird live their peaceful lives there. The first empress planted a dying tree 2000 years ago. Now it was 10 meters tall and had born countless fruit.

Every office was open air so one could see the officials working hard. On Newfound Day people were free to enter and enjoy food, music and entertainment to their heart’s content. Her grandparents used to bring her there and watch her recite poetry.

‘We were disguised of course but I felt like I was a normal citizen then.’

The three landmarks surround the offices. In the past however, the main building was alone and was much bigger. It also went by the name “Neyfelëer” which in elvish means “the second crown of the world tree”.

[ Incoming call from Uncle ]

“Hey, I’ve checked your list and have come up with my suggestions. Though your 20 points is nice, it’s pretty hard to analyze who are overachievers.”

It was 40 year old man wearing cold bluesteel armor while doing field maintenance on a M3 cryorifle. He was on a ship bridge with people moving behind him. Everyone there fitted the stereotype of Zelmja people; brutalist, efficient and effective.

Yet this bearded soldier smiled so sweetly for her.

“Be serious uncle. Your men would look down on you for smiling so goofily.”

“Nonsense. Hey ensign, look who I’m taking with here. See? Even a grown man would blush for you.

Anyway, to business. We had a hard time completing your list. Especially this last one we picked, me and the boys debated over him for hours. Not athletic but smart. Cowardly but motivated. We feel he has good potential however-”

[ Izo Shelley, 18

Effectiveness Rating: E

Spiritual Strength: E ]

“He has no innate talent and though E is solid, he’s more of a long-term project. I know you wish to select those that are hidden gems but these people need the corresponding attitude to reach that potential. So, I advise you to talk to this one and found out what he’s like and what future goals that he has. If you feel like he has ability, loyal and trustworthy, I feel that he will be one of the pillars in whatever you may be planning. Would you mind telling your dear uncle your plans?”

“Uncle.”

“I know. You only want some advice and want to be independent but you can ask me for help.”

“That’s also what grandma what’s said.”

Those words made him laugh and stop his cleaning.

“Family thinks alike, I guess. Anyway, what you’re doing is very dangerous. Even more dangerous than what I did.”

Her uncle wasn’t a normal scion even though a lot of them do lead their own war fleets. He chose to be in the infantry and slog with his men. He had scars and regrown limbs through the myriad battles that he fought. For a non-spiritually gifted combatant, he had an effectiveness rating of D+. He was a hero through and through. A dumb risk taking one.

“If I told you my plan, you would laugh.”

“Try me.’

“I plan to build a colony in a death field.”

“…”

“…”

“Puhahahaha! You’re joking right?”

“You told me you wouldn’t laugh!”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. It’s just too funny. Phew. Good joke-“

She turned off the connection.

[ Incoming call from Uncle ]

“I’m serious now. No laughing. No laugh- Puhahaha-“

‘I’ll show you. I’ll show you in time!’