Ruinous Return

B2 – Chapter 20

Lyn sat on her seat in the throne room as the council arrived and took their seats. She had called a full council meeting, so even more chairs were set up behind the seats of each person for their various underlings.

"Excellent. Let's get started." Lyn said in Shereldian as she stood up, "First off; I have made Khrelardia bend the knee. They will be going through the same efforts of vassalization as Trisk is. However, I will not be raising walls or coastal forts."

She looked to Marshal Remora, "Valagonia and Khrelardia are preparing for war, and I don't want to tip our hand to Cecily that we will be supporting Khrelardia. We have until Spring. Seven months. Our defenses along The Rill will be manned by Trisk's forces, and The Dragon's Maw will be manned by our own. I do not plan on engaging Valagonia with all of our forces…instead, I will take to the battlefield alongside King Marshal's armies. The job of our military will be to protect what we already have."

Marshal Remora stood up, "Forgive me, Empress. But why would you step on the battlefield yourself?"

Lyn grinned, "I wish to avoid bloodshed if possible. If I show my full power on the battlefield, we can end this war and force capitulation." She looked over to Spymaster Velenna, "Your information gathering efforts will be focused internally. I don't want to risk an agent being caught up in Valagonia. Instead, root out dissent amongst our own ranks; throughout Trisk and Khrelardia itself." She looked out across every person in the room, "Lastly, at the advice of the Knowledge hero, there is a change to be made to how this council functions."

At this, every person sat up a little straighter than before. Lyn took a deep breath, "Ari and Duskari will have a senior-advisory role in their position. So, for example, Chancellor Vehenna would fill that position. Races that are less long-lived will fill in a junior role. The two will be of equal standing in my eyes, and both will be granted the same amount of consideration when they provide insight. In this fashion, we will not only acquire the wisdom of age in decision making, but also the insight of a fresh perspective."

She looked to the Duskari in the room, "You will, of course, be allowed to retire should you choose to do so. However, it is unfair of me to force you out of a position you find yourself well suited for." Lyn sat down and gestured to the table as a whole. "This is my decree. You who are already in those positions will prospect suitable candidates from the shorter longevity races. Now, report out."

Chancellor Vehenna stood up and bowed, "Our efforts abroad are going very well. Diplomat Rashanna has successfully brought the Foskor into the fold, especially since news of King Skir of Trisk bending the knee spread throughout the North. She is on her way to Raptol, then Vharthos after." She gestured to Thomas as she sat down.

Thomas stood up and cleared his throat, "The Elenthir primer is finished, and is translated to every language. Distribution plans are ongoing. I will have the schooling system finished by the end of the month, thanks to the efforts of Stellas, my assistant. We can then start to package materials and send them off to cities, towns, and villages. I'd like to require some type of teacher certification program, but that's a ways off. For the future, we should implement such a requirement. But for now, this will do." He sat down.

Trisha and Brad both stood up. Trisha began, "The healer school has received many new applicants, and we are still working on figuring out the best way to accommodate all of them. Progress is steady. We've been working alongside the Duskari smiths to create prosthetics of all variety to have stocked up, so that we may help fix people's injuries."

Brad nodded, "And the pharmacy has begun producing medical supplies. Purple Patches are being prioritized so that we may properly equip our troops for battlefield first aid. Other medicines are in the production pipeline with Trisha's advice on what to prioritize."

The two sat down and Lyn nodded, "Thank you. Next, Steward Mol."

Thane Mol stood up and cleared his throat, "Yer coins are bein' spent correctly. Tha Free City o' Bashinol sent word tha' a few ships are on course. We're going ta need a bank o' theirs to be here."

Lyn tented her clawed hands, "The Free City of Bashinol will not be the arbiter of trade. I will see to that personally." She looked directly at Thane Mol, "I want you to begin the efforts to the establishment of our own banking system and coinage. I'll dredge up the raw metals you need, and make the facilities you require."

Thane Mol bowed slightly and gestured to Lawrence who stood up. "Lynhold is expanding still," He said with a smile. "The citizens are all getting along, and we are not wanting for any resources. Thanks to Brad's ability to use flora spells, we can grow crops at a pace where we can easily stock up for winter with plentiful excess. I've instituted a crop rotation to ensure we have variety. The herding pastures in Trisk are doing well, and the flocks grow. A group of Ari arrived from Trisk and have been settled in. Overall, population wise, we have ninety-thousand people living in the Valley of the Volcano." He looked to Lyn and frowned slightly, "We are coming across an issue where people are aimless and feel a need for…something to fill their time."

Lyn nodded, "Well, they are always welcome to join the military."

Lawrence shook his head, "When everything is provided, people grow restless. And many do not wish to fight. They need purpose."

"Thoughts?" Lyn asked the table at large.

Vael raised her hand, "How about an improvement project? Something where skilled labor isn't necessary."

Thomas stood up, "She has a good idea. We should provide materials appropriate to painting, sculpting, writing…any creative avenue we can provide. Make the whole city a canvas for expression. It would also serve doubly as promoting to the vassal kingdoms that we value creativity, and over time Lynhold would become synonymous with cultural advancement and enlightenment."

Lawrence nodded, "Great idea. I'll get that up and running."

Antiquarian Menora stood up next, "Lady Rivers, my recent expedition to the coast has borne fruit." She waved her hand, and a group of two Duskari brought forth a sealed, wooden crate. They cracked it open and produced an inscribed jar the size of a tree stump. "Thanks to Scholar Thomas, we know that this jar can produce an endless supply of honey. After speaking with Thane Mol, I request that this device be gifted to the Sloren who are working on a brewery project."

Lyn nodded, "I do not wish to be like Cecily and strip away some of the luxuries of life like alcohol…but we will need drunkenness laws. I don't want anyone in the Empire to fall into alcoholism." She looked over to Thomas, "It would seem we need a Keeper of Laws added to the council. Would you mind mantling that responsibility for the time being until we find a suitable candidate?"

Thomas nodded, "Sure."

Minora took her seat, and the two Duskari took the crate and jar away. Thane Mol stood up once more, "We dun' have an Architect."

Lyn looked over at Lawrence, "Weren't you in an engineering class back on Earth? How would you like to take a crack at city planning?"

Lawrence smirked, "Happy to give it a try."

"Make sure you find someone who is interested in training up under you," she said as Thane Mol sat down. "Lastly, Spymaster Velenna."

The Spymaster stood and bowed, "We will begin withdrawing our spies from Valagonia as per your directive and redistribute them throughout Trisk and Khrelardia. Reports are coming in that some of the people being imported by our contract with the Free City are being paid to do so, in addition to being those who are down on their luck. Apparently, we are also receiving criminals in part of that population. This has not caused problems yet, but we will need to have appropriate facilities should they begin to cause trouble."

Lyn stared at the table for a few moments, tapping her clawed fingers on the obsidian slab. She looked up to Velenna, "How bad are the criminals?"

"Primarily thieves. As we are supplying all their needs, I believe that many will not act as they once did. However, there are some who were put into jail for rape and even murder."

Lyn frowned, "What are our options?"

"For the rapists and murderers, we could consider mind external spells to fix their behavior, but I do not know if such a thing has been tried or if it is even possible. There is also the general taboo against mind spells by the populace."

"It is possible," Thomas replied. "I'll write the spell, Lady Rivers can make an inscribed item, and we can have any hero, Duskari, Ari, or multi-tailed Varthon utilize the object to cure the criminal element."

"What of the aspect where mind spells and forced changes being seen by the populace as a way to control them?" Gael asked quietly.

The Spymaster looked at the bodyguard, "It would need to be done quietly. Those who are identified as violent criminals or who have committed some terrible deed can be quietly approached and altered." She waved her hand dismissively, "A strong Empress will need a strong policing force to keep the dissidents in check. It is, I'd argue, better for the person to have their mind slightly altered, instead of locking them up in a prison."

Lyn looked across and nodded before turning her attention to the Spymaster, "This also provides us with an opportunity. A way to grow our population even faster is by offering to remove undesirables from Khrelardia and Trisk. Ensure we contact each monarch directly and instruct them to send their most violent criminals to us under guard and escort. We can reform them with this item I will create."

She looked to the heroes who were present and saw the discomfort in their faces aside from Thomas. She switched to English, "I know it sounds bad, but I would rather reform these people with a spell instead of incarcerate them. Minor changes to fix the bad behavior. We aren't making them thralls." This seemed to satisfy the heroes whose expressions shifted. She shifted back to Shereldian, "Continue."

The Spymaster nodded and sat, as Finala stood up. "Lady Rivers, the ravens have all been upgraded with your new spell as per your instructions. The next generations are continuing to flourish, and we have enough to begin your next task."

Lyn nodded and saw the questioning glances from around the room. She reached into the nape of her armor and pulled out her amulet, "These will allow our citizens to communicate, but we also need a way to deliver items. Ravens will fill that need; able to transport small quantities of items. Ideally, we will eventually use a spell that can increase the size of our feathered friends, so that larger deliveries may be facilitated. But until then, a raven postal system will serve our needs well."

Finala sat, and lastly Bolvon approached from behind the throne, hidden in the shadows at the back of the room. He walked up next to Gael alongside Lyn's chair and bowed slightly, "I have finished my efforts of breaking into every possible location along the Valley's exterior. Flaws have been forwarded to Marshal Remora for remediation." He looked to Lyn and smirked, "Praise the goddess, it was a very small number of flaws. The troops are well trained."

Lyn nodded, "Excellent. Your next task will be to travel to Khrelardia and shadow King James Marshal. Valagonia will doubtless try to eliminate him, and they would never expect a Duskari Shadowstalker protecting the man."

Bolvon nodded and stood in a relaxed stance as Marshal Remora stood up and bowed. "My lady, the military has grown. We have volunteers who are forming the equivalent of a levy core, but we will be training them much more extensively. Newen have been incorporated into the Duskari Squadrons to enable stealth-spells in the field. Advisors, your turn."

The various Duskari trainers that Lyn had determined months ago for the various weapon-types each spoke a few sentences regarding their efforts. Most new recruits showed promise with spears and hammers or maces over swords. Perfect, Lyn thought. More frontline combatants. Slanosh eventually had his turn and stood up, "Lady Rivers, the Newen within the Valley have all rallied to Lynhold. Thirty-thousand strong, with ten-thousand of us combat ready. We thank you for giving our kind this chance to prove our worth on the battlefield." He sounded…patriotic and very sincere.

Lyn smiled, "Your service is greatly appreciated, Strike Commander Slanosh. Please keep up the good work."

Admiral Naila stood up and bowed, "We have begun construction of this first 'ironside' as you call it. Our shipwrights will have the first vessel completed within two months' time, and we can then test it in the lake. In the meantime, the marines stand ready to travel wherever needed in the longboats."

The various military advisors sat down, and Ben looked around a few times before standing up. "I'm new to this," he began. "And I've been keeping a general eye on things. Lyn…Lady Rivers…you are missing one key, vital component in your military arsenal. Shield walls."

"I believe that we have that covered with our infantry," Marshal Remora began, but Ben cut her off.

"No. You don't. Not a proper shield wall. What we need are phalanx-style units." He went on to describe a traditional Greek phalanx, ending with, "I spoke with Thomas, and nowhere in Ghomar's history has the formation been utilized in warfare. We need to take advantage of that approach, and we also need to train large-scale drill formations. We don't have the open space within the Valley proper, but just outside of The Dragon's Maw is the perfect training space."

Lyn shook her head, "I don't want any scouts Valagonia has to know of our preparations. It's not something that we can risk. Secrecy remains our ally for now."

Ben shrugged, "Then just use earth elementalism to make us a battlefield sized training area."

Lyn nodded, "I'll alter some land outside the Northern exit of the Valley to be useable for that purpose. Thank you for your input." Ben sat down and nodded tersely before the room fell completely quiet. She took a deep breath in. "The Fall and Winter are coming. We have seven months to prepare. Council meetings will occur going forward once a week. The small council – Chancellor, Steward, Marshal, Spymaster – will meet with me every day for a short report. Use your communication amulets as needed."

She stood up, "I thank you all for your service to my Empire. We will change Ghomar for the better, so that all races may live together in a harmonious, single whole. It will be a long, difficult road to that place…but we will get there." She reached into her storage dimension choker and pulled out several gemstones she had pulled up from the depths of the earth, and then used a transmutation spell to shape into perfect squares with a small pin on the back. "I give each of you one of these. A token of my gratitude for your efforts. They will serve as symbols of your office, alongside your communication amulets."

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She went to the throne and took the seat, Gael and Vael flanking her as Bolvon slipped into the darkness behind the chair itself. "I'll set up those training grounds right now for you." Closing her eyes, she focused her mana within her core and felt the churning, rumbling of the Destroyer core ready to serve her whims. She drew it up through her body, into her mana channels, and into the throne below her which increased the range at which she could manifest spells. She visualized the spur of land outside of the Northern entrance, and with thought alone thanks to the Elementalist hero core, shaped it to her whims.

When she had opened her eyes a few minutes later, the room had cleared out save for Lawrence and Thomas who were chatting in English. They looked up as she stood. Lawrence dipped his head and left, but Thomas walked up to her. "You need to talk to Misty."

Lyn sighed and nodded, "I know. I'll do it today."

He looked at her with a critical eye, "May I see your communication amulet?"

Lyn sighed and nodded, "You'll be around for as long as I will if everything goes to plan." She pulled the amulet out from around her neck and Thomas held it gingerly.

"Like I thought. You can use this 'master' amulet to look through and listen to the history of any other amulet that uses your inscription."

Lyn nodded as she tucked the amulet back under her armor. "Yes. I know it's a little totalitarian, but I wanted at least one person to be able to access records of communications. Who better than the Empress? Just picture it; I call someone up to my throne room, and with a thought and some mana, can go through every conversation they have ever had with the communication amulet."

"I agree, this is a good choice in the long run. And you're not just listening in and invading privacy like some secret police agency. It's a decent balance."

"Now…off to talk to Misty."

"Good luck."

"And that is how you can manipulate simple fluctuations in heat to cause a rainstorm in a localized region." Misty finished drawing the Elenthir phrase that would enable – for relatively little mana – a person to create a rainstorm using some knowledge of atmospheric movement. The third-year students finished copying the notes in their books before leaving them open to dry. Misty looked up from the chalkboard and glanced at the back of the room. Lyn was standing in the doorway. "Alright students, time for some mana core exercise. You know the drill."

Lyn stood aside as they passed, each dipping their heads in silent respect. When the room had emptied, the Duskari-dragon woman walked into the room, tracing her clawed hand along the desks. She spoke in English, "Impressive, as expected. Using science to make spells less mana intensive. You're a genius, you know that?" She sounded sincere.

Misty frowned as she turned to the board and began drawing a new Elenthir verse, "What do you want?" This is my chance. She's here, and alone.

Lyn leaned against one of the desks and crossed her arms, "I just wanted to talk. Last time we left on…odd terms. I meant what I said, I love you like a sister." She gestured between the two of them, "I don't want there to be a rift between us if I can help it."

Misty kept drawing her verse on the board, secretly pouring mana into the inscription she was coming up with the on fly, "You're not the same person who was my best friend…who I fell in love with. You're not the same childhood friend." But I'll make you that girl I loved. I can do this.

"I know," Lyn said with a small sigh. Misty instantly picked up on that, something she did when she was about to say something uncomfortable. "Can we…try to start over then? Become friends again?"

Misty stood still. She felt like she was on an island…alone in her solitude. And Lyn had just come up on a boat and offered her a way out of that isolation. But I'll get you back with this. I'm going to rescue you or die trying. She kept inscribing on the board.

Her travel from Vharthos to the Valley had given her plenty of time to think and based on what Thomas said earlier in that archive, Lyn was permanently fused with the Destroyer core. She wouldn't be able to split them apart in that way. But…she could try one thing. One reckless, incomprehensibly mana-intensive spell. Reversing the Destroyer core to an earlier point in time, before Lyn's consciousness fully fused with it.

She knew from discussing with the Duskari around Lynhold, and from her own divination spells to investigate the past in a local area, that Lyn behaved differently before she ascended Shiverburn Summit and defeated the dungeon of Raevan. Misty knew that something happened in that dungeon that irrevocably changed her best friend. And her hunch was that when Lyn first came back to Ghomar, she was still the Lyn she knew and loved.

And she was about to try and undo her friend's completion of that dungeon entirely. Time, the most mana-intensive external spell type. The inscription on the boards was incredibly intricate – it would not change anything about the world itself, save for Lyn's completion of that dungeon. She knew that she didn't have enough mana to reverse Lyn's initial death to the Demonic Dragon, which would be the best way to achieve her goals…but this, with the restrictions she put in place, should be feasible. I have enough mana…I think…She shook her head. No. I have to have enough.

If the spell worked, it would be as if it had never been attempted by her friend. Then, I can use that device Thomas told me you have to remove the Destroyer core and replace it. She had spotted Lyn's choker and could make out the inscription well-enough that she knew it contained a storage spell. It has to be in there. She had no way to verify this, but seeing as Lyn didn't wear a storage ring like the heroes had crafted when they arrived…it made sense.

This was her one chance to get her friend back. To fix her loneliness. A last ditch effort to make Lyn hers once more.

Lyn stared at her, and her expression was unreadable. "If that's what you want. I'll always be open to you being my friend."

Misty finished drawing the spell and turned to Lyn, smiling. "It's okay. Everything will be fine in a moment." She had an inscribed object that stored mana, and drawing on it, she refilled her reservoir. She slapped her hand to the board and channeled mana into it. All her mana, down to the last drop. Everything she had stored up, forced into the inscription. The prismatic array of colors flooded upward and through her extended arm.

Lyn looked around as she drew Cataclysm, "What's going on?" The whole room was suddenly awash in bright, prismatic colors that were opaque like the paints Misty used her whole life.

"I'm getting you back," Misty replied. "I'm getting my friend back. The woman I lo-"

But she felt her vision darkening. What's happening?

She felt the world getting…larger. Her memories, slowly vanishing. She felt darkness closing in as her vision went to white, and all thought left her mind.

"What the fuck!" Lyn shouted as Misty activated some spell inscribed on the board. The room was suddenly awash with prismatic colors of paints on a canvas. Misty screamed in pain and gripped her head as swirling, primary colors cascaded around her in a vortex. Lyn quickly read the verses on the board – not having paid attention as Misty had written them earlier, just assuming it was some lesson she was preparing. She tried a time spell?

The heroes were all warned – every single one of them. Time was the most mana intensive of the spell types. The manipulation of reality was so volatile that if one did not have enough mana for the effect they sought to bring about, there would be backlash. The only external spell type with such a backlash effect – some ancient law of reality this world had been created with. As she read the verses on the board, she saw what Misty had attempted.

"…Why did you try it?" she asked the still-shrouded form of Misty. "Why did you try it! You idiot!" She felt rage boil up in her. Her prior best friend, trying to betray her just like she had at the mage school. "This…I can't forgive this." Lyn felt weight settle into her chest as she drew Cataclysm, the lava-blade surging to life as she held back the other elementalism types. "I can't forgive you for trying to betray me, again." Lyn felt tears…but pushed them back. An Empress- no, a goddess, cannot tolerate such offenses…I'm sorry.

The swirling tornado of colors faded, and Lyn dropped Cataclysm as the blade sputtered out. The whole room returned to normal, and where Misty was once standing was instead a crying, wailing infant, tucked within the robes. The backlash, Lyn knew instinctively. She leaned down, put Cataclysm away, and went over to the now-infant Misty. "Well, silver linings," Lyn muttered. She scooped up the infant in the robes, wrapping them around the child.

Her friend wasn't dead. Misty wouldn't be trying to use spells on her anymore. And this is the perfect chance where she won't mind. Lyn placed her on the nearby desk and glanced at the door. It was still closed. Keeping an eye on it just in case, she withdrew a dungeon core and the inscribed core-swap device from her storage choker. Socketing the dungeon core into the sphere, she placed the tube against baby-Misty's chest. She'll be incredibly strong, growing up with a dungeon core. An asset to the Empire one day.

Misty began to cry, but Lyn felt the device go thunk in her hands, signaling the process was complete. She opened the chamber and pulled out the swirling, prismatic Mage hero core. She knew what it would do, thanks to a prior conversation years ago.

"I have perfect mastery of Elenthir, just like Thomas," Misty had said as they sat around a table in Kor's Hold. "And I can use every spell type." She had lowered her voice to a whisper and leaned into Lyn, "It also lets me combine spell types, basically temporarily making brand new spell types that no one else could use."

Lyn squeezed the Mage core and felt it travel down her mana channel. It splashed and swirled around in her torso before being consumed by the Destroyer core. I'll have to test out spell types again, just like with the Knowledge core…but later. She put away the device in the storage dimension and picked up Misty. "Now…time to get you home."

Despite her resolve, Lyn felt sorrow for her old friend. I…I wanted you back as a friend.

Trisha was just about to sit down on the couch on the first floor of their house when she heard a knock at the door. Who is it at this time? She thought as she groaned and stood up. "Coming!" she said decently loud in Triskol – but not too loud, as the children were upstairs. She opened the door and saw Lyn holding a bundle of cloth. "Oh, hi Lyn. What's up?" she asked swapping to English.

Lyn pushed her way in and nudged the door shut with her foot. "Something happened," she said gently as she pulled away some of the fabric she was holding, revealing a little baby's face. "Misty suffered backlash."

Trisha's eyes went wide, and she looked between Lyn and the infant, "She tried a time spell?"

Lyn nodded, "She wanted me back to how I was, and was trying to revert me to a point where I would be 'Scout' Lyn instead of who I am now." She looked up to Trisha with a sad expression, "I know it's a burden to ask…but you're a mom and have a baby already."

Trisha nodded, "I have to talk to Ben. He should be home soon. Want to sit?"

Lyn walked over to the couch and gently rocked baby Misty as Trisha sat next to her. She began speaking quickly, in a detached, almost clinical way. "I took away her mage core. She has a dungeon core, so she'll still be an incredibly powerful mage – especially with this new education system, and mana circulation training. But she'll have to re-learn Elenthir. I don't know if she'll remember anything from being Misty, but she had a shitty home life also-"

Trisha gently put a hand on Lyn's back and rubbed it reassuringly, "Calm down. It will be fine."

"I'm fine," Lyn replied. "I know. She did it to herself."

Trisha gestured for the bundled baby, and Lyn handed her over. Trisha looked down at the sleeping infant and rocked her slowly. The front door opened after the two had sat in silence for some time, and Ben walked in. "Ben, honey, Lyn's here visiting."

Ben took off his boots at the door and walked over to the couch, flopping down into a cushioned seat opposite it. "It's only been a few hours since that council meeting. What's up?"

Lyn gestured to Trisha, who slowly revealed the baby Misty. Trisha then explained what Lyn had told her.

Ben scratched his beard, "Well, we already have a baby. I suppose one more wouldn't hurt." Trisha met his eyes and there was a silent agreement between them. They would give Misty the childhood she should have had on Earth – with loving parents and not wanting for anything. He stood up and rolled his shoulders, "I need to take a bath before bed." He trundled off upstairs.

Lyn stood up and glanced at Trisha before walking to the door. She looked back as she opened it, "Thank you…truly. If you need anything, you tell me."

Trisha nodded as Lyn left. She looked down at the infant Misty and sighed. Sorry for this, she thought as she whispered an incantation. An incantation she had memorized at Cecily's behest.

"What better way to be a healer than to also take away the pain of memory?" The Ruler hero had said.

It was how Trisha and her husband had dealt with their own trauma – mind spells. Not to wipe or repress, but to relive in a non-dangerous re-enactment; just like how some veterans with PTSD were able to confront their trauma through video games. She and Ben had spent years, slowly and gradually reliving those moments within their minds…and coming to terms with them.

As the spell took effect, Trisha felt a pang of regret…but knew she was doing the right thing.

She'd name the child Misty…but the mind spell she had just used ensured that this would be a new person. A blank slate. All memories that might be locked away inside her incapable-of-currently-processing-them mind were locked away...unless a very specific spell was used to reverse and unlock the memories. Now you'll have a chance for a happy, new life. She took Misty upstairs and placed a vertical partition in Gina's crib, laying Misty on the other side. You'll have everything you want. The life you should have had back home. Before she forgot, she pulled out her notebook, jotted down the reversal spell, and put it into her pocket to give to Lyn at a later date.

She went upstairs to their bedroom and walked into the restroom, sitting next to Ben and holding his hand. He looked up at her as she did so, "We always wanted a big family," he said with a chuckle before shaking his head and splashing water on his face. "This might be the best thing for her, honestly."

Trisha nodded silently as she rubbed her thumb along Ben's hand.

Lyn made a beeline for the archives. She channeled mana and muttered a variety of spell types she did not yet have access to and found to her minor satisfaction that she could now use illusion spells. Useful until interacted with, they were great for veiling locations, sounds, features, and anything else one could interact with using the senses of sight, hearing, and smell.

Thomas was finishing with a final pile of books in the neatly organized room. Stellas stood, stretching next to a table with layers of parchment and several books opened in the center. "Thomas, Stellas, a word with both of you," Lyn said in Vharthonian – knowing that Stellas' racial language was spoken by very, very few outside of that race.

Thomas looked up, wiped his hands on his pants, and walked over, "Yes?"

Stellas also walked over as Lyn took a deep breath, "Misty is gone. Sort of." She went into a detailed explanation of the verse on the board, re-writing it on parchment for Thomas to evaluate. She also explained that Misty was now a baby that Trisha and Ben had taken in. Lyn ended with, "And I find myself in an odd position. Misty's students expect her to still be there…but she's gone. And having to explain what happened to them-"

Stellas cut her off, "Forgive me, Empress Rivers…but this could be a great experience. Teaching them the dangers of trying something they aren't prepared for." She looked at Thomas, "I think the best thing would be to have you speak to them, Thomas. You helped make that building, so that should garner some respect." She looked to Lyn, "I'd be happy to take over her role. I've learned a large amount from Thomas."

"I'm good with that," Thomas replied. "It lets you focus on the upper-level Elenthir curriculum so I can focus on the education system."

Lyn nodded, "Then let's get to it."

The trio left and arrived at the mage school. Thomas placed his hands on an inscription along the outside and channeled mana into it. "Attention," he said in Triskol, "This is Thomas Harrow, co-founder of this establishment. Please report to the exterior of the school." He stepped back and joined Lyn and Stellas as they stood in front of the building.

The students filed out, groggy, and many wiping sleep from their eyes as they wondered aloud what was going on. Lyn cleared her throat and dropped her tone to the draconic low growl. "Misty Misery, your instructor, attempted a very dangerous spell – attempting to alter time." Lyn gestured to Thomas who stepped up.

"If you need proof of these words, then go to the second-floor lecture hall. You will see the inscription Professor Misery wrote. Time is treacherous. The only external spell type which causes backlash when you fail. She is not dead, but the spell has reverted her to a state of infancy. She has been adopted by the Baxter family, so if you wish to pay your respects, you may visit them during the day. Take this warning to heart…do not meddle with time. If the Mage hero was unable to do so, then you have no hope of doing so, either." He stepped back.

Stellas stepped up, "You may remember me, one of the first classes at the school. Stellas of Vharthos. I have traveled with and trained under Professor Harrow, the Knowledge hero. Empress Rivers has granted me the title of head instructor. I will be continuing your lessons on the morrow."

There was some discussion amongst the students, and a few stated their intent to leave the school. Lyn nodded curtly and shifted her tone, "You may leave if you desire. Lynhold will always welcome any who wish to study Elenthir and grow in their mastery of spells. Go through the North entrance to the Valley…but be aware, you will have no finer education than what can be provided here."

A few students did end up leaving, but most stayed. As Lyn began to leave, Stellas caught her attention. "Thank you…Empress. I will not let you down."

Lyn nodded and grinned, "Good. See that you don't." She looked over to Thomas and raised an inquisitive eyebrow as she swapped to English, "You sure she is trustworthy? I'm really following your lead on this."

"Yes," he replied. "If I didn't trust her, I wouldn't be making her a clone. Did you want one?"

Lyn chuckled and shook her head as she gestured for Thomas to walk back to the fortress with her. "I want to make sure that you're not offering that to everyone."

"No. Just the heroes and Stellas."

"Good."