II-81 Means and Ends

In the underbelly of ambition, claiming someone as a member of your family became a common tactic among those desperate enough to ascend the social ladder. These sinners, driven by an insatiable hunger for power, would seize upon any opportunity to mold alliances to their advantage.

More often than not, the scheme was hatched by a significantly powerful party whose motives were twofold: to reap the benefits of association and to stifle the upward trajectory of a promising up-and-comer. In many cases, the young aspirant was either deceived into accepting the arrangement or coerced through subtle bribery and outright pressure, trapped in a bargain that ultimately served only the ambitions of the mighty.

Yet, as the harsh realities of this dark exchange set in, one undeniable truth emerged: tethering yourself to someone else’s growth was a perilous gamble. In the treacherous realms where these pacts were forged, every participant was driven solely by self-interest. If you ever believed that aligning yourself with such a force would bring you the dreams you craved, think again. Instead, raise your sights even higher—because down here, no one will lift you toward your aspirations. In this brutal hierarchy, you are nothing more than a stepping block for someone else’s ambition.

-The Trespassers’ Compendium

II-81

Means and Ends

Wei’s mouth opened and closed several times as he tried to process what Lein had just said. The Duchess, for her part, stood resolute—cool as a cucumber.

“I—I—” Wei managed twice. “I’m—

“This is hardly appropriate!” Ellena said, rushing to stand next to Wei. The young master’s eyes swiveled to stare at her, surprised at her intrusion into the conversation. “Duchess Lein, to ambush someone with such a proposal… it is tantamount to an insult if not discussed in proper context. Unless you meant what you said in jest.”

The Duchess stared down at the far smaller woman, but something in her body language changed. She craned her helmeted head and a soft chuckle escaped her. “Ellena. Former Queen of Dawnrest. I see the ‘former’ in that statement is an inappropriate description. There is still queen enough in you. But how did one such as you become the handmaid of a mere boy?”

“There is nothing mere about this boy,” Ellena said, speaking with conviction and affection. She regarded Wei for a moment, and he read the fear in her eyes, the exhaustion. But there was so much more than that. There was loyalty, and an urge for her to protect him. To defend him in whatever way she could. Right now, right here, this was a battlefield she was more familiar with—the gala, the politics, the intrigue.

And like he stood for her on the battlefield, she would stand for him here.

“Indeed. Nothing mere about this boy,” Lein finished. She paused for a moment, then regarded Wei. “You will let her speak for you?”

“She is my quartermaster and trusted advisor,” Wei said carefully. “And one must surround themselves with those wiser to truly be prepared to face the world if they wish to govern a sect.”

The Duchess laughed. It was a thin, cruel note, but her fingers flexed along the haft of her lance. Wei prepared himself, centering his mind for whatever was to come. He didn’t know his odds against a High Duchess of hell, and her level was—

Lein the Last: Lv. ???

Blocked from his sight. But the pressure she radiated was absurd. If they were to fight, he might find himself unmade in an instant, like a flea trying to defy a fiery gale. Yet, defy he had to if she chose violence. His Shell manifested beside him, facing the Duchess. “She is more than us. But so were the Archdevils. So was the Dying Queen. And she is no Dying Queen. Let her know this if she seeks to make this a thing of bloodshed.”

And in that moment, Wei almost wished that she did. But tragically—and thankfully—reason prevailed. Lein shook her head and regarded the Old Man finally. “Ah. I see that I have interrupted your little gathering today. I apologize, dear friend. I was simply… curious. Might I attend as well.”

The Old Man tried to hide the lump in his throat. He failed. “Yeah. Yes. I would be honored to have a figure of your stature and caliber here. We would all be so honored. But, the thing is… just for your information, your husband…”

“Do not worry,” Lein said, holding up a hand. “I will not attempt to end my wayward husband’s life if I come upon him. The safety of our guests is paramount here, and even I am not above the Laws of the Heights.”

As if to emphasize her words, the sound of ringing chains sounded from afar. Wei wondered if a Tribulator had been nearby during his brief standoff with the Duchess. Perhaps. Mepheleon was likely watching from somewhere, but like always, the Harbinger was random about when they intervened, and what things they helped with.

Slowly, awkwardly, life and motion flooded back into the guests. Sinners broke from their frozen states as they returned to drinking, boasting, dueling, and reveling. But there was always a muted pressure now. A feeling of oppression as they directed gazes at the Duchess, who had her attention firmly affixed to Wei. The young master felt her glare, and the discomfort was almost palpable. For whatever reason, he also could peer beyond that helmet she wore. It was like there was an absence of detail behind her armor. Curious. Strange. Worrying.

Beyond knowing that she was extremely powerful, the young master couldn’t get her measure at all.

Suddenly, he saw a tendril of essence snake out from the Duchess. It coiled through the air before resting upon him, and a notification appeared in his class system. It asked him to accept a request to communicate—from Lein the Last. Carefully, Wei agreed, uncertain as to what she didn’t wish to say in the open.

“It is all rather droll, don’t you think?” Lein said, her voice thin with annoyance and frustration. “This pretense we hold to, this little dance. I can read it off of you. You’re as disgusted as I. You’re as frustrated as I. So much waste when we could just be honest with ourselves.”

Young Master read the subtext from her words. There was an undercurrent of agitated violence. Agitated violence she could not deploy. But there was one truth to it—he, too, was frustrated. He, too, wanted to see this charade come to an end.

“I did not kill your son,” Wei said. “I simply didn’t stop his suicide. He burned himself to death of your accord. Do not deny this. I know. What I don’t know is your purpose behind confronting me.”

It was a bold statement, speaking directly, revealing what he knew. To her credit, Lein didn’t react with outrage. In fact, she didn’t react at all.

“Yes, well, not all children live up to the expectations of their parents. And I suppose vice versa. Tell me, your father, has he wounded you deeply?” Her words were a question. But in truth, more of a harsh taunt.

Young Master gritted his teeth. “He… he is no more a threat,” Wei replied.

“And that is not the answer to the question I asked,” Lein said. Her voice trailed off into a mocking laugh. “No matter. I am not here to provoke you anymore. That offer I gave you—it wasn’t an honest one. Though I do wish to establish relations with you. Just not as something droll. Not as parent and child.”

“But rather, master and slave,” Wei shot back, his voice thin with scorn.

“Perhaps. But then again, I don’t think I can keep you as a slave. Unruly and vicious as you are. No, I’m thinking more mentor and weapon. My husband, he seeks to play an interesting little game with you. And I suspect you are trying to do something the other way around. Look at them,” she said, sweeping her gaze over the gathered Sinners. “Even now, rumors are spreading between us, between you, between my husband. All this will help you net the significance that you want, won’t it?”

Wei felt strangely naked as she spoke to him. It didn’t feel good being so transparent, his goals so easily readable.

“Don’t be uncomfortable, boy,” she said, her voice thin with tiredness. “Everyone knows what you are going for. It’s not hard to understand or even guess. After all, you are a newcomer, but a firebrand. Something that hasn’t been seen in centuries. And where most would be content to crawl up the ranks of some circle, toiling for decades, exchanging depraved favors for the merest inches of privilege, you came about and murdered a countess. You came about and made noise. You kept surviving despite being high-profile. And you have such interesting people in your corner—the Trespassers. Mepheleon. The Old Man. So many working to curry favor from someone so…” she considered her words, “infantile.”

“You are still a boy,” she continued. “But there is something you’re hiding from us. Some power. I will discover it one way or another. Or you can just tell me right now, and again, we can skip the charade.”

I remained silent. He wasn’t sure if she suspected his possession of the Concept Breaker, but there was no point in revealing such a thing out loud. “Regardless. If you wish to make this matter a thing of business, then we may talk. If this is just a delivery of threat, then spare your words and make ready your violence. I am no diplomat. Even less than you are a proper snake.”

“Well spoken,” she replied. “Truth be told, I came here mainly to have your measure. And to offer you something.” A swirl of shadowy Essence pulsed around her as Wei felt the telltale signs of an activated Inventory. He tensed, preparing himself for anything, only for her to hand him what seemed to be a golden ticket. As he accepted it—hesitating after a moment of suspicion, his breath caught.

“This is…”

“An opportunity for you to remove one of the players from the field. If you seek to gain Significance, then you cannot be tame—or without influence. With my shadow behind you, the other Circles will deign to respond, and we can start with the Facetaker—that ridiculous little theater rat.”

Wei stared at the ticket he held with surprise. It marked him as a participant in one of the great plays of the Claimed Hells. Should he accept, this would put him on a collision course with another candidate for Hell’s Vanguard. Enticing though it was, there was something deeply wrong about this picture. “Are you trying to buy my favor this way?”

“Yes. But I also want to tie myself to someone with potential. That, and there are people that you can help me remove. People offensive to the both of us.”

The young master handed his ticket over to Ellena, who looked over it with open eyes, brows creased with worry. “Who?”

“The Collectress for one. What my husband is doing with her, I do not know—nor do I particularly care, but I think her ambitions are offensive enough to me. A Countess should know her place, and how she restrains the Scion is shameful.”

Wei shot a look at Vendrian. The Scion of Death stared right back at him, body tense, unsure what was happening.

“And yes, I do wish to take him from the Collectress as well. Not for the Circle. Just as a vassal for my power. And maybe for my bed.” The final statement threw Wei off. The Duchess laughed. “Oh, don’t look so innocent, boy. Pleasure and power make for good company here. I would lay you as well if I didn’t find you so… unripened.”

Something primal and instinctual screamed for Wei to run and find an adult. Bitter rationality told him there would be little most adults could do to stop whatever wretched designs the Duchess held for him.

“You know what?” The Duchess said. “Consider the ticket a gift. Seek out the Facetaker. If you prevail, you will know my worth to be good, if my faith is still in doubt. After that, you can seek me out, and we can properly discuss things about the future. And how we can see you properly installed as the Suzerain of Earth.”

Wei went very still. But Lein didn’t. She walked past him, as if he no longer mattered anymore, bowing her head only slightly to greet Ellena. “It was a brave thing you did. But if you interject yourself where you don’t belong, it will see you dead.”

Ellena responded with a quiet chuckle. “Oh. Is that all?”

The Duchess slowed momentarily, hearing that, but stomped forward to engage with the Old Man. At the same time, Wei accessed his Chat function and began recounting the conversation to everyone involved. Vendrian’s expression turned from being merely severe into a scowl. Ellena’s confusion and worry grew. The Trespassers—and Agnesia, for that matter—didn’t respond immediately.

“There are too many games being played,” Wei said, speaking to his allies. “We’re just drowning. Sinking deeper into this nest.”

“She is worse than the others too,” Rafael interjected. “At least we can tell what the Old Man wants. She arrives, but instead of focusing on her husband or showing her rage about her dead son, she comes to you to make a bargain. And not even for her Circle. We should stay away from her. Let the Lodge know about this.”

“And we can trust the Trespassers now, can we?” Vendrian snarled. “They’re using us as worthless pieces on a board too. They barely think we’re human.”

“Do not speak for me in this manner,” Rafael shot back. “I have always championed the rights of all beings.”

“Horseshit.”

“Horseshit on your horseshit. You cannot tell me how open-minded and righteous I am.”

“You’re a Trespasser. You don’t even know what those things are.”

“And you… are a clearly traumatized man who has no ability to socialize and wish to vent his pointless anger on someone who is trying to help him. Who is risking their life to help him.”

“And you’d be involved in my liberation without Wei here making you?”

“Yes,” both Wei and Rafael said at the same time.

The young master and the lich looked at each other. “He’s likely the most decent person among my sect. Aside from Ellen—” Wei frowned. Queens had to do certain things for the good of their nation. “He’s the most decent person among my sect.”

“Really? Not the girl?” Vendrian asked.

Wei considered what Agnesia did to save her mother. “The fates have sneered at her. Much like they have sneered at you.”

Vendrian’s bitterness softened into subtle sadness. “Yeah. Fate fucking does that sometimes.”

Just then, a message intruded into Wei’s mind. A direct call from Bishop. “Ag–” he began.

“We need you back here! Now!” The Trespassers’ words were tinged with nervousness and desperation. “We’re  getting Aerea out. But—just come down!”

Wei cursed internally and moved for the hallway again. He left without informing the Old Man this time, and through his Omniscience, he realized that more than a few eyes were lingering on him. Not good.

“I’ll be there as soon as I—”

“There’s no time. We need you to break an Essence warding on a portal, and we need it now. The Collectress is coming.”