The Queen had that same ephemeral feeling that a deity would. But she was very clearly human.

  A crystalline staff with a small cut gem floated silently at her side. She currently wore a long sapphire blue dress. Trillia hadn't turned her mana-sight off.

  The Queen was literally aglow with mana. Faint pulses every second or so sent shivers through the room.

  Alliyah extended a hand to Trillia, who reached up to shake it. A soft warmth spread through her, and she felt light-headed. The Queen's bright emerald eyes held a spark of amusement. "Goodness, you're a mess. One would think that a mage of the Aether would have considerably more mental defenses."

  Trillia gently shook the Queen's hand before moving her hands to her head. "What are you doing to me?"

  "I'm not suppressing my stats. You've met Quetzalcoatl. If he didn't suppress his stats, you'd be forced to kneel to him. It is a matter of Presence. Once you've gained enough Presence, with enough amplifying traits, you can warp the perception of people who are not hostile to you. I thought this would be a good test to see how viable you'd be as a diplomat."

  Trillia nodded slightly and closed her eyes. Despite that, an image of the Queen was still firmly implanted in her mind. She had the same angular features as most orcs, but they were far softer and more gentle than Amara's or her own. Long night black hair fell from her head and wrapped around her shoulders. Pale pink lips twisted up in a little grin that threatened the world.

  "Can you stop, please?"

  Trillia felt the woman's hand on her cheek, and the swimmy feeling in her mind vanished. Trillia breathed a little easier.

  "Sorry, darling. I need to know where my allies stand and how much protection they require."

  Trillia opened her eyes and stared into the Queen's. There was something within them that unnerved Trillia in the same way that the Eldritch did.

  "That will pass as well. Your mind is telling you that I don't belong. That I am an aberration to nature. It is correct. I should have ascended fifty years ago. You've trained with the Professor, is that correct?"

  Trillia nodded but didn't speak. The Queen motioned for them to follow as she walked towards the side of a room and a large table that had been prepared for them with food and drink. "Are you familiar with the term Echo?"

  "I am, yes."

  "Most of us who survived the Beast War have a few dozen echos running around. Stas is nearing a hundred due to his inability to not fight and conquer. Both in this realm as well as others. I share the same weakness in that I love fighting far more than I love ruling a country. I'm probably leading the pack a bit in echos. It's also the only way I've found to game the system into not forcing me to ascend."

  As they all took their seats, the Queen's garb changed as she sat down. A loose-fitting forest green blouse and long white skirt seemed to take the place of the regal dress she had on before. The staff changed its shape and coloring to become a rather non-descript brown quarterstaff. Trillia couldn't help but be fascinated.

  "So. I have been told there is a threat that faces our world that is outside the norm for our realm. That even the [Primordials] would fight against. I assume we are talking about the creatures that The Professor uses to train students?"

  Trillia's mind focused on those words. "Yes. You've been there or seen them?"

  "I have, unfortunately, had to fight one. I haven't changed my classes in nearly a century. You are free to scan me. Amara tells me that you are an intensely curious young woman."

  [Divine Human(Ascension Available!) - Queen of Kadessa - 3327] Universal Mana Manipulation, Divine Mana Manipulation

  Notable Traits:

  Ambassador of Mortality

  Empress of Humanity

  Mother of Divinity

  Pact-Bound (2nd Axle)

  Wed to Divinity

  Flesh-Bound Deity

  ...

  Trillia felt a shiver run down her spine as she read more and more traits. "You really aren't supposed to be here."

  A soft giggle escaped the Queen as she began piling food on a plate in front of her. "No. Truth be told, my dearly beloved wanted me to give birth in the private realm of his mind. There is a great crystal palace there that he uses to host other deities as a sort of neutral ground. In my infinite foolishness, I decided I wanted my children to grow up in a mortal world. So that they had the perspective of mortals before they ruled over them."

  "It is, in no small part, my own fault that the realm is in such chaos right now. Had I listened, we wouldn't have been attacked in transit."

  Trillia's face twisted up in annoyance. "I thought you were both attacked by a traitor?"

  "We were. I'm not saying those people aren't at fault. I am saying that no matter how much my husband and I were the victims that day. I am still a seasoned warrior and should have been more wary about traveling in such a state. My stubborn resolve has cost a lot of people their lives."

  Stas spoke up between bites. "That's horse shit, and you know it, Alliyah. If even Lord Darktone was caught unaware, then there is nothing mortals could have done. No matter how strong you might be. You always do this."

  Cordaos stepped in for a good one-two punch. "Take the weight of the world on your shoulders and blame yourself for not doing more. It was the same thing every time we lost someone to the [Primordials]. You aren't at fault for people being shitty and wanting you dead."

  "But I am at fault for not heeding the advice of my advisor. Or for thinking that my power was sufficient that no one would threaten my well-being." The woman gave a gentle shrug. The food in front of her lifted off the plate and was cleanly sliced by her mana as she slowly hovered it in for a bite.

  Trillia watched with great interest. It was difficult to see exactly how her mana was being used with how much mana she radiated. "So. What do we do about the new enemy?"

  The Queen frowned as she chewed the bite of food in her mouth. After swallowing, she leaned back with a full goblet in hand. "It's difficult. I'm not allowed to inform everyone about the reality of what we face. Much in the same way you are limited. I do have a couple of ideas...but they aren't safe for anyone but the two of us." Alliyah motioned from herself to Trillia.

  "Sorry, I don't understand. I realize that the laws of the universe limit you, and I mean no offense to my daughter. But what can she handle that we cannot?" Amara spoke up with a puzzled expression.

  Trillia wasn't offended. If anything, she was surprised that the generals would have issues. The Queen took her free hand and rolled it around lazily in the air. "Imagine some of my most powerful auras and mental debuffs." She paused as she looked at each of the generals in turn. "Now imagine if Kain was around and actively spending mana to buff them."

  Trillia didn't know that was an option, but seeing the serious look on the faces of those around her, she had some idea of how bad it could get. "Now double that while taking immense amounts of mental damage."

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  "Bullshit." Brutus wasted no time in refuting it. "I refuse to believe there is something that can touch down on the realm that is more dangerous than the [Primordials] or that is more capable of damage. Shouldn't the same fucking laws that make our lives a living Infernus stop that from happening?"

  Stas had a hand up to his lips, tapping away at them deep in thought. Alliyah took a drink from her goblet and offered another shrug.

  "I've seen it. I've seen what they are capable of. I watched a friend of mine from the Professor's realm die. She wasn't weak. Thousands of her people were fighting. Even some of the deities on her realm fought and died."

  "The Eldritch." It felt like a lightning bolt had struck Trillia's brain when she heard it aloud. Both her and Alliyah's eyes snapped to Stas, who had said the name. "I've seen them. One of the immortals I learned from worshipped one of the creatures. I think it used to be its patron god, but..something happened that destroyed it, maybe?"

  Brutus' eyes darkened as he looked at Stas." You're telling me Alliyah isn't just yanking our chains? There's something out there like that?"

  "Worse. Way, way worse. None of you bothered to learn how to travel to other realms. I did. Brutus, when I tell you that there are mortal creatures in other realms that could single-handedly wipe out most dragons, I am not yanking your chain or making things up. I have gone to realms where the scale of power is so absurd that even children knew stronger magic than I did. It boggled my mind that they hadn't shattered reality."

  Alliyah nodded. "I've seen similar things. I once saw a realm where almost every single person was a monster tamer of some sort, and the creatures they tamed were incredibly durable. I hadn't realized that you had seen an Eldritch." Alliyah paused as she said the word. Raising a finger, she opened her mouth, but nothing came out. "Of course. I can say the name now, but nothing else. Sometimes, I feel like Dawn gets a sort of sick satisfaction in watching us struggle. If I hadn't spent so much time talking to her, I'd be sure of it."

  "So what's our next step?" Brutus no longer had any doubt. "If these creatures can kill gods, what possible chance do we have?"

  "A pretty good one." Trillia cut off any speculation. "There are going to be others like me who know how to fight in the Aether. From the conversation we've had, I assume that Queen Alliyah can also fight in the Aether. The struggle comes from what happens when they attack physically."

  "Sickness to mana-immunity helps. It doesn't fully negate it, but it does help." Stas helpfully offered. "If the [Primordials] are truly going to fight on our side. Perhaps we should try to speak to the creatures?"

  "Is that possible? The damn things annihilate anything around them that they haven't warped." A thump came from Amara as she plopped an elbow down and rubbed her eyes.

  "I may have a solution." Miah's voice startled everyone but the Queen, who smiled as she looked over at her.

  "Sorry, I didn't invite you, sweetie. I knew you were also weary from dealing with those insufferable lords all day. I thought you might enjoy some rest."

  Miah walked over and kissed her mom on the top of the head before sitting next to her. "Thankfully, since Ascending, I don't need rest. It is a very, very odd feeling."

  "A pleasure to see you, General Mariah. You said you had a solution?" Cordaos spoke up after giving the two a moment.

  "I do. Arlyss and I have been doing a lot of research. We've been asking Riten to look into things for us. There is..." The goddess paused as she contemplated her words. Or perhaps it was the universe stopping her? Trillia found herself second-guessing things a lot lately.

  "We found the remnants of a civilization that may have fought against these creatures."

  That caused everyone to pay a little more attention. "We aren't sure how old the ruins are. But the few words we've managed to find are in a language that even Arlyss can't understand. He's in the process of deciphering it. I don't imagine it will take him long, given his portfolio."

  "Great! Where is it? We can go give it a look!"

  Miah went silent again and seemed conflicted. Alliyah reached over and gave her shoulder a squeeze. "We are warriors. Warriors who should be dead. Stop trying to break it to us gently."

  Miah looked over with a nod. "The ruins can only be entered by a mortal in the Aetherian plane." Miah's eyes drifted over to Trillia.

  "So you want me to go. Because the Queen is more valuable and important, and if the worst happens, the realm doesn't lose as much?"

  Miah winced as Trillia spoke. The other Generals looked upset, but Queen Alliyah was nodding. "I suppose that makes sense. But I won't allow her to go alone. That'd be reckless. Where is this ruin at?"

  "It's in the Beast Scar. I found it while exploring those lands a few months ago. The rift that opened up there leads into the ruins of a city. It also sheds some light on the size of creatures there."

  Trillia narrowed her eyes as she looked at Miah. Immediately after learning about it, she's expected to go there? It felt blatant.

  "The trick is that behemoths are far beyond Trillia and her party's capabilities. Which is where the second part of my plan comes in."

  As the silence stretched on for a few seconds, Miah took a deep breath. "Right. Warriors, don't waste time. I want all of you to be bait. You're powerful enough that the creatures there would be drawn to you. It would let Trillia, Simon, and their considerably weaker party the ability to slip in, going unnoticed. Trillia would have to enter the ruins alone, but her party could get her there."

  "Would it be possible to give her a keystone of some kind and let me teleport to her?" Alliyah spoke as she took another drink. The Queen seemed entirely unphased by any of it. Maybe she was just used to stuff like this.

  "Maybe? But even when you are doing your best, you still give off way too much mana. The creatures in the area would be drawn to you like moths to a flame. While I doubt you or the generals would be at any serious risk of death..."

  "My friends would be turned to paste. So why have them come at all?"

  Miah produced two small rings and set them in front of Trillia. "It will at least be you and Simon. These rings will react when you fall below zero health and yank you to the location of the other ring. It's... normally meant as a way to recover the bodies of nobles."

  Amara looked at the two rings with a grin. "But for orcs who technically don't die at zero. It pulls us out."

  Miah nodded. "They have a range of about a mile or two."

  "They were originally for assassins. They were damn handy as well." The Queen reached over to lift one. "The enchantments on these are way more stable. I saw more than a few girls appear in front of me, torn into shreds because the teleportation wasn't stable. We used to cast a twenty-four-hour enchantment to delay death. Send a girl in to kill someone, and she'd take her own life to escape. I'd say there was a ten percent chance that we wouldn't survive the teleportation."

  Trillia felt a chill run down her spine as the Queen continued. "Delay death doesn't really work when you're dismembered and turned inside out."

  "Fucks sake, Alliyah, I'm trying to eat." Amara grumbled as she chased food around on her plate with a fork.

  Alliyah rolled her eyes and set the ring down. "Quit your whining. You're an orc. You know the world I grew up in. You really have gotten lazy and weak if this is turning your stomach."

  Trillia cleared her throat. "So the plan is to have me use this, and if I get knocked out in the ruins, it yanks me back to Simon?"

  As Miah nodded, Trillia continued. "What happens if I don't die and am imprisoned? Or there is something there that blocks the ring's ability?"

  Miah looked away.

  Stas spoke up. "Dead as dead can be! Glorious adventure, am I right?" The insane goblin cackled a bit.

  "Very well. I'll ask my other friends if they want to join me or if it will just be Simon and I."

  That caught Miah off guard. Alliyah stared hard at the little orc. Trillia shrugged. "If my life can give us a weapon against the Eldritch? It's worth it. How many of you are willing to throw yourselves in front of a [Primordial] and maybe die to save people? I don't wanna hear it."

  Stas got out of his chair and walked over, patting Trillia on the back. "You would have fit right in with us in the old days. Absolutely fucking insane with no survival instinct. Perfect soldier of fate."

  Amara groaned and buried her face in her hands. Trillia had no doubt that her mother wanted to protest but knew better.

  "Well. That sucks." Alliyah said bluntly. "I never get to have any fun. But if we're going to be sending a bunch of fucking kids off to save the world, we are going to make sure they are well equipped and well trained. I will hold a public court tomorrow. Trillia, I am going to ask you to come with your friends so that I can make it official. Don't worry about the nobles. I can deal with them. How long do you think we have? Until we are beset by the eldritch?"

  Trillia shrugged. "It's difficult to say. I don't see or sense them in the Aether. But I don't know how quickly they move."

  "Let's train you all for at least a few months. It will let me teach you some tricks about the Aether and your unique mana manipulation." With that, the Queen stood. "All of you get some rest. We will have to deal with the nobility and commoners tomorrow for a bit concerning your banishment and ending it. After we can announce a trip out to save our people. We'll leave out the Eldritch for now. That is something you can tell your friends in person. The public doesn't need to know."

  Trillia frowned, but the Queen didn't let her voice the concerns. "Most people can do nothing against the [Primordials]. Let alone an Eldritch. Telling them will only cause panic and unrest. Have a good night." She offered the table a smile before grabbing a bottle of wine and leaving the throne room.