Chapter 791: Drinks (1/2)

“… the heat was so bad, I could barely even think. I’m pretty sure my magic protected me, both my ash and my space stuff. My healing just takes care of things anyway, always been like that,” Ilea recalled. Thanks Reconstruction, you’re the real mvp.

“The machine said it would take nearly a century to cool off?” Walter asked, sipping from his ale before he shook his head.

“What powered that thing?” Lucia asked. “I mean enchantments and machines can be powerful but what you describe is… incredible.”

Ilea smiled. “I know what it is, but I can’t share that information. It might literally cause a war or something.”

Kyrian smiled.

“Well now you have to share it,” Harthome said.

Ilea opened her mouth when Kyrian touched her arm. “Ilea,” he said, raising his brows. “She’s not joking you know. This is not information that should get out there at all.”

“I mean they’re mostly just dwelling down here anyway,” Ilea said as she leaned back in her ashen chair, drinking from the wonderful ale. “I’ll buy whatever you have,” she sent to the man in question.

“We can talk about that before you leave,” Walter answered. “The prices have gone up.”

Ilea smiled. “My accountant will be here later. I’m sure we can figure something out, Mr. Business.”

“Corridors to maintain, holes to dig,” he said.

“What’s with the mushrooms anyway?” Ilea asked. “And where’s Indra?”

“They add to the atmosphere,” Celene said.

“I told you they’re strange,” Lucia said, looking away.

“Not this again,” Walter murmured, glancing at Ilea with ire in his eyes.

“Want to fight, dark magic man,” Ilea asked, wisps of white flame flaring to life in front of her eyes.

“I liked you more below level one hundred,” he said.

Ilea smiled and leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands. “Oh? And here I thought you liked strong women.”

He broke eye contact and glanced to the side, muttering unintelligible words.

“Thought so,” Ilea said, seeing Lucia wink her way.

“We’ll talk about the mushrooms when we don’t have guests here,” Celene said and crossed her arms. “What do you think, Weavy?”

“I thought we would drop the conversation now?” Lucia said, glaring daggers at the woman.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever,” Celene said.

“You have a new necklace!” Ellie said with a smile.

Ilea raised her brows. “Yeah. I found that recently. It’s called the Azarinth Star, a mythical item.”

“Mythical?” Lucia asked.

Somewhere, Harthome screamed.

“Yes, it can summon barriers,” Ilea said and summoned a few of the shimmering golden shields.

“Pretty,” Ellie murmured.

“How much?” Celene asked.

“Did you just ask Lilith to sell her mythical item?” Walter asked.

Celene shrugged. “Worth a shot.”

“Her wealth and power is beyond your understanding,” Wavy sent, for everyone to hear.

“That’s exactly what I meant. Insults like that,” Celene whispered in a slightly raspy tone, touching the demon’s arm.

“Gross,” Lucas said.

Ilea started laughing. “Right. So yeah, then I put Aki into the machine and here we are. You’ll probably see the impact soon, just imagine it. Taleen machines all over the human plains. Delivering goods, messages… well inside the cities, we have teleportation gates now too.”

“Monster attacks below level two hundred would become entirely irrelevant,” Walter murmured. “But… as would most adventurers and Shadows.”

“No,” Kyrian said.

“What do you mean? Aren’t the machines at least at level one fifty, most are at two hundred or even higher, you said so yourself,” Walter said.

“I’m a Shadow,” Kyrian said and pointed at Ilea. “She’s a Shadow.”

“That’s why I said most,” Walter said.

“They’ll just have to push themselves harder, find more dangerous monsters to fight. Now that the Sentinels are around to heal, with independent healers hopefully less stigmatized or even hunted, they should have an easier time,” Ilea said. “Plus all that traveling is done for. People can now teleport to a frontier or to a dungeon town near instantly.”

“I suppose, yes,” Walter said. “On the healer thing… why would they be less stigmatized now? Or hunted?”

“Because it was the Corinth Order who did that. Their management… has changed. And if I hear about a healer being killed or intimidated by their members, I’ll be the one doing the hunting,” she said with a smile.

“You’ve changed,” Lucia said as she looked at her.

“A little, I suppose,” Ilea said. “Power corrupts, to an extent. I’m not scared of the healing orders.”

“No, they’re scared of you now,” Lucia said with a smile. “How barbaric.”

“We made deals. I don’t consider it barbaric to push orders to stop hunting independent healers. Fuck that,” Ilea said. “Oh and I’m planning to get an academy running in Ravenhall at some point. To share knowledge and training on Classes and various schools of magic. Just need to find enough faculty.”

Walter chuckled. “You’re really pushing it. The nobles won’t be happy about that.”

“Then they’re free to challenge me,” Ilea said with a wide grin.

“I thought you didn’t want to be the Empress or whatever,” Kyrian said, tapping her temple with a loud impact.

“I don’t. This is just providing education and making the species in the Accords stronger. Hoarding magical knowledge is stupid,” Ilea said. “Some of this world is super progressive, other bits are just… medieval.”

“Medieval?” Kyrian asked.

“Yeah, a historic thing where I’m from. My point is, why should magical knowledge not be shared, studied, and understood?” she said.

“No, I agree with you,” Kyrian said.

“Powerful people want to remain in power,” Walter said. “And there is an argument to be made that most people shouldn’t have access to that knowledge and power.”

“Why not?” Ilea asked.

He shrugged. “I’ve traveled far and wide in my time. And I’ve met a lot of people that… should not wield power.”

“Fair. I’ve met a bunch that did, and shouldn’t have,” Ilea said. “Magic is just a tool. People that would abuse that tool are why we have laws.”

“Seems like you push a lot of people around though,” Lucia said, fidgeting with her mug a little. She didn’t meet Ilea’s eyes. “Does someone like you have to adhere to those laws too?”

“I try to,” Ilea said. “I get what you mean though. And it’s not that simple. I don’t believe being perfectly lawful is the way to go. I don’t want to invade someone’s home, but if I see they’re housing slaves in their basement, you bet your ass I’ll kick in those doors. I must’ve broken several laws when we invaded Baralia, sneaked into their cities. But we stopped rituals that would’ve killed thousands. I don’t regret that, and would do it all again in a heartbeat.” She paused. “I trust my friends to tell me when I lose it or go too far.”

“There are always shifts in power,” Kyrian said. “I believe the Accords are a good thing for most. Every awakened species is allowed to live in their cities, every belief is allowed, every school of magic can be studied, as long as such study doesn’t break any laws. Homes and food is provided to all, regardless of wealth. Opportunities exist even for those not of noble blood.”

“Didn’t know you cared so much about the last bit,” Ilea said.

“I… I realized a lot of things since…” he said and turned a little red.

Ilea smirked. “Aliana, hmm?”

“Yes. I simply accepted some things from my past. And she’s told me about hers,” he said, drinking from his mug of water. “Fuck that. We have the power to change things, why wouldn’t we?”

“We would be ready to join,” came Claire’s voice.

“Speaking of nobles,” Ilea said. “Okay if I open a gate here?”

“We have a strict no gate rule,” Walter said in a dry tone.

“Really?” Ilea asked.

“No,” he said and motioned for her to go for it.

Ilea summoned the gate right behind her and moved her arm through, waving towards the gate.

The first thing that flew through was a little Fae.

Greetings

Mortals

“No violence?” Ilea asked the Baron.

It flew around before landing on the table, carefully inspecting Ilea’s mug.

Violence. It nodded.

Trian and Claire stepped through, the latter hitting her shin against a bench.

“Wha-” she exclaimed, shifting to the side as she looked around the somewhat cramped hall.

“Greetings,” Walter said and raised his mug.

Trian smiled. “Hello everyone. Ilea did mention you lot before. Hello Weavy,” he said and waved to the demon.

“Vampyr,” the demon spoke and nodded, the gesture a little strange still, not executed quite like a human would.

The gate closed.

“Is that a fae?” Ellie asked as she leaned forward.

Lucas and Naiir did the same, the trio looking at Violence.

The Baron turned around and spread his wings and arms, flying up.

Mortals

Listen

To

Ilea grabbed the fae and put it onto her shoulder. “Shut it, you megalomaniac.”

The Fae giggled.

“You say that like you’re not the reason the Accords exist,” Trian said as he found a chair and sat down. “I’m Trian, Headmaster of the Sentinel Corps, member of the Accords, and a friend of Lilith.”

“They know my real name,” Ilea said as she battled the small space mage with her own magic. “Like an annoying fucking fly.”

Slow

Dense

“You dare,” Ilea answered.

Kyrian touched her shoulder. “You’re gonna kill someone.”

She realized her fires were active. “Oh. Sorry.”

Violence!