Heretic Spellblade 5 - Ch1-3

Chapter 1

A dozen men, all swathed in black, carried the coffin across the cemetery grounds. Another coffin followed them, carried by just as many men. All of them wore regalia of the Anfang Empire’s Royal Knights and a red cloth patch over their arms. Their destination were large tombstones carved from marble. A pair of carved wings rose high into the air above the tombstones.

Nathan stood to one side of the open graves, where the massed crowd of nobles, mages, soldiers, and clergy had assembled to see off two of Doumahr’s greatest Bastions. His hair remained as unkempt as ever, despite repeated attempts by his Champions and fiancées to tame it. A longsword hung by his waist, but he’d traded out his simpler uniform for a ceremonial black and gold piece that was practically plastered with emblems.

If there was one thing Nathan was used to, it was wearing ceremonial uniforms for funerals.

A haunting melody drifted across the cemetery. It was somewhat different to the one played at funerals in Falmir and Trafaumh, but similar enough that the past links between the Empire and its former territories was clear.

Almost everyone of importance in Aleich had turned out today. Leopold and Maylis had been beloved by many, and the historic importance of burying two great Bastions following a civil war wasn’t lost on the nobility. Representatives from other nations—notably including Arcadia but not Falmir—made an appearance as well.

Inquisitor Baudelaire from Trafaumh was the most notable guest. Her craggy face, wiry figure, and elderly figure belied her immense power. Politically, that is. In Nathan’s original timeline, she had ruled Trafaumh with an iron fist and remained immensely powerful even now.

As the coffins approached, Nathan felt the grip on his arm tighten. He looked down to see Alice with a stony face. Newly appointed as Empress, it was her solemn duty to maintain her composure throughout the proceedings. Her thick golden locks billowed down her back, and stood out against the conservative black gown she’d chosen to wear.

The former emperor Gorthal stood opposite them, his face a mask of stone. He leaned heavily on his ostentatious cane, and his massive furred cape only exaggerated his age. Next to him were his bodyguards and mistresses. Leopold’s former Champions, led by the masked Mae, stood nearby.

Many of Nathan’s Champions stood behind him, wearing newly tailored ceremonial uniforms. Fei in particular had complained about them, as she hated clothing that covered her abundant chest, but she kept her discomfort hidden now. Her drooping black cat ears and bushy tail were likely a reaction to the funeral itself. A pair of sapphire gems glittered in her collarbone.

There were two Champions that stood out from the others. They stood between the open graves, separate from the crowd. Both of them were horsegirls, with fine, silken tails and golden horse ears, and they held an eerie similarity to one another. They had platinum-blonde hair, modest figures, and horns. But that was where the similarities ended.

Ciana was a unicorn beastkin, with a single iridescent horn protruding from her forehead. She wore the same uniform as Nathan’s other Champions. In her hands was an ancient ceremonial horn, and her fingers clutched it tightly. She had two diamonds inset in her collar.

By contrast, Fyre had once been a horse beastkin. Her white angel wings and spiral horns visually reminded everyone that she was now the prophet of Omria. She held a gargantuan ceremonial greatsword that was encrusted with sigils and runes, and was the only person not wearing black. A pair of red garnets with a golden luster gleamed from her neck.

The first coffin arrived, but the pallbearers remained in front of the open grave. They waited for the other group to arrive behind them. Nearly a minute passed, with the traditional funeral song the only comfort for the attendees.

Nathan felt it was fitting that today was miserable and overcast. Winter had fallen in the past few weeks that he had spent in Aleich, mopping up after Alice’s coronation. While it had yet to snow here, the same wasn’t true in the mountain passes that carried much of the Empire’s trade.

Both coffins now hung in front of their respective graves, and the pallbearers remained still. All eyes turned to Gorthal.

The former emperor remained still, his eyes fixed on some space in the distance. Then he frowned, and looked at his granddaughter.

Everyone stared at Alice now. Nathan felt her grip tighten to what would be a painful level if she had the strength to harm a Bastion like himself.

She looked at him, then grimaced and separated from him. Her gloved hand rose, her engagement ring glittering on her ring finger. Nathan had collected it last week, although they’d been engaged since her coronation.

At her gesture, a pair of mages stepped forward. They raised their hands. Lines of green light appeared between their fingers as they cast second rank spells to levitate the coffins. The melody finally stopped, leaving Nathan and the others in silence.

Ciana placed her horn to her lips and, after a few seconds pause, began to play it. The bugle call was a familiar one to those in the Imperial Army, such as Nathan.

The crowd watched as the coffins were lowered into the grave. Ciana finished playing.

As she lowered the horn, Ciana looked to Fyre. So did everyone else.

Nathan saw Fyre’s grip tighten around the sword. Her wings flapped nervously, although most would probably think she was using them to call attention to herself. Although her face remained perfectly still, Nathan saw something in her eyes that he wasn’t used to seeing on the obsessive prophet’s face.

Fear.

For several long seconds, Nathan worried that Fyre had seized up. It was customary for a priest of Omria to send the departed to rest with a final sermon. Gorthal himself had asked Fyre to fulfil this role, as one final favor.

Her eyes met his. Nathan suspected he’d soon see a spark of somebody else in those eyes. Because Fyre had a mental companion who could take over if necessary.

Instead, Fyre’s body relaxed as she stared at Nathan. Her eyes lost that spark of fear.

Then she stepped forward and spoke the final words of the funeral. The language was common across the human kingdoms once ruled by Omria herself, and hadn’t changed for millennia. Few people understood the words themselves, but knew the meaning.

Fyre was, in effect, calling Leopold and Maylis back to the Watcher Omria herself.

To Nathan, this sermon had once been a comfort. These days, with everything he had learned, they were bittersweet. Fyre was Omria, in all the ways that mattered. She had no power over the dead.

The crowd dissipated quickly after she was finished. The speeches and noble frippery had taken place earlier in the morning, and Gorthal had specifically refused any fancy drinks or luncheons.

Nathan recalled his reasoning clearly.

“Leo stepped away from his noble roots to serve me as a Bastion. Maylis fled the terrors of Trafaumh’s inquisition. It would be insulting to mourn them with an extravagance that wouldn’t represent them,” Gorthal had said.

Few people remained as the funerary assistants began filling in the graves. Gorthal, his hangers-in, Leopold’s former Champions, Nathan and his Champions, and Alice. A sizeable honor guard of Royal Knights stood nearby, but the energetic beastkin were anything but today.

And there was one other person of importance who remained.

Inquisitor Baudelaire joined Gorthal in front of the graves, and they seemed to commiserate in some unspoken way. Both were old rulers. Both had known Leopold. And both had buried many friends younger than themselves over the years.

Fyre and Ciana darted across the grounds to stand beside Nathan. He found himself being fought over, although both horsegirls tried not to make a scene.

“Thank you for doing that,” Alice told Fyre, pointedly ignoring the way the prophet tried to grip onto her fiance’s arm. “It means a lot to me, and especially to Grandpa.”

Fyre’s mouth opened, and Nathan knew she was about to say something bitter. But she thought better of it and merely nodded.

He kept his thoughts to himself, but noted that Fyre seemed visibly shaken by the funeral. The last time he’d seen her struggling to maintain her mask was shortly after Leopold’s death. He’d questioned why she’d cared back then and knew that he needed to talk to her about this later.

“I expected Anna to stay behind,” Nathan said quietly, watching Baudelaire and Gorthal as they struck up small talk.

“She left with Grandpa Milgar. Even though we’re not holding any post-funeral events, there are still many nobles to assuage. I’ll need to make it up to her later.” Alice winced at the reminder that she’d dumped a lot of work on Anna, who had known Leopold for many years.

“I suspect we’ll be busy as well.” He nodded his head at Baudelaire. “The funeral isn’t the only thing that’s been delayed. Trafaumh will only wait for so long.”

Nathan motioned to Fei, who then slipped away to talk to the nearby Royal Knights. They then separated, as if to form a pathway for Nathan, Alice, and the others to leave.

Accepting the gesture, he then began to leave with his entourage.

Mae spotted him leaving from her position behind Gorthal. Her mask was firmly in place and she hurriedly trotted over to his side. Two dull gems sat in her collar and were a reminder of what she had once been.

“May I?” she said, looking back at Inquisitor Baudelaire and her retinue.

A bald, young man with burn marks over one eyes stared back at them. His name was Deverese, and his overdecorated uniform made it clear that he was a Bastion of Trafaumh. Nathan knew him well. The same went for his two Champions, Ester and Ysabelle, who stood behind him.

“Of course,” Nathan said.

There was good reason for Mae to stay close to him while Baudelaire was present. While she had once been Leopold’s closest Champion and lover, she had also been one of Baudelaire’s experiments. With Leopold’s death, Mae was effectively powerless and ripe for recapture.

Nathan refused to let that happen.

They left the cemetery. The Royal Knights would take care of Gorthal.

Outside, a pair of horseless black carriages trimmed with gold awaited them. Royal emblems encrusted the outsides and a small army of Royal Knights kept watch. They saluted as Nathan and Alice approached.

Several knights opened the doors and lowered stairs. They even placed carpets under the damn stairs. Nathan held back a grimace, but knew that this was something he needed to get used to.

He was now engaged to the Empress. Where before he had merely been an accomplished Bastion, now he was treated as royalty.

The carpets were a bit much, though. His boots were coated in dirt and muck from walking across the damp cemetery grounds all morning.

Alice stepped inside the carriage, but turned and stared at everyone from the doorway.

“I think you might need to make some decisions, Nathan,” she said, her voice straining to remain calm. He could hear laughter trying to bubble up from her chest.

Looking around, he knew what she meant. Ciana and Fyre now clung to both of his sides, which drew stares from the Royal Knights. They were under no illusions about his relations with the women around him, however. The slow swishing of their tails suggested these knights might be thinking other thoughts, even.

But Nathan’s other Champions were just as interested in joining him in the carriage. In particular, Fei was being held back by Sen. The busty catgirl writhed in the spellblade’s grip, but wasn’t trying that hard to escape. If Fei wanted to, she could send Sen flying.

Unlike the others, Sen didn’t have any gems. Instead, the thick streaks of white hair in her messy brown ponytail and red eyes indicated she was possessed by the spirit Ifrit. She wore a baggy black cloak over her ceremonial uniform, which hid her lithe, toned figure.

“I think others need to be with Nathan right now,” Sen told Fei.

“But I wanna,” Fei whined. “Ciana is with him all the time now.”

The unicorn in question pointedly ignored Fei’s accusation and angry gaze. Probably because it was true. Ciana clung to Nathan so much that she tended to scare off the palace servants.

“We’ll eat together for lunch once we’re back,” Nathan said.

“I thought you had to finalize deployments to most of Leopold’s and Maylis’s binding stones… former binding stones?” Alice grimaced at her own words.

“I do, but Fei has her own army of chefs anyway. I can work and watch her eat.”

“You’re supposed to look at your paperwork, not your overindulgent Champion,” Seraph drawled, crossing her arms. “But so long as she’s willing to eat in one of the nicer rooms and not make a mess, she can join in.”

Seraph wore an intricate black and gold cheongsam, with the wings of Omria embroidered across the entire garment. Unlike her usual attire, it covered far more of her olive skin and didn’t slip aside to reveal her long, luscious thighs.

It wasn’t the most formal of attire, but she’d mentioned that her preferred funeral attire was a stark white for cultural reasons. Seraph was from the Kurai peninsula, which had fallen to demonic invasion over twenty years ago.

A pair of jades were Seraph’s Champion gemstones. Of those present, Nathan considered her to be his second-in-command. He controlled the equivalent of six binding stones right now, and that number was about to grow rapidly. She helped administer his many fortresses and commanded his growing armies.

Nathan knew he needed to formalize her position, but had held off for his own reasons. Crazy ideas had been forming in his mind over the past several weeks, as the new year approached.

“I don’t make a mess,” Fei mumbled.

Seraph shot her a look, and the catgirl winced. There were more than a few stains on expensive upholstery due to Fei’s clumsiness.

“Given the situation, I think it’s best if Fyre and Ciana sit with me,” Nathan said. “People will talk if the prophet appears to be avoiding the Empress. And I want Reine and Mae with us. That fills up the carriage.”

Fyre tried not to preen at the news she could continue to cling to him. The eyes of the Royal Knights suggested they were growing increasingly suspicious of the interests of their almighty prophet.

Unsurprising, given Fyre hid her interest in Nathan less and less with each passing day. Omria wasn’t known for her chastity, fortunately. Nobody expected her prophet to avoid men, given the goddess was the reason polygamy was legal on most of Doumahr.

As Fyre, Mae, and Ciana boarded the carriage after Alice, a second masked figure stepped forward from the grouping of Champions. She wore a simple black dress and a formal headpiece with a black shroud covering her mask. Black wolf ears pricked up from long, messy black hair and a bushy wolf’s tail swished back and forth behind her.

“How are you doing, Reine?” Nathan asked her, deliberately taking her arm.

Reine’s entire book seized when he touched her, but she quickly relaxed and allowed him to lead her to the carriage. The tails of the Royal Knights became substantially more active—many of them were wolfgirls themselves.

“I am fine,” Reine said, speaking in her actual voice. Her mask had a function to magically filter her voice, but she wasn’t using it. “It was less discomforting than I expected to be so close to so many people. But the mask helped.”

Until recently, Reine had lived in almost complete seclusion and secrecy. She was the Imperial Spymaster—even if she now insisted she was Nathan’s personal spymaster—and one of the most dangerous people in the Empire.

But the real reason she hid herself away were her eyes. Behind that mask were a pair of eyes engraved with the golden wings of Omria. Both Mae and Reine bore the divine eyes that Trafaumh had created with experiments. Reine’s eyes allowed her to scry anywhere on Doumahr, and even penetrate most magical wards.

Reine had been freed from Baudelaire’s grasp by Maylis when she was young, but Gorthal had kept her secret to preserve peace with Trafaumh.

Like with Mae, Nathan didn’t care if Baudelaire was pissy about Reine. He refused to force her into hiding for his own sake. But she still needed more time to grow used to the wider world.

Before stepping into the carriage, Nathan turned to face his other Champions. Other than Fei, Seraph, and Sen, there was a single dark elf among them. Nurevia had remained quiet all day, but he knew that was out of respect.

Nathan had originally come from an alternate Doumahr—one where demonic invaders destroyed almost the entire world. In that world, Nurevia had never shown respect for any fallen Bastion. She’d strongly disliked Nathan’s friends and mentors, and admonished him for getting attached.

So seeing her wear conservative clothing for one of the only times was a shock to him. Either Leopold was truly that great of a Bastion, or Nurevia had truly changed compared to the version that Nathan knew. The latter possibility troubled him, as he’d taken Nurevia’s personality for granted since reuniting with her.

A few Champions were missing from the group. Narime was assisting with problems in the Amica Duchies to the east, and Astra had returned to the Aurelian Spires to explain the events of the civil war. Sunstorm had elected to remain in the palace, as funerals weren’t really her thing.

“I’ll see you all back at the palace,” Nathan told his Champions, looking pointedly at Fei.

Her ears drooped, but she nodded and stuck her tongue out. At least she was able to lift the mood after such a miserable morning.

Once inside, the carriages took off, driven by magical engines. Nathan sat opposite Alice, and between Fyre and Ciana. Reine removed her mask with a look of relief, while Mae left hers on.

Immediately, Fyre said, “Did we have to bury Maylis at the same time as Leopold? She betrayed us."

Grimaces crossed everyone’s faces.

“It was Grandpa’s choice,” Alice said. “Leopold might have been his oldest friend, but Maylis had always been close to him. I think he blames himself for what she did.”

“He shouldn’t,” Nathan said flatly. “The Maylis we defeated wasn’t the one that everyone remembered. We don’t know how long that succubus, Beatrice, was damaging her mind. Aleich can remember the Bastion who defended it for over twenty years, not the twisted ruin we put out of its misery.”

The others nodded, but Fyre seemed put out more than anything else. The massive ceremonial sword in her hand wavered in her grip.

“But because of her…” she mumbled.

Nathan shot her a sharp look. “Whatever you think of Maylis, I want you to keep it to yourself. You’re not just my Champion, Fyre. You’re the prophet of the goddess. Your words will shake the foundation of the world and can’t be said lightly.”

She winced and abruptly clung to Nathan’s arm. Her sword fell down, causing Alice to squawk in surprise. Ciana snapped it up, then froze in shock.

“Ciana?” he asked her.

“I’m fine.” The unicorn knight seemed to shake her entire body loose. “My entire body felt strange when I touched it.”

“It’s a remnant of Omria,” Fyre said, trying to regain her composure and scowling at the sword. “Supposedly. It feels alien to me, and I know I have her power. But… she doesn’t tell me anything.”

To everyone else, that mysterious “she” would be interpreted as Omria herself. Fyre had direct access to her power, and claimed to speak to her.

The truth was more complicated. Fyre and Nathan shared a mutual friend and mental parasite, a succubus known as Kadria who had brought Nathan to this world after his was effectively destroyed. Her aid had allowed Fyre to claim Omria’s power, despite an attempt by the supposed goddess to claim it herself.

“That’s because it’s a relic, not a true remnant,” Nathan said, glaring at the sword. “While Trafaumh claims they’re ancient hand-me-downs from the goddess, they’re a product of their experiments. Baudelaire stopped creating them when she took control of the Inquisition, but there are enough floating around.”

“What sort of experiments?” Alice asked.

“The sort that involves sacrifices,” Mae said. “They create our eyes with the same process.”

“Which is…?”

Mae looked at Nathan, who scowled.

“Officially, nobody is supposed to know. Trafaumh guards its secrets ruthlessly,” he said. “But you’re the Empress now and I guarantee Gorthal knew.”

Alice nodded. “If it’s so secretive that Trafaumh would act against the prophet, it must be abhorrent.”

“That depends on how desperate you are,” Nathan said, feeling tired suddenly. “But there’s only one source of the goddess’s power on Doumahr. Or was.” He looked at Fyre, who puffed up in pride. “Champions. Gems draw on power from binding stones, and that bleeds into their bodies over the years. That’s why they can never go back to being normal people. The power transforms them.”

A chill fell over the carriage, and Reine closed her eyes. Fyre’s jaw dropped.

“They… they harvest Champions?” she asked.

“Yes. I’m certain that’s why Baudelaire stopped creating relics. She would have run out of Champions and started weakening their defenses if she tried to create both relics and divine eyes.” He sighed. “Until Mae revealed her eyes, and that she was an older experiment, I hadn’t known how long Baudelaire had been at work.”

Fyre’s eyes grew fierce as she looked at Reine, and there was a mixed sense of protectiveness and fury in them. Nathan knew that he needed to be careful about how much he told her about Trafaumh’s experiments.

That was likely why Kadria hadn’t told her how relics were created. Fyre reacted on emotion. As useful as that was for her firebrand tendencies, she could and would destroy alliances and start wars. Fortunately, her obsession with Nathan kept her in check. Mostly.

Their trip back to the palace was uneventful. They pulled up outside the central building in the complex and stepped out.

Unlike Trafaumh’s relics, the Imperial Palace of Aleich was a genuine artifact of Omria. The palace was a gargantuan mass of stone spires and stained glass, with double doors so large they were driven by mechanized levers.

Other buildings stood nearby in the palatial complex. The largest were those dedicated to the colleges of the Imperial Diet, who usually met without the presence of the Empress. Barracks and smaller buildings for the servants hid in the shadows of the grander structures.

But only the central palace itself held Omria’s power. Nathan controlled it, and it granted him the same power as one of his binding stones—the ability to manipulate reality and channel vast amounts of magic from the world itself.

During the civil war, an alternate prophet of Falmir attempted to steal the palace’s power. Her name was Charlotte, the former princess of the Kingdom of Falmir. Nathan had cared deeply for her in his original world, but he didn’t know the woman he claimed to be a prophet.

As they stepped inside the open doors of the palace, Nathan noticed that the knights had relaxed significantly over the past few weeks. The outer walls of the complex still bore signs of the war, however. Fyre and Maylis had torn chunks from them in battle. Scaffolding covered the wounds, and laborers were hard at work repairing the stonework with the aid of mages.

Nathan scowled as he entered the grand hall of the palace. The multi-level hall was nearly empty, save for a handful of servants and knights.

And a small retinue accompanying a particularly frustrating thorn in his and Alice’s side, standing in front of the throne at the far end of the hall.

An extravagantly dressed man raised his hands in greeting. “Lord Nathan, Empress Alice, I’m glad I could catch you here.”

He looked maybe a decade older than Nathan, but his wife couldn’t have been older than Fei. His clothes were the same black as other funeralgoers, but had the gold trim restricted to members of the royal family. None of his retinue, including his wife, wore that gold. Twin emblems were woven into his breast.

This man could wear gold because he was, technically, a royal. The Anfang Empire had millennia on history and were Omria’s chosen nation, so ancient noble families thought very highly of themselves. The von Salms family held an archduchy that covered much of the north-west of the Empire, and considered themselves to be just as powerful and important as the Empress.

Of course, in Nathan’s eyes, the man was a traitor. He was the son of a man who had started the civil war, and had actively supported the Nationalist rebels even after Nathan defeated them outside Aleich.

“Shouldn’t you be with the others, Otto?” Alice asked, neatly slipping next to Nathan as Ciana stepped aside.

As much as his Champions desired to be close to him, almost all of them hated politics. Even Fyre shied away, which enabled Seraph to stand immediately behind Nathan’s left shoulder. They all stopped a good two dozen feet away from Otto and his retinue. Nathan noticed a pair of monogem Champions, but they refused to meet his eyes.

Otto’s expression flickered with annoyance at Alice’s familial greeting, but he swiftly recovered. “It was a touching ceremony, but there is pressing business to be finished. I believe it’s time we truly put the trouble behind us all, and make a decision about the future of the archduchies. War is on the horizon, and I need the support of the Empress if I’m to represent my people.”

Chapter 2

Of course that was why Otto was here. He had been hounding Alice since he arrived in Aleich last week. While he had inherited the archduchy, the entire point of the civil war had been so that Alice could change the constitution and the ancient rules that had caused it.

It would be trivial for her to take the land off a rebellious archduke. As reality set in for the rebel nobles, many had flocked to Aleich to appeal to Alice.

Nathan had heard more lies in the past week than he had in his life. And that was saying a lot, given the company he had kept in his original world.

“You’ve inherited your father’s title and land, Otto,” Alice said with a guarded expression. “While many things have changed in the new constitution, I haven’t been granted the right to rip away the rights of nobles at will. Even our beloved prophet lacks that power.”

Otto’s eyes wandered over to Fyre, who was standing off to the side. Unlike several of Nathan’s Champions, she was at least paying attention. But Nathan suspected that her interest was curtailed by her lack of ability to do what Alice just spoke of.

“I shall be forthright,” Otto said.

“I’ve never known you to be anything but,” Alice said primly.

He hid his reaction better than his retinue. Otto’s wife seemed to glare at Alice, which would be life-shortening in most nations. Nathan noticed that the two women had a few similarities—blonde hair, brown eyes, and short. Alice had a substantially better figure however, and Nathan doubted the other woman had the lean muscles under her clothes that Alice did.

Otto cleared his throat, then continued, “We both know that you are considering charges of high treason against many nobles. While you cannot tear up my title and land rights, the Diet can if the Imperial Court agrees.”

“Perhaps that is an issue for you to bring up with the nobles who reside on the court?” Alice’s smile was so fake that Nathan swore it could be peeled off.

“I am confident that no findings with be made against me. The rebellion has been awful for peace and stability across the entire Empire. My father was murdered in cold blood by Tharban and his thugs. I did everything I could to stymie his advances and evil works, but you know his brutality as well as I do. Honestly, I’m surprised you stopped at merely stripping him of his title.” Otto looked at Nathan.

Nathan tried not to snort. “You don’t need to sympathize about my father, Your Grace. Or pretend that you knew nothing about your father’s demise.”

Otto’s face became studiously neutral. His retinue arced up, causing several nearby Royal Knights to approach out or concern.

Raising his hand, Otto silenced his followers. “You seem like a man that does not stop at exile for traitors, Lord Nathan.”

“I’m pragmatic and take the actions that are in the best interest of Her Majesty, the Empire, and our goddess,” Nathan said. “Why exactly are you here, von Salms?”

Alice’s hand fell on Nathan’s arm while Otto watched him closely with narrowed eyes. Several seconds passed in uncomfortable silence.

“The Empire is the grandest institution on Doumahr and once again blessed by Omria herself,” Otto eventually said. “Any charges of treason will take years to resolve, at best. The court is still considering arguments from nobles whose lands the archdukes seized centuries ago. It would be a disaster is my hands were tied when Falmir’s false prophet marches on us.”

Alice’s expression darkened at the implied threat and her grip tightened on Nathan’s arm.

But he spoke before she could. “I just said I’m pragmatic, von Salms. You’d be naïve to assume that I’d allow the Empire to be endangered by any reticent nobles, especially after a civil war.”

Otto remained still.

“However,” Nathan continued, “the treason charges are only one matter being considered by the Diet. The colleges are jointly considering war reparations for those nobles who sided with the rebels. Aleich burned, many farmers saw their crop stores stolen by marching armies, and huge tracts of the Empire are in turmoil. Raising taxes is out of the question, but the people need to be repaid for the damage done to them.”

Alice shot Nathan a wary look, but he shifted his arm so that it brushed her back. Meanwhile, Otto relaxed significantly, even if his minders seemed upset at the news.

“That is understandable,” Otto said, attempting to sound soothing. “Tharban’s thugs took the war to Aleich and von Milgar’s territory, and my fellow archduke has been much more reserved while counterattacking.” A pause. “I would need to see more details on these… reparations.”

“Alice?” Nathan asked, turning to her.

Her lips thinned, but she faced Otto. “Duchess von Clair is leading the Cities and Princes Colleges, while her brother, Count von Clair, is responsible for the Lords College. I shall inform them of your interest, but your cooperation will be required.”

“Of course,” Otto crooned. “I am more than willing to use my significant assets to soothe the pain of the Empire and ensure we remain ready to repel attackers.”

Alice nodded, then gestured to the entrance of the palace. “Then we shall speak again after Duchess von Clair briefs me on your meeting with her.”

“My pleasure.” Otto gave Alice a half-bow and inclined his head toward Nathan.

But as he passed them, he stopped, then turned to face Nathan. “If I may suggest something… Perhaps the reparations could be called a rebuilding fund? It’s a much more unifying name.”

“We’ll take it under consideration,” Nathan said.

Otto nodded, then swept out of the palace

Without a word, Alice moved toward the doors that led further into the palace. Her arm remained firmly around Nathan’s as she dragged him along.

She led their group into the true throne room, which was just behind the grand hall and guarded by several Royal Knights wearer slimmer uniforms. These were Reine’s agents, and better trained to defend against magical threats.

A glittering throne crafted from gold, bismuth, platinum, and many other exotic metals sat at one end of the room. This was the Empire’s true throne, sometimes referred to as the glittering throne of Omria, as she had crafted it herself in the early days of the Empire.

Back then, this throne room had been the only throne room. The palace had grown in magnificence alongside its Empire, but this throne was a reminder of its beginnings.

Alice strode over and flopped down in the throne, her head held atop one palm. Nathan watched as she tried to cross her legs, as the heavy, flowing material of her dress fought her. Eventually, she managed it.

His Champions looked between him and the Empress sullenly glaring at him. They could read the room.

“Um, can we go get changed before you start arguing?” Fei asked, picking at her top. “This uniform is so stuffy. I want to put on my usual stuff.”

“You can’t,” Seraph said.

“What? Of course I can—”

“The servants dropped off our new uniforms this morning. Nathan is now the defender of Aleich and the head of the Royal Knights. That means we’re also Royal Champions, and we need to wear the right uniform.” Seraph smirked. “So we all have pretty new black and gold uniforms. They actually embroidered Nathan’s lovely little crest directly into the arms.”

“I saw that,” Ciana said, ignoring the way Fyre preened next to her. “Our ceremonial uniforms lack it, but several of the other knights saw and became very jealous.”

Alice ran a hand across her forehead. “I’m not paying to embroider new crests into the uniforms of every Royal Knight. Especially as half of their patches are different. A lot of them replace the cat ears with wolf ears.”

Nathan blinked. “Really?”

Fei gave him an odd look. “Most of us customize the emblem for our, um, extras? There are a lot of wolves in the Royal Knights. I dunno why the humans all have cat ears.”

Everyone looked at Fei, then at Fyre, who rolled her eyes.

“The emblem of progress is representative of those who drive it,” Fyre said.

Now it was Nathan’s turn to roll his eyes. Fyre liked to pretend to be a good, pious prophet when around the others. Her pettiness and lewd jokes usually only came out when alone with him, or when she was especially upset.

“I don’t get it,” Fei whined.

“The basic crest has cat ears because of you, Fei. You’re my most iconic Champion,” Nathan said.

She blinked, then grinned like an idiot. The others used this chance to roll their eyes at her, while Fei beamed with pride.

“While this is entertaining, I did come here for a reason,” Alice said drily. “Nathan, are you sure that was a good idea? The whole point of preparing the treason charges and the reparations was to corner Otto and many other nobles. It’d be a public victory in the Diet when they either yielded or were held to account for what they did.”

“We did have him cornered. Isn’t that why he came here, instead of schmoozing it up with the other nobles?” Nathan nearly crossed his arms, but figured that might be confrontational.

Alice wasn’t usually this put off when he stepped in. Then again, he usually stayed out of politics.

“Perhaps.” Alice continued to look sullen. “But now he can slink away with his pride and remain an archduke. All he has to do is draw on some of his reserves.”

“A lot of his reserves,” Nathan corrected. “As filthy rich as the archdukes are, this war has hit all of them hard. They’re bankrolling forces on par with the Imperial Army and the daily cost of soldiers is obscenely high right now. That’s not even including all of the logistics, food, and equipment costs. Von Salms is switching sides because he’ll run out of money if he doesn’t.”

“Then why not pressure him more?” Fyre asked, stepping forward. Her wings flared out behind her. “He and so many other nobles are vulnerable, and they caused all of this. They should be made to suffer for their crimes.”

Nathan frowned, and was internally glad that none of his Champions responded to Fyre. Although Nurevia scoffed, drawing the prophet’s heated gaze.

“No, we all caused this. The war was, strictly speaking, avoidable,” he said. “We brought it to a head because it was the best choice, and you were a huge part of that. Right now, prolonging the aftermath is more dangerous than resolving it.”

“So it’s about pragmatism? Did we just fight for nothing?” Fyre whined. “Did they die for…” she trailed off.

“No,” Nathan said sharply. “If we’d lost, then things would be far worse. And you’re overplaying von Salms’s power. My point is that he’s already blown a lot of his funds. If we hit him with a huge bill for the war, he won’t have the ability to start another war. He keeps his title, we don’t need to handle the fallout of deposing one of the oldest noble families in the Empire, and we can then focus on Falmir and Trafaumh.”

“You’re assuming he’ll help us after this,” Alice said. “He can just turn on me politically the moment he pays his dues.”

“How long will he survive politically once Fyre turns on him in return,” Nathan said drily.

Said prophet perked up and a broad grin crossed her face. “I can do that?”

After removing her hand from her chin, Alice drummed it on the side of her throne. Her mind seemed preoccupied, so Nathan waited for her thoughts to catch up.

“That could work,” she admitted. “I’d figured to use you to support my claim to the throne and the changes I’m making, but this role might be better suited to you. In the past, everyone claimed to have the blessing of Omria. But if her prophet speaks out against those destabilizing the Empire, they’ll be robbed of a major weapon.”

Seraph grimaced but remained silent. Nathan caught the change in her expression and gestured to her.

“You disagree?” he asked.

“Not as such,” she said slowly. “Rather, this is a dangerous path to go down. The Empire is pious, but it’s never encouraged zealotry. This will change that.”

“I’m aware of the cost,” Nathan said. “The worse things got in my timeline, the stronger the religious rhetoric became. But it is a weapon, and one that will be actively wielded by our enemies. We can ask Fyre to tone it down after we win.”

“I think I’d prefer to use it as little as possible, if you’re that grim about it,” Alice said with narrowed eyes. “But even if we accept Otto as archduke in exchange for a pile of money, we still have more problems.”

He nodded and waited for her to continue. Reine chose this opportunity to stand by his side, which likely meant this was a planned conversation. Her tail began to beat vigorously against his legs, increasing in speed with each passing second.

“A lot of nobles died during the rebellion—either at the hands of the Nationalists or during smaller rebellions by the people,” Alice said. “There’s been no sign of any members of the Allesburg family, either. Once we confirm that the Nationalists killed an entire archducal family, the Diet will explode in fury. I’ve already been questioned about my leniency toward Tharban.”

“Ah, yes. ‘Leniency,’” Seraph drawled.

Nathan winced. “Honestly, I wouldn’t have complained if you allowed the Diet to sentence him to death. He’s only useful while the Nationalists remain at large, as I’m using him to destabilize them.”

Tharban Straub—formerly Tharban von Strauv—was Nathan’s father in this world, and a genuine monster. He was a madman who had slain Leopold and brought the civil war to a head.

The only reason he remained alive was that the Nationalists were loosely rallied behind him. Killing him would have made the situation worse. So Nathan had done something that he still questioned the morals of: used his mental magic to manipulate Tharban’s thoughts and actions.

“That would have happened had you not been the one to spare Tharban,” Alice said with a smirk. “The Diet is terrified of you. They’re not going to question your decisions.”

He blinked. “They’re what? Why?”

Several of his Champions stifled laughs, although Nathan saw that Fei mostly looked confused.

Reine merely frowned. “You are ruthless, calculating, and driven. Your record of achievements includes conquering the Amica Federation, defeating and taming mythical Messengers, brutally suppressing a riot in the dark elf Spires and earning a historically high level of trust, and now defeating the Nationalist rebellion. To the common folk, you are living myth. To the nobility, you are a monster.”

“Thanks, Reine,” Nathan said.

“I think it’s exactly how you should be perceived,” Fyre chirped. “An unyielding warrior who crushes corrupt nobles while ensuring the safety of all of Doumahr.”

“And that’s why the nobility fears you, Nathan,” Alice said. “They respected Leopold and Maylis, but saw them as extensions of Grandpa’s power. But they believe you are your own agent, and I’ve heard more than a few question whether you’ll become Emperor once we marry.”

“I don’t think that’s how it works.” But despite his light words, Nathan felt deeply discomforted.

During Alice’s coronation, he’d felt welcomed by the Empire, unlike in his homeland of Falmir. The idea that he was some sort of boogeyman to many bothered him.

“Maybe not, but we did just rewrite the constitution.” She laughed. “Don’t make such a face. It helps me and Anna a great deal, even if it chafes that I feel a lot of what I accomplish will always be because of your reputation. Otto made it very clear that you are the one who concerns him.”

Had he? Nathan felt he missed that.

“But my original point wasn’t this,” she continued. “Rather, we need to decide on who takes control of unclaimed territory. Anna’s promotion to archduchess is all but finalized, and she’ll take control of most of the Amica Duchies. Von Salms keeps most of his territory. But what about the Enclave or most of the Allesburg lands? And your… home of Straub.”

“I don’t really need Straub,” he said, finally crossing his arms. “Even if my memories are of that place, it’s not my home.”

“I still want to give you some territory. In fact, I kind of have to before we marry.” Alice grimaced at the reminder. “You lost your noble title when Tharban disowned you, and now I’ve stripped his family of the title and lands.”

“What about the Enclave?” Fei chirped, to nods from Ciana and Fyre.

Very enthusiastic nods in Fyre’s case.

Alice and Nathan looked at each other. They had discussed this before, and Nathan had his own thoughts on the matter.

“Um… No?” Fei asked, furrowing her brow.

“The Enclave is beastkin territory, Fei,” he said gently. “It’s always had very hands-off management by Milgar and Anna for that reason.”

Alice nodded. “There are other lands available, but Reine believes it might be months or years before we can confirm the state of the von Allesburgs.”

“That’s correct,” Reine said. “I’ve been unable to locate the bodies of most of the family, other than those buried at the hidden forest estate that our guest from Falmir told us of. His youngest daughter remains alive, but she is… not of suitable age.”

That caught Nathan offguard, and he looked at Reine in surprise. Nobody else seemed to understand his confusion.

“Uh, I remember seeing von Allesburg in the Diet when we ended the war with Trafaumh,” he said. “He looked old enough that a stiff wind would turn him into dust. Even Baudelaire looked younger, and she’s ancient.”

“He remained active well into his twilight years,” Alice said with a scowl. “While he never remarried, he took many mistresses and sometimes adopted his bastard children. His remaining daughter, Lotte, was supposedly mothered by a member of the Falmir royal family.”

Nathan looked away with a scowl. His oldest friend in Falmir had told him all about the dalliances of Falmir’s royals. How Gareth knew had never been fully explained, but Nathan knew better than to question the man’s knowledge of Falmir’s shady activities.

“So you want me to become a noble and take control of Straub,” he said, returning to the main topic.

“Yes. We’ll need to handle the remaining archduchy later and confirm nobles in the Enclave and empty lands later, but granting you an official title will make it less awkward when people call you ‘Lord’ instead of ‘Bastion.’” She raised an eyebrow at him.

Raising his hands, Nathan chose to give in.

Although he didn’t know who could run Straub for him. In his mind, Gharrick Pass had become his home for years and he’d be spending a lot more time in the palace now.

Preparations to connect his fortresses and the palace using a teleportation gateway were well underway. Maylis had refused him in the past, but he called the shots now. Maybe he’d link up Straub as well, simplifying matters.

Alice sighed, then pulled herself off the throne.

As they left, she slipped an arm around Nathan’s. Once outside the throne room, the two of them lingered near the exit while his Champions seemed uncertain about what to do.

“Um, can we go get changed now? And have lunch? I’m starving,” Fei said, her entire body twisting as if being without food for several hours was the definition of torture.

“Yes, you can go get changed into your new uniforms.” Nathan glared at Fei when she winced at how specific he was.

The little minx had absolutely intended to play dumb about the new uniforms.

“Go get your food, and we’ll join you in whatever room you use,” he said. “I imagine we’ll take longer than you.”

Her head bobbed up and down, and she turned to race away. Seraph caught her by the arm.

“Pick a nice room, Fei,” she warned.

The catgirl rolled her eyes, then shot off in a blur. The knights and agents watched her with undisguised amusement.

“I’ll see you later, Nathan,” Seraph said, then sashayed off to her room.

This time, it was Nathan’s eyes that were glued to his departing Champion. Seraph always knew how to keep his attention.

With the funeral over and Otto dealt with, the time had come for Nathan to settle into regular palace affairs.

Chapter 3

His other Champions slipped away, save Ciana and Fyre.

“Do you want your sword back?” Ciana asked the prophet, leaning the oversized sword toward the other beastkin.

Fyre screwed up her face. “No. I never want to touch that awful thing again.” Then she smiled sweetly at Nathan before darting off.

He knew that she’d rejoin him just as quickly. Fyre had begun to cling to him as much as Ciana while he was in the palace.

Unlike the others, Nathan and Alice took their time returning to their suite. Ciana followed them, the sword cradled in her arms.

“You’re not concerned by its origin?” he asked her, staring at the sword.

“However it was created, it still exists. I can’t undo that, but I can use it to help you.” She smiled at him.

Nathan frowned. She had a good point, even if relics still bothered him greatly.

His memories of Trafaumh’s squalid dungeons and the awful state of the beastkin test subjects there seared his mind. Any time he thought of relics or touched them, he was reminded of that awful place and time.

Although he refused to admit as much to her, Reine’s presence had only increased his darker recollections of his past. He had his demons and regretted many things from his original world, but Trafaumh sat high in that long list.

Alice’s grip tightened around his arm, and he sighed in response.

Time for a subject change before she probed him about his worries.

“What about your noble title?” he asked. “You said that you might become a von Arangar.”

Alice’s situation was substantially more complicated than most nobles. She was the granddaughter of both Archduke von Milgar and former Emperor Gorthal. The last two emperors had been von Arangars, and Alice was the third in the dynasty.

But she had always been Alice Arangar, because her true name should have been Alice von Milgar. Her true line of noble inheritance was to the Milgar archduchy, and she had only kept the Arangar name because she was an Imperial princess.

Alice sighed at the topic and her gaze became distant. Their pace slowed.

“Yes, that’s correct,” she said. “Now that Grandpa isn’t Emperor, he’s once again the true head of the von Arangar family. The Nationalists also don’t have the power to threaten my family. There’s some internecine bickering as those lower in the rungs of inheritance try to push out those who sided with the Nationalists.”

“But what about you?” Nathan asked, trying to stay focused.

“Officially, nothing. The entire reason my mother married into the von Milgars is because she wasn’t going to inherit the title and land.” Alice sighed again. “The problem is political. I’m now Empress, and while I’m officially Empress Alice II, many nobles are concerned that I’m using an unlanded name.”

Ciana tilted her head from beside them. “I’m sorry. A what?”

“I’m still a noble,” Alice said drily. “But any name without a ‘von’ in it is part of an unlanded title, and therefore… lesser in value. Many nobles chafe at the idea of their Empress disrespecting their birthright and the line of inheritance. They want me to become Alice von Milgar, but that’s…”

Once again, she sighed. Nathan knew why.

The entire reason Alice had become so deeply involved in this civil war was that she had chosen to stand by Gorthal when the rest of her family had refused to. More than her family dynasty was at stake.

“Can’t you just grant yourself some token amount of land and escape the knot that way?” Nathan suggested. “I’m sure there’s some land close enough to a loyal noble that you can ask them to manage it for you, and nobody will be troubled.”

She gave him a look that suggested he was being patronizing, and he winced. “If the Empress goes around granting herself land, it would be a terrible look. The Diet would riot. The entire point of having an elected Imperial family is to separate their material concerns from the wellbeing of the Empire.”

“You just rewrote the constitution.”

“And it required a civil war, because it specifically disallowed other royal families from gaining the power of the throne,” she said. “If I immediately abused my power, then I’ll prove the Nationalists right. Anyway, it’s not the true problem.”

He raised an eyebrow. They were close to their suite now and stopped just outside it. The wolfgirl knights standing guard wagged their tails as Nathan approached. Before the civil war, the Royal Knights kept their faces covered as a matter of course, but few bothered anymore. The sight of Aleich burning had caused many of them to abandon the policy.

“My family intends to make me the direct heir, as I’ll presumably be Empress for long enough that it won’t matter. The problem is that, even if they try to rearrange the family power structure so it doesn’t affect anything, I’ll still be the head of the family. Any children I’ll have will be the heirs to both the archduchy and the Arangar title.” She ran a hand through her hair in frustration. “That’s not supposed to happen, to be blunt.”

Nathan could imagine. Nobles usually gave up their original family name when they married. Alice’s situation was horrifically complicated.

“Anyway, it doesn’t really matter. Your name is more important.” She leaned against him with a grin and ran her hands around his back, pressing them into his ass. “You’re about to become a von Straub again, but you’ll have your choice of name when you marry Anna and I. Nathan von Arangar? Nathan von Clair? Or maybe Anna will take your name and change the duchy?”

He frowned. “Does it matter? I’m not really in this for the title and wealth.”

The jaws of the nearby knights fell. Apparently he’d said something dramatic.

Alice rolled her eyes and poked his nose. “Maybe not to you. But think about…” She coughed and her cheeks reddened. “Think about any children you might have. The name you choose will affect them. Straub is a county. By contrast, your other choices are those of royalty.”

Children, huh. Nathan had briefly thought about the topic years ago, when Fei had been intent on the topic during her rutting and Torneus had brought it up. But the idea had left as quickly as it appeared.

He wondered if there’d be a time he seriously considered it. Alice appeared to be.

“I’ll think about it,” he demurred. “Let’s get changed and join Fei.”

“You can join Fei. I want to talk to Grandpa.” She gave him a kiss, then slipped inside their suite.

The three of them got changed—Ciana kept spare clothes and uniforms here, given her tendency to linger. Nathan and his unicorn knight tracked down Fei, who was steadfastly ignoring Seraph while eating half the palace’s food supply.

The afternoon passed swiftly. Military deployments were a familiar puzzle to Nathan, but his current issue was difficult. With the deaths of both Leopold and Maylis, many binding stones were inert but their portals remained active. Demonic invasions could threaten the Empire at any time.

Nathan had claimed Aleich’s binding stone, but was hesitant to take control of too many others. If he did, he’d soon become a Bastion with more Champions and binding stones than anyone in history.

If the Empire’s nobles feared him now, he could only their feelings toward him once he controlled over a dozen binding stones and a small army of Champions. That had been exactly what happened in his old world, and the reason why Falmir had exiled him to the north in the end. They still needed his power, even if they hated him.

Night fell, and he enjoyed a much lighter meal than the catgirl whining about managing so many soldiers. As it was winter, much of the meat was preserved with salt, smoking, or fat. The palace had limited supplies of magically preserved fresh food, but Nathan didn’t want to waste it on regular meals.

And especially not on Fei’s appetite. She’d bankrupt the Empire if they had to pay mages to preserve enough food for her.

“I don’t eat that much,” she whined when he joked about that.

Seraph, Ciana, and Nathan stared at the massive sandwich in her hands. It was densely layered with several slices of salted ham and pickled onions, oozed with mustard seeds, and could feed Nathan for an entire day.

And it was far from the only thing she was eating tonight.

“I swear you eat more every day,” Seraph said. “Where does it all go?”

Ciana pointedly looked at Fei’s huge tits, but shook her head. “I’m certain you haven’t grown much recently.”

“I have. This new uniform is too tight.” Fei scowled at her new black and gold uniform, which was noticeably tight around her chest. “I always have to let out new tops.”

“You shouldn’t have to. The tailor used your… old measurements.” Nathan placed his head on one hand and realized the problem. “Fei, when’s the last time you got measured up?”

“Uhhhh, I dunno. Maybe when I left the academy?” She smiled dopily. “There was always a tailor at Gharrick Pass to help adjust my uniforms, though.”

Everyone sighed at once.

“Fei, have the palace tailor redo your measurements and get new uniforms. How about you, Ciana? You should be growing into yours.”

His unicorn knight flushed at the reminder of her youth. While it had been nearly two-and-a-half years since they met, Ciana had been in her late teens at the time. Many of his Champions were close to Nathan’s original age, rather than his current age, for fairly obvious reasons.

“I had my measurements redone for the ceremonial uniform. I knew I was going to be… where I was.” She looked away with a bitter smile. “I wanted to look as good as possible, even if Leopold couldn’t see me.”

Nathan placed a hand on her arm and her smile brightened up.

“So, if it’s not Fei’s tits that grow, where does her food go?” Seraph repeated.

“Maybe my gems.” Fei rubbed the pair of sapphires glimmering in her collarbone. “My magic feels so much hungrier than it did before. Is that normal?”

“No,” Seraph said.

“Yes,” Nathan said. “But not to this degree. You always ate a lot, but this is far too much. I might take a look at your gems later. It’s possible they’re unstable. If I’m going to trigem you, then I want to be certain your body is ready.”

A gasp escaped Fei and she dropped her sandwich. The thud it made was testament to the density of meat in it.

“Trigem…” she whispered.

“You’re not the only one waiting,” Seraph said with a smirk, but there was a shadow of doubt in her eyes. “You have the gems now, don’t you?”

“I’ve had them for a while. But I don’t want to risk a mistake with a trigem ritual. It’s the hardest, and many Champions are never ready for it. Greedy Bastions frequently damage their Champions by trying to force it.” He grimaced.

Far too many Champions had been retired by Bastions intent on becoming a new legend and getting their own trigem Champion. The power gap between duogems and trigems was immense, and having one made you one of the greatest powers on the continent.

Nathan suddenly realized what time it was and rose abruptly, swearing.

“Nathan?” Ciana asked, alarmed.

“Sorry, I just remembered I promised to meet our… guest.” He grimaced.

The others nodded, and he left. Ciana trailed after him silently.

By the time he arrived at his destination, Reine had already beat him there. She stood outside a suite in the rear corner of the palace, with several of her agents standing guard. Her dress was gone, and instead she wore a baggy black robe that covered her ample curves. She smiled at him, and he swore that the golden wings in her eyes glowed.

“I apologize that I interrupted your dinner. It looked enjoyable,” she said.

Nathan hid his frown. “You can join us, instead of watching. You’re always welcome, Reine.”

“I… understand.” She shifted uncomfortably. “I shall speak to Seraph later.”

He sighed. “You don’t have to ask permission, Reine. But you do whatever makes you comfortable.” He saw her tail wag beneath her robe in response. “And you don’t need to apologize. I’m here to see her myself, and you’re allowed to come along.”

She nodded, but he’d learned Reine’s limited range of expressions well enough to know it wasn’t sincere. His Spymaster had long since learned to play along with opinions she disagreed with.

Nathan gripped the door handle and felt magic pulse through it. The magic key that locked it responded to his touch, allowing him to open it. While most of the palace doors were heavy, this one was even more so. A Champion would struggle to break it down.

Which was the whole point, because this room contained a Champion.

He stepped inside and immediately saw Sunstorm sitting on the bed. She was his assassin Champion, and had a pair of onyx gems. Her olive skin was a sign of her Kurai heritage, and her lithe, taut form looked snug in her new uniform. Hers was adjusted to remove many of the decorative elements, so it just looked like a form-fitting black uniform. The jacket hanging on a nearby chair looked more official.

Sunstorm gave him a wave. She had a knife in one hand, and a wooden figurine in the other. As usual, she was whittling to pass the time. This looked like some sort of multi-tailed mystic fox, and Nathan knew she’d been working on it for much longer than her usual projects.

But his attention was immediately drawn to the other woman in the room. She was imposingly large, with powerful muscles, thighs thick enough to crush skulls, and a height that matched Nathan’s. All she wore was a pair of simple pants and a singlet, which showed off more of her body than she was likely aware of. A single red garnet sat in her collarbone.

The Champion froze mid-pushup upon seeing Nathan. Her expression remained neutral as she sat on the ground, ignoring the sweat and her current clothing.

“Bastion Nathan,” Vala said flatly. “It’s interrogation time again, huh?”

- - - - - - -

Commentary: Again, sorry for the delay. I'm still not terribly happy with these chapters, which is part of why I ended up with writer's block and needed a break to get out of my rut. But I can revisit them later.

Leopold's funeral was an event I considered covering at the end of Book 4, but decided that it would make for a better opening chapter. I'm quite happy with this section, but it's also a slow, grim start. I tried to blend together what I researched about German funeral practices and military funerals.

One of the problems with this opening is the sheer number of characters reintroduced at once. It's frequently requested that I describe characters when they appear, so that readers can refamiliarize themselves with their appearance. I left out certain details due to the tone of the funeral (commenting on Alice's or Fei's curves felt... wrong).

I'm also no longer repeating a lot of basic world details, like what Bastions or Champions are. The opening chapter is loaded with spoilers, so if you don't understand the basics, you have bigger problems. I'll still repeat more esoteric or complicated details, like the political situation or a recap of recent events as they come up.

Chapter 2 is too dry, in my opinion. There's going to be a lot of politics in this book, alongside some heavy hitting action, before shit hits the fan for Book 6. I'm trying to avoid repeating the same beats as Books 3 and 4, but I worry that might end up with some dense political chapters about dry topics. Some of this might get cut or moved to later chapters, so there isn't a huge block of chatter about noble names and the Diet.

With that said, I feel that I've established a lot of the overall themes and coming problems with these opening chapters. Trafaumh looms large, the civil war is being cleaned up after, Alice and Nathan are settling into their new roles, and Nathan is being confronted with his past.

I might skip this weekend for new chapters and focus on Neural Wraith commentary and a Spellblade 5 planning post. So expect the next batch of chapters around the 9th-10th, and weekly updates until I'm close to release.

I'd definitely appreciate it if you felt I skipped over explanations of stuff that should be re-explained, or if the political stuff really was too dense.