Gate: Thus, the CELESTIALS have Judged There

by ceroxon

The Gate opens again ... and Sadera's army leaves to conquer the country beyond... But this country is not Japan on planet Earth in the milky way. It's a [Star base / Dyson sphere] belonging to the Cosmic Gods on the edge of another universe. Will Falmart survive the judgment of the CELESTIALS?

15. Marvels and Madness

I promised that this chapter would be faster and in the end it took a pretty long time. Writer's block but mostly because I started a pretty long scene that took up too much space. It will therefore be included in the next chapter which is, in fact, well advanced.

THANKS TO KAVEGE FOR THE BETA READING.

-O-

MARVELS AND MADNESS

When the Demiurge, the first living consciousness on earth, mingled his essence with that of the planet, he gave birth to the first divine beings.

Unfortunately, the latter, with the exception of Oshtur and Gaia, sank into degeneration and became the first demons of Earth. One ofellows and thus eliminating potential rivals.

His name was Set. He was the first snake and the first murderer of the Earth.

But Gaia gave birth to Atum, the godslayer. Atum, in the form of the Demogorge, destroyed the old gods, except Gaia and Oshtur as well as those who managed to escape him. Set was one of them.

Many times the serpent god tried to return to Earth, without success, but his influence on the planet remained.

Creator of the serpent-man race in its many forms, Set saw with an annoyed eye the rise of mammals, whom he considered prey for his creations.

Then came the moment when the "homo" genre separated from the monkey.

There was a garden. A green paradise for two of these creatures, which as part of their migration, returned to the garden every year, followed by their tribe.

If their minds had been able to, they would have held the place as sacred.

However, one day, as the two beings returned to the garden like every year, they discovered another tribe, which they had never seen before. A tribe in good health, which did not bear the marks of the daily difficulties of their fellows; As if all their needs and desires were satisfied.

The leader of the foreign tribe came to find the two beings and spoke directly to their spirit.

"Welcome to Heaven, friends".

The two beings listened attentively trying to better understand what their minds allowed.

"We are the tribe of the mighty Set".

"We never leave this place to hunt our food. Set feeds us and keeps us warm. We are never sick and none of us ever die. We will live forever in joy. Do you want to join us?"

" How ? '' asked the male and the female.

"You have to help Set, so he will help you. Set needs to be fed. Your Tribe will become his food. You must help us kill trick them. They will die but you will live forever. Then, when the visitors from heaven come, you will lead us to them. Then we will all be happy forever."

The two proto-sapiens hesitated for a moment. They did not understand everything that this leader had said…. But they understood enough to make a decision and attack the leader.

But then, the enraged and horrified proto-sapiens saw that the leader began to change, revealing his true, demonic, form. That of a snake man. A race of shapeshifters created by Set to hunt and consume all sentient life.

The rest of the tribe returned to their true form and attacked. Overwhelmed by the numbers, the male and female fled, screaming for help to the rest of their tribe. They quickly came running in response and together they chased the snake men out of the garden.

No sooner was the battle over than the chief and his companion saw the incomprehensible spectacle that the snake man had predicted. Because the gigantic ship of the FIRST HOST descended from the sky. Huge, enigmatic, almighty aliens making their first visit to the planet.

And in front of the ship stood the goddess Gaia, protector of all life on Earth, shining like a star, smiling at the astonished tribe, telling them to accept the gift the space gods were bringing for them.

Gammenon, the gatherer, gently picked up the terrified tribesmen, bringing down a sense of peace as they fell asleep.

Inside the ship, the Celestials altered the genetic blueprint of the tribe, creating three races of humanity.

The "eternals", immortals with great powers.

The "deviants", whose genetic structure varied from one individual to another.

The Celestials let the other members of the tribe evolve naturally, into normal humans but implanting in them genes that would one day develop into a superhuman race.

Envious, the Serpent Men approached the Celestials. Set had evolved their minds faster than those of mammals. Surely, they thought, the Celestials would also guarantee them gifts.

But Arishem the Judge chased the snake men away, deeming them too magically altered and their race hopeless.

Thereafter, for some time, the serpent men and other equally demonic races terrorized the emerging human race. However, humanity grew stronger and counterattacked, forcing the Serpent Men to hide.

Subsequently, it was the legendary King Kull of Valusia who slew most of the last Serpentmen on Earth.

Set, of course, was furious that the race he fathered was thus rejected by the Celestials. For millennia, he believed his creations extinct until the last.

To see that they had survived elsewhere was…. A pleasant and unexpected surprise.

The evil god then searched for the exact source that activated the spell. Which of his children is the source of this joy?

The search does not last long. Tracking the remnants of mystical energy back to its source is as easy as tracking the heat of prey.

What he feels at first displeases him. He smells the traces of a Celestial. A race he particularly hates since their first coming and rejection. Slowly his spirit advances in the cold and in the darkness. For a long time patience and discretion have always served him well.

Mammals…. Prey therefore, refugees in a city of stone. A castle.

Eventually, he finds a sleeping little girl. He observes, he reads the past of the young girl…. And that of her race.

The Medusa are a branch offshoot of Set's creations and through it he has no trouble seeing the past of his entire race. He sees the Serpent Men fleeing humanity through the Gate long ago, when the Serpent Men's Empire was collapsing. They see some of his people fleeing through an unknown mystical portal, the Gate's first appearance on Earth, long before the reign of King Kull.

He then discovers something that delights him.

On the one hand, the race of snake men has survived in this world, it has evolved and diversified. This represents areas of major power and influence. On the other hand, these breeds have "softened up". They almost no longer hunt the humans who have enslaved and domesticated them. This young Medusa is also a servant to the lord of this castle.

It is now necessary to explain some things about faith and the usefulness that gods or similar entities can derive from it.

In the case of Set, he derives his power from his birth, made from the energies of the Demiurge. Added to this is the essence of the beings he devoured, including several of the ancient gods born at the same time as him. Finally, he can draw power from his worshippers.

When a magician invokes the magic of Set, or another supernatural entity, there is a kind of " deal/exchange" that takes place. Set lends his power but in return the magician must later provide energy and compensation. This is the basic pact with all sorts of variations (for example some offer their soul in exchange for more power permanently).

The case of worshipers is different. Each creature has a "mystical potential". It's her natural magic, although she usually doesn't know how to use it.

Now a worshiper acts by "faith" towards a divinity. He surrenders himself, and with him his magical energy, completely and willingly to the entity in question. In summary he says "oh my god, I offer myself entirely to you, do with me what you want". The god/demon/other can therefore have "free" use of this energy at such times.

The most appreciated ritual is the sacrifice. During a sacrifice, the energy of the being sacrificed is permanently added to the power of the god because usually his soul, which has the ability to generate mystical energies, is absorbed.

Of course, Set enjoys adding these sources of magic to his own power. This is why he encourages all religions that can serve him, sometimes posing as another entity, and this is also why the demons hate impostors who pretend to be them and therefore steal these mystical energy sources. .

Set doesn't hate humans per se. Their worship gives him power in the same way as snake men or other creatures. They are therefore a source of energy that must be maintained, as any breeder takes care of his livestock.

The serpent god continued to read the mind of the girl and of his race. He then saw that this world offered many opportunities.

Aurea for her part felt oddly well. She wasn't dreaming, strictly speaking, but she was in a pleasantly warm place with an unknown and familiar presence. She didn't know why but she felt…. With family.

Which was surprising since she had never known her family. One of Telta's slave traders claimed to be auctioning off the Medusa. Always on the lookout for originality and having pity on the child (another buyer would have used the Medusa as a luxury prostitute or monster for the Telta arenas), Colt had won the auction for a real fortune.

Ever since, Aurea considered the servants of the castle, who had raised her like a little sister, like her family.

But this time the feeling was different. Due to her youth, there were many things she could not compare, due to lack of experience. Her reaction was more instinctive than logical.

"Who is here ?" she asked from the depths of her "waking dream".

"SSSSHHHHHSSSJJJJJKKK" was the answer from the darkness.

The snakes on little Medusa's head lowered in submission and Aurea herself almost wanted to fly away in delight…. Even if she didn't know why.

This reaction pleased the demon-god. Not out of affection of course, but because it indicated that the serpentine races on this world were sensitive to his hold despite being cut off from him for hundreds of thousands of years.

"I am your ancestor," declared the voice.

"My ancestor?" Aurea asked.

"All the Medusas are my children. I am your ancestor to all of you, to the Lamias, to the serpent men. I have many names, but your soul knows me. Speak my name".

A word came up from Aurea's throat.

"Da…. Damballah?"

"It is one of my many names. Look even further, dive deep into your being and you will see."

The serpentine part of Aurea's essence then whispered a name.

"Set."

By speaking her name freely, Aurea had just strengthened the bond between her and the creator of her race. The serpent god could then appear in all his glory/horror. Aurea could now fully see him and not just hear him.

It was…. Wonderful. A giant snake with seven heads, covered with scales shining like emeralds. In each of his eyes she could see age-old wisdom, and the noises he made as he hissed with his tongues were music to young Medusa's ears.

She knelt in turn, as befits her god.

"It's useless, get up, child dear to my heart".

Aurea stood up.

"Would you like to help me?" asked the seven-headed monster.

It wasn't really a request, but a manipulation to make the little girl feel like she had a choice. He had to convert her slowly, patiently, until his grip was complete. For this, free will, or at least the illusion of free will, made things much easier.

Of course, the serpent god would have had no trouble taking over the mind of a member of the race he created. However, its takeover could be noticed by other entities, including the nearby Celestial. It was therefore better to remain as discreet as possible and above all not to attract attention. That was how his best plans had always worked.

"Help you ? I want to, but how could I help you?"

"You can help me…. By helping yourself. By helping your people."

"My people ?"

"Through you, I see your people…. who are also my people, my children. I saw how you were abused, enslaved…. Or Killed. Help me save them".

By "save them," Set meant "bring them under my dominion," but he was careful not to tell Aurea that.

Then images flashed through the little girl's head. Pictures from her past. She saw what had happened to her ancestors, the Medusas hunted almost to extinction by humans because they were afraid. She saw the encampment in the swamps where she was born…. Until the Saderans burned the camp on the orders of the governor of the region who intended to pass caravans nearby and feared for the safety of the merchants.

Her parents had been killed. Fire is the Medusa's worst enemy. She owed her survival only to the greed of an officer who had estimated that he could resell the little girl of a few months for a good price in Telta.

She saw many other horrors concerning other races close to the Medusas, such as Lamias and Cobrarians, hunted, killed, enslaved…. Or transformed into clothing. The scaled skin of the Cobrarians had a certain success with the female gender of the nobility.

The little girl was terrified and sickened by all this barbarity (a lot of things Set was showing weren't from Falmart and Aurea couldn't know that, but it would help in convincing her).

As far back as she could remember, Aurea had always lived here in the castle. Of course she had been informed that she had been bought by the Count at the slave market and that demi-humans were treated badly outside of Italica but she had never been confronted so directly with the horror of reality. .

"Ho…. How can I help you ?" asked the young Medusa to the magnificent deity in whom her heart trusted.

Set smiled. The girl would be easy to manipulate until he no longer needed her. When that time came, her fate would then depend on his mood. She would either be rewarded…. or eaten.

-O-

Amiek had spent a wonderful evening with the princess and her two [personalized assistants/subordinates/friends]. They had made it possible to address several interesting and unexpected questions.

To begin with, their [attempted matings/copulation/having a child], although doomed to failure, had caused all sorts of exciting [hormonal reactions/stimulation/excitement] in his human body. Of course he knew perfectly the physico-chemical processes linked to the perpetuation of this species, but the [sensations/feelings/emotions] generated, although chaotic, led him to consider things differently.

It was a different kind of excitement than the search for knowledge. He had never considered it.

It would have been simple to cut short this reaction by manipulating the neurochemistry of his own human brain, but then he could not have had the experience he sought. The downside of this move was that he had to suffer the consequences.

In fact…. He almost came close to [performing the ritual/giving in to the advances/mating]. He could very well do that without procreating. The Celestial part of his being had no objection to this as long as no [hybrid/child/life] was created as this would allow additional information to be obtained and the hormones of his human part [sending signals continuously/really pressured him/kept growing].

However [a calculation of probabilities between risks and benefits/a statistic/a hunch], told him that [more research was needed/he was not ready/it was premature].

Since it appeared that the so-called "Panache" had the most experience on the subject, it was to her that he asked the majority of his questions.

Panache, for her part, did not feel well at all. In fact, she was downright uncomfortable. Being forced to offer your body to a stranger is one thing. Being forced to expose your private life is another.

"It's for the safety of the Empire! This is for Princess Pina! This is for the safety of the Empire! This is for Princess Pina! she kept repeating, inwardly.

Moreover, and although all of this was [of great interest/fascinating/very interesting], another question had arisen in Amiek's mind since the princess had made the introductions.

The Celestials possess only a small part of the "Cosmic Consciousness". They know very well what is happening on the scale of the universe but not on the scale of an insignificant planet. They are informed of the great cosmic disturbances, but not of the small details of each individual's life. They could gain the rest of the cosmic consciousness but it would change their nature in a way they deem [contrary to their goals/undesirable/harmful].

However, they know how to recognize an anomaly, no matter how insignificant, when they encounter it and then they seek to resolve it. Given the means at their disposal, there is very little mystery that remains beyond their comprehension.

In this case, the names of the 3 women must have triggered a process of internal analysis in the equivalent of Amiek's "subconscious". When he heard the name "Pina Co Lada", it did not appeal to him too much. There were all kinds of names across the universe. A human would have been taken aback by this name which evokes an alcoholic drink. Not a Celestial at all.

One might wonder what such information is doing in the consciousness of the Celestials.

It's very simple: from the Celestials' point of view, there is no information, no matter how small, that does not belong in their databases. We can find information on the positioning of a grain of sand in the intergalactic void just as we can find the technologies of metaphysical transcendences.

In this case, [this information/this data/this intelligence] on alcoholic beverages, had been recorded when the Celestial Ashema had merged his mind with that of Franklyn Richard and accessed all the information of the world he had created. This [exchange/mind meld/spiritual interconnection] and all of its contents was forever recorded in the Celestials' databases…. Including with regard to alcoholic beverages.

An information update occurred when Tiamut the Communicator awakened and absorbed Earth's internet... Including google, yahoo, youtube, wikipedia, the US government's secret information etc….

So in short, Amiek was well informed about Earth's alcoholic beverages.

The princess had introduced the curly-haired girl [under the classification/as being/referred to] as "Bozes". This had triggered a first connection between the two names, in his mind but too small to be taken into account by the higher strata of the Celestial's "thought".

Finally the princess presented "Panache". What had multiplied the links in his mind and had entered a field of probability that deserved investigation.

Added to this, he had heard the Princess call one of her [administrative unit/deputies/assistants] "Hamilton", bringing the coincidences number to four.

In other words, Amiek was finally surprised to simultaneously encounter four people who had no connection to Earth for millennia, bearing names linked to modern-day alcoholic beverages. Statistically it was improbable enough to warrant attention and so it had reached the stage where he needed to gather additional information.

So he had asked the three girls about it. At that time, the princess had been very proud to see that the Apostle was interested in her order of chivalry. He had [memorized/taken note/stored in his memory] the most prestigious members of the order.

Pina Co Lada.

Bozes Co Palesti.

Plume Fure Kalgi.

Beefeater E Caty.

Gray Co Aldo.

Hamilton Uno Ror.

Margarita.

Nikolashka LeMon.

Norma Co Igloo.

Shandy Graff Marea.

Swiss Co Mein.

All members of the Order of the Rose, formed by the Princess, had names associated with alcoholic beverages.

Statistically speaking it was too unlikely to be [classified/considered/to be] a coincidence. There was [an anomaly/mystery/riddle] that needed to be solved.

The problem was that no matter how much he [analyzed the question from all angles / put forward all the theories / do all the research] he did not arrive at any result.

However, before he could [deal with the matter more precisely/refine his analysis/find an explanation] he received a message directly in his mind.

The Celestial Host called him back.

This did not prevent him in any way from continuing to discuss with the princess and her two [deputies/comrades/friends].

-O-

A few hours later, dawn broke and with it the end of the "ordeal" of Pina, Bozes and Panache.

An "unforgettable" night for the three comrades: they swore to each other that they would not be caught again. They hadn't been able to sleep, so they were completely "tired", "washed out", "dried up". Their bed would never have seemed so wonderful to them. Even their training with Gray Co Aldo and the need to sometimes sleep in the woods, on the ground, had never left them so tired.

When they had entered this room, they had believed that, at worst, the individual would "fight" them in bed with his "manliness" against "their beauty". A battle she had every intention of winning. Being women and three in number, they thought they had the advantage.

There was no "battle". Instead of which they had to answer the questions of a "child", not to say "a moron", it is in any case the feeling that they had when coming out of the room.

As they walked down the hall, with what little strength and mental focus they could retain, Bozes asked a question first.

"Princess, are you really, sure, completely and totally, ABSOLUTELY sure that this guy is really an Apostle of the Gods with gigantic powers? There really isn't the possibility of an error or deception somewhere? »

Pina looked at Bozes for a moment, with the look of a dead fish.

"I am absolutely sure that there is no mistake. I wouldn't have gone to offer my body to that boy if I had any doubts. Other than that, I don't understand it either. I felt like I was talking to a 5 year old. Yet it is an Apostle. I saw him come back to life before my own eyes as Emroy's Apostle cut him in half. Why did his god choose a moron to become an Apostle? I too would like someone to come and explain to me".

"Well, in the meantime what are your orders princess?" The attempt at seduction is a failure. Is there another plan?" Panache asked.

"Maybe we could offer him a ride on horseback? Children love to ride horses." Bozes said wryly.

This plan that, in fact, could REALLY have come to something. Amiek had never ridden a horse and the experience might have interested him, but Bozes would never know.

"I'm too tired to think. There are still three hours left before we have to get up. I'm going to bed. Do the same." replied the Princess.

Very wise advice in fact that Panache and Bozes had no difficulty in putting into practice.

Three hours later….

….

….

….

"BONG!" was the sound that roused the princess from her slumber and brought her back to reality.

The first thing she saw was the old governess Kaine, smiling with her hands over her ears as the "gong" that had woken her the last time was present again.

Pina was furious.

"ARE YOU CRAZY ?! WHY DID YOU DO THAT ?"

"But princess, according to your orders, if I have trouble waking you up, I am authorized to use drastic measures. You asked me "another 5 minutes" a quarter of an hour ago. So I had to resort to drastic measures".

From the depths of her sleep, Pina did not remember that the old lady came to see her a quarter of an hour ago, but perhaps she was too tired to memorize or even realize this moment?

In any case, she had doubts. The smile on Kaine and the servants' faces was far too angelic to be honest. She frankly suspected that the old governess was doing it on purpose.

"I hope you at least have a good reason for waking me up like this. I warn you I had a horrible night and I am in a very bad mood."

Taking on the seriousness that his office demands, Kaine replied.

"The Celestial Apostle is holding an audience in the reception hall. The Count invites all important personalities. I thought it was good to warn you."

That was actually a great reason. Almost immediately, the princess's fatigue disappeared under a rush of adrenaline.

"WHAT ? WHEN IS THE AUDIENCE IS SCHEDULED?"

"He wanted to start immediately but the Count requested your presence before starting."

Pina was already out of bed. Getting dressed somehow in an emergency.

"Go get Hamilton, Panache and Bozes, tell them to meet me immediately in the reception room."

"As you order Princess. Louisia, Mourie, follow me with the gong. »

"ABSOLUTELY NOT ! I FORBID YOU TO DO THIS! LEAVE THIS DIRTY THING HERE AND WAKE THEM UP NORMALLY!"

Kaine turned back to the princess.

"Again I am at your command princess. However, I am surprised. You have already been awakened twice by the gong. I would have thought that you would like to share such a great experience with your subordinates at least once."

Pina thought for a moment about this proposal. Admittedly, it was tempting. Very tempting.

"No. They don't deserve this... I would have allowed a war horn if you had one like when my knights are in training but that's it. Now go wake them up and tell them to join me."

As Pina hurriedly left the room, Kaine smiled again, whispering under her breath.

"Princess…. Of course we have a war horn here. It would even be strange if a fortified city did not have one. I'll go get it."

After all, the elderly are also entitled to their little pleasures.

-O-

Meanwhile, in the throne room Colt had arranged a meeting at Amiek's request. Apart from himself, Myui and a few maids and knights, one could note the presence of Rory, who had still not recovered from his emotions and was completely listless, holding the luminous ball in which Emroy was locked under her right arm and her halberd in his left hand. Grassac was standing by her side (eating some kind of sandwich, not at all uncomfortable with this behavior in front of a noble).

Lelei was also present but inattentive. Last night's experience had kept her awake.

Tuka stood at the Celestial's side, ready to assist him in any way at his disposal.

At the moment, Colt was explaining some things to Persia and Delilah.

"So if I understand Monsieur le Comte correctly, when he says he wants our bodies, he really means that he wants to use his magic to see better inside us without hurting us. That's it ?" Persia asked, still puzzled.

"That's it." answered the Count.

Colt was not happy to have to explain this to two of his favorite servants, but since Amiek had requested to take them, he had to explain to them as well as possible what to expect.

It was not a pleasant topic of conversation.

Myui, for her part, didn't quite understand what it was all about. Her father had always insisted that she be present at major events. Normally he would have made an exception this time, but she had insisted on being with him as much as possible since he had returned.

Her gaze was fixed on the new Apostle and Myui felt like…. Oh, sure she could be wrong, but she still felt like…. That he was afraid.

She wasn't wrong.

Although the word "fear" was probably an exageration. However, Amiek was indeed [worried/disturbed/anxious].

The subject of his concern was the [recall/summons/return order] he had received. It was WAY too early.

Normally, the procedure would have [took/required/needed] at least ten years for him to complete his research, but he had only been there for [only/approximately/about] 2 months. So why was he called back so soon?

He didn't ask for a reason since there was no reason to argue. Only [execute/obey/comply with] his directives.

Yet he couldn't deny being worried. It couldn't be for a simple report. For the Celestials, the concept of place and distance means nothing. If they needed more information from Amiek, they could very well provide it telepathically. No need for him to be present on site like a human going to a job interview.

"Why are they calling me back so early? Did I make a mistake? I extrapolated the parameters several times but always within the framework of my mission. I had the authorization and [I did not abuse it / I did not do it without proof / the circumstances allowed these sprains]. So why ?"

The Celestial had in mind the examples of Gamiel the manipulator and Devron the experimenter (see Marvel Monsters: Devil Dinosaur #1). They were younger than him, but for reasons he didn't know, they hadn't been brought up in Dyson's sphere like him. They had always been free to act since their [commissioning/creation/birth].

Amiek had always assumed it was because they were originally designed differently from him.

Anyway, these two were a textbook case. Their [improper procedure/mistakes/mistakes] were the cause of, among other things, the first Kree-Skrull war. Had he himself made such mistakes?

No, and even then it was far too early for an assessment. This reminder was certainly not to [punish/punish/hold him against] anything.

So why ?

Only one possible explanation: The Celestial Host had estimated that the current situation was beyond his competence and that he should be replaced, probably based on the expertise of Apotheos the evaluator.

The consequences were easy [to guess/determine/it was the highest probability]. He would be heard by the Host to judge his case. Apotheos would complete its assessment. Then it would be decided if Amiek should return to the sphere for a certain amount of time or if he would be assigned to an analysis theater more suited to his skills.

In addition, an Other Celestial would be designated to take over the analyzes in progress on Falmart.

Of course, Amiek would never return to this world. Not for millions of years anyway. Everything he had built, the people he had met…. He was spending his last moments with them.

Colt, Tuka…. He would regret not seeing them again.

In addition to anxiety, this caused Amiek to experience a new emotional state.

Sadness.

[Premature conclusions/it's not an obligation/there are other possibilities] he thought, but that didn't reassure him much.

It was then that the princess came running into the hall, half-breathless, awkwardly trying to adjust the collar of her formal shirt.

"I ran…. Pffff….. pffff…. As fast as possible. What….pffff….. what's going on?" Pina asked trying to catch her breath.

"Oh princess. Here you are. Amiek informed me of an imminent event of primary importance."

" What's going on ?" asked Pina, who had just finished regaining her composure.

"I am called back. I have to go away."

This immediately aroused the interest and concern of the princess.

"What ? You…. Are you leaving already?"

"Yes".

"But…. I…. You can't leave so quickly."

"[What's stopping me?/Why?/Ah?]"

"We have only just met. You can't leave us already. Besides, it's morning. Let's start by having breakfast and then we'll talk. We…. Uh, let's not finish last night's conversation. You also seemed to be interested in the Knights of the Order of the Rose. There is still a lot to say about them. I would also like to tell you about the Empire. I'm sure we could become good friends and…."

In fact the Princess absolutely wanted to keep Amiek here to win his favor. Which would not be possible if he left. For that all the pretexts were good.

"[I am sorry/it is regrettable/another time maybe] but I am summoned to my fellows to report on my activities. I must be present."

"A report to his fellows?" the Count and the Princess thought simultaneously.

While Colt knew full well what Amiek's "likes" were, Pina thought it must be a reunion between the Apostles of the other gods beyond the Gate. Her brain started working at high speed and came to a conclusion very quickly. She had to meet these Apostles, talk with them. There would surely be someone easier to pin down than this "Amiek" among them and perhaps she could form an alliance with one or more of them.

Maybe she could even urge the gods beyond the Gate to fight each other rather than the Empire. Rivalries between the gods were commonplace. Emroy and Zuufmut, Duncan and Lunaryur, Deldort and Elange….

"A single report from this 'Amiek' and the other Apostles might attack in turn. I can't allow him to go away like this."

"I'LL COME WITH Y….."

The princess had no time to finish her sentence.

"POOOOOOOOHHHHHH"

"What was that noise?" Tuka asked.

"It's my father's old war horn that Kaine used to wake me up when I didn't want to get up. She stopped on my wedding day since my wife knew very well how to get me out of bed. So it's been about 17 years since I've heard it." the Count explained with a smile. It brought back old childhood memories.

"She…. She really dared!" Pina exclaimed angrily.

"Oh, don't take offense princess. Instead, imagine the face of the person who has just been awakened. It will help you to accept".

Pina didn't know if it was Bozes or Panache who had just been awakened but either way... In fact, it made her smile. She remembered her two classmates often pulling similar pranks on her before Gray decided to discipline them. She had never had the opportunity to "return the favor".

Despite this, she was still a Princess, and Bozes and Panache were high nobility. These liberties taken by the old governess were unacceptable.

"And you don't mind?"You allow your maid to do that?"

"Princess Pina, did you meet any of your grandmothers?"

"No, they unfortunately both died before I was born."

"I sympathize. However, if you had one, you would know that it is futile to resist them. Kaine is my servant but she is also my surrogate grandmother. So she has a lot of freedom here."

It was no doubt very interesting, but Pina decided that she had more pressing problems than disciplining a maid. She turned back to Amiek.

"So as I was saying I'm going to come with…."

"POOOOOOOOHHHHHH"

"What possessed me to say that I authorized a war horn? I must not have been wide awake to say such nonsense. Something so stupid at such a critical time….".

At least now Bozes AND Panache had to be awake, so this ridiculous business was over for now.

Pina took her breath to fill her lungs to capacity and cried out.

"I'M COMING WITH YOU !"

Everyone was surprised. Not by the declaration but by the way, very undiplomatic, with which the princess expressed herself.

"I think it is necessary to discuss at a higher level to clarify a number of things between the Empire and uh…. The Celestials. There has been a lot of misunderstanding between us so far. Is this acceptable Lord Amiek?".

In fact, it was the Empire that hadn't understood much of the situation. The Celestials were perfectly aware of everything that was happening.

"I [ask you for a moment/please wait/a moment please]."

The Celestial went into a momentary trance and communicated the Princess's request to his peers through a telepathy-like process.

The response was almost instantaneous.

"[Permission granted/you have authorization/you can come]" Amiek explained.

Most of those present in the room did not understand what had just happened. Only Colt and Tuka had a little idea. Pina, for her part, hadn't quite understood either. For her, Amiek had just taken a few seconds to think, making a weird face and then he had accepted.

"Excuse me but when are we leaving? I would like to settle some business beforehand if possible" asked the Count.

"I'm leaving immediately, but you'll stay here. Your city needs [its main administrator/its leader/you]".

This response puzzled the Count.

"What ? But…. I…. Finally, I have to come with you. You need me to mediate with your fellows. I am the one who knows you best. It would be detrimental if..."

"Do not worry. [Our contract/The pact we made/my promise] remains valid. I will grant all your wishes and you will assist me [in whatever way suits me/needs/as the situation requires]. However, from now on, I need to see how you administer this city [given the circumstances/according to the situation/according to the current parameters]. Our minds will stay connected. I will contact you if necessary".

To be separated from the Celestial so brutally, given his powers and what he could suddenly decide to do for some incomprehensible reason was like an ax of Pelagius (Falmartian equivalent of a sword of Damocles) on Colt's head .

However, before he could try to argue any further, someone beat him to it. Myui rushed in front of Amiek.

"CAN YOUR GOD BRING MY MOM BACK ?" she asked hopefully.

Unfazed, the Celestial's response didn't change.

"The Celestials are not gods," repeated Amiek without the slightest weariness.

"As to your question. Yes, but it [would be irrelevant/there is no reason/not an objective] to do so."

Myui had vaguely understood "Yes, he can and no he won't". She lowered her head ready to cry, her moment of mad hope completely crushed.

Colt was watching what was happening. It was the wish that was dearest to his heart, namely that his parents and his wife were still alive. He had wanted to ask Amiek for this favor as part of their contract for a while, but on the one hand, he had never dared, and on the other hand, it was never the right time. Alongside the Celestial, all sorts of more pressing problems kept coming up.

However, the courage of his daughter revived his, moreover, he was going to be separated from the Celestial who was going to go back to Alnus leaving him here. So it was now or never.

"I…. I ask you to grant this favor. As part of our pact, I want you to bring my wife and parents to life." asked the Count with as much humility as he could. As if the way he asked could influence the Celestial's decision.

From Amiek's point of view, this changed things. The bargain between Colt and Amiek allowed this to some extent.

"It [is a point/there's a reason/it's a goal] but I have to do some checks beforehand."

Amiek then began to observe Colt, with eyes that saw everything about him, including his past. Everything is linked to another. Colt was tied to his parents and his wife as strongly as neutrons are tied to protons to form atoms. Tracing those bonds back to where the souls of his wife and parents were was no problem. However, there were some checks to be made. Once the checks were done, the Celestial announced its decision.

"I can bring [your wife/your mate/your female] back into this plane, but I refuse to do it for [your parents/your father and your mother/your parents]."

"Can I…. Can I ask why?"

"Your wife died of illness. She had not come to her natural end. She could still [to be useful/do things/contribute]. Your parents died of [natural causes/old age/their bodies ceased to function due to wear and tear]. It is detrimental to the cosmic balance to return [obsolete/used/counterproductive] elements to the natural course."

Colt understood that Amiek refused to resurrect his parents because they were useless in his eyes. Sometimes he thought the Celestial had something like feelings, pity, compassion…. And the next moment, Amiek announced a horror that demolished this opinion.

However, the face of his daughter who had regained hope by listening to Amiek as a kind of big brother is enough for him.

Although listless, Rory was still sufficiently aware of her surroundings to understand what was going on. She was disgusted. Raising the dead from battle was already sickening because of the insult it represented to life and death, but at least it didn't upset the balance of the world too much in the sense that these people had recently died. It was just a few more survivors at the end of a battle.

However, resurrecting people who died years ago was, in Rory's eyes, a far worse sacrilege. Did the Celestials have no respect for life and death? For souls? To destroy people's afterlife to force them back into life here below was despicable. It was like preventing a child from growing up by keeping it forever in its childlike state.

However, the Celestial was not completely "unreasonable". When he said he refused to resurrect people who died of natural causes because it was harmful to the "cosmic balance" (Rory didn't know what the word "cosmic" meant, but she assumed it meant the order of the world or something similar) reassured her a little. At least these beings still imposed some limits on themselves. She should know more. Maybe she could work out a deal to release Emroy in the case? It was unlikely but she was willing to try anything… including anything.

Amiek then began the process of resurrecting the woman. The miracle was happening again and it was…. Disgusting. Absolutely disgusting.

In the air, a luminous form the size of a human appeared. Soon, the light began to shrink as a skeleton appeared, soon followed by internal organs that lodged into the cavities.

The scene was in slow motion and lasted several minutes instead of seconds. This was for two reasons. First, unlike previous resurrections, the Count's wife had died years ago. The Celestial thought it best to do some checking and "updating" of the Count's [biological matrix/female specimen/woman]. In reality it was not absolutely necessary, just as it is not mandatory to install updates on a computer for it to work.

Nevertheless, the Celestial was keen to [go through all the steps/be efficient/do things right].

We could therefore see in great detail the liver, the stomach, the lungs, the heart, the blood vessels in the process of forming, growing, and putting themselves into action.

Everyone reacted to the phenomenon in their own way.

The Count was disgusted. His wife was resurrected, but the horrible sight made his stomach turn. In the future he would try to think as little as possible about this "blessed moment when the woman of his life came back to life" ; it would not be a good memory in the end.

Myui had hidden behind her father's throne, unable to watch the horrible sight any longer.

Pina wasn't feeling well either. In the last few days she had become somewhat accustomed to the horrors of war and anyway, when she went on goblin hunts with her knights, she had had plenty of time to see the mutilated bodies of the goblins she killed. The main difference was that their interiors were green instead of red, but seeing this undead horror still made her feel uneasy.

The guards in the room were not very comfortable either but they were further away. They couldn't see the nauseous little details.

Tuka was hardly moved by what she saw. Her mind seemed to accept the phenomenon of resurrection and all that goes with it as perfectly natural. Of course, she could not have known that this was due to her "programming" as an Eternal which compelled her to accept the resurrection as part of her life and cut off any thoughts of rejection.

On the other hand, Lelei was absolutely fascinated. In a world where the vivisection of the human body is a taboo because it is considered sacred (except when it comes to slaves who serve as guinea pigs for certain "scientists" of the Empire), it was a very good opportunity. She would later have to ask Amiek for all possible details about the functioning of this living mechanism.

Rory didn't care. The internal human body, she knew perfectly. She had slaughtered more than enough people to know what humans looked like on the inside.

Grassac didn't care either. He had had plenty of time to explore his own body the day before when the bandits had speared, sliced and mutilated him in every possible way…. With the suffering that goes with it. In comparison, what he was seeing was nothing too disturbing. He wondered, however, if creatures in World of Warcraft were made on the inside the same way. When he "killed" them they disappeared so he couldn't know.

Delilah was of much the same opinion. It was still interesting to see in more detail how a human was made from the inside. It was, at first glance, identical to the interior of a Warrior Bunny.

Persia smiled. Her half-cat spirit was amused. It felt like watching a mouse in a cage eating its cheese. Her thought pattern was too different from humans in some things.

Amiek didn't care about any of this. He did things efficiently, not with grace and beauty. The Celestials had a certain sense of aesthetics, but not for that sort of thing.

Now that the skeleton and internal organs were in place, it was the nervous system that began to show, although much of it was simply not visible to the naked eye.

"AYYYAAAHHH!" exclaimed simultaneously Panache and Bozes who had just arrived. Panache threw herself on the skeleton ready to split its skull with her sword, thinking that it was some horrible monster, while Bozes placed herself between Pina and the creature to defend the princess against this abomination.

"STAND BACK PRINCESS! STAY BEHIND ME!" exclaimed Bozes.

Panache for her part did not wait and threw herself on the creature to strike. Her blow effectively shattered the skull of the skeleton, which shattered….. Barely two seconds before coming back to reassemble to the amazement of Panache who was about to strike it again.

"STOP! STOP IMMEDIATELY!" ordered the Count.

The scream was loud enough to stop Panache.

"Eh ? What ?"

"You are interrupting a sacred ritual. Stop immediately or I will force you to," Tuka said, snatching the sword from Panache's hands as if it were a piece of wood. Without her realizing it, her mind was adapting more and more easily to her Eternal powers. Which, again, was due to the programming of the Celestials wanting to avoid any psychological issues this might have caused in other creatures.

The words "sacred rituals" for this thing was another blow to Rory's morale. How could one consider "sacred" what was, on the contrary, the worst sacrilege she had ever seen?

"But I…. This horrible monster..."

"This is my wife." Colt said.

"Your…. Wife ? Are you married to a monster?" Panache asked, completely incredulous.

Sure enough, Panache could see now that flesh was beginning to cover the skeleton, giving the thing the appearance of a woman…. But hearing the Count call this thing "my wife" left her unable to think.

The princess was devastated. Her two friends had just made a huge mistake in good faith. They could not know, but the disaster was there. What would be the reaction of the Apostle to his two subordinates trying to interrupt the ritual? Did it actually succeed? Could Amiek still repair the damage?

….

….

….

….

By opposing his will, had Panache and Bozes just provoked the wrath of his god? If so, would this god just punish the two girls or would his wrath extend to their leader? Would the Empire be involved?

Pina knew little of the gods except that mortals should obey them, but she knew nothing of their way of thinking and their mysterious purposes. She feared the worst, but for now she had to stay calm. Now was not the time to get angry or panicked.

"Panache, Bozes, stop. I appreciate your efforts to protect me but in this situation they are misplaced. I'll explain later, but for now, sheathe your weapons and keep calm." said the princess in an icy tone.

"I… At your command Princess." Bozes and Panache said, sheathing their sword.

When the two friends had learned that the Princess was already in the audience room with the Count and Amiek for an important matter, they had rushed. Although they displayed all the dignity possible as they entered the room, they couldn't hide the fact that they were out of breath. Their faces reddened by the race through the corridors and the stairs, as well as their official dress which they had not had time to adjust, coupled with the sleepless night they had just experienced and the "crazy hag who had woken them up with a war horn.

Yes, they had seen better days.

Their arrival in the throne room and the vision of the "miracle" which occurred there had however completed to wake them up. The adrenaline rush had brought them out of their semi-sleep state.

In the midst of it all, Amiek remained unfazed. Too focused on what he was doing- because he really wanted to devote his full attention to it to care about this interruption. From his point of view, the skull that had shattered with the brains underneath, didn't really matter. It was only the physical appearance of the Countess that could be instantly redone. He was more focused on the balance of the energies that made up her essence, their purification, their reintegration on the physical plane etc…. As well as ensuring that her mind was in perfect harmony with the physical body without experiencing any form of trauma.

Now it was the turn of the skin to settle on the framework of bones and flesh.

In other circumstances, some might have been confused or even…. "stimulated" by the sight of the naked Countess, but after seeing everything below in such detail, no one had that kind of thought in mind. Rather, they had a rancid taste in their throats from the bile rising from their stomachs.

Everything was in place, now was the fateful moment. The reintegration of the essence of being into the [biological matrix/carbon construct/body] of the individual. Amiek took great care to do things right.

A moment passed, then another.

Then the Countess opened her eyes, somewhat out of phase. For her, it was like waking up in full light after a short night. The return to consciousness was painful, difficult to stabilize, but the Celestial had ensured that no trauma remained. From the Countess' point of view, she had simply fallen asleep the night before alongside her husband. She did not know that three hours later her illness had reached its ultimate conclusion. Her heart had slowed down, and finally stopped working. This all happened years ago.

However, when she realized that she was standing in the courtroom in front of her husband, she could not hide her surprise.

"Huh... But what….".

"MOM !" cried Myui, throwing herself against her mother.

The Countess was increasingly disoriented. She had no time to adjust to the situation that another event was already happening. Now she was looking at her daughter, clinging to her leg and….

She didn't recognize her.

She was unaware that several years had passed. Her husband had hardly changed even though he seemed to have slept badly. Her daughter, on the other hand, had grown a lot.

It was then that the Countess realized something: she was naked.

"AAAAHHHH!" she exclaimed, rushing behind her ex-widower's throne, completely panicked.

"WHAT'S GOING ON ?! WHAT DOES THIS MEAN!"

Amiek decided that for future resurrections, if any, he would embed an explanatory routine into the [appropriate brain lobe/brain/memory] of those who would come back to life.

Colt got up from his throne to reassure his wife.

"My sweetheart, I can't say how happy I am to see you again."

"My lord, what's going on? Why am I here? Naked? I should be in bed. Who is this child who calls me "mom"?"

"My sweetheart, it's a bit long to explain. For now let's just say you were caught in a magical sleep. You may have been cured but this…. Took time".

It was a lie but it was better than saying "my sweet heart, you died years ago but today you were resurrected". He would tell her the truth and explain all the details later. For the moment the most important thing was to help his wife regain her composure.

"What is this fable? A magical sleep to cure me? That kind of magic doesn't exist." she said skeptically.

"My sweet heart, I beseech you to believe me. I promise to provide you with all the explanations but for the moment you must calm down."

"CALM DOWN? I'M NAKED IN THE COURTROOM IN FRONT A GATHERING OF COMMONERS AND ALL YOU MATTERS IS THAT I GET CALM?!"

The Countess' understandable fit of hysteria could have lasted a long time like this, but a small voice was about to put an end to it.

"Mom…. Please…. Do not scream. I…. I'm so glad you're here," Myui said crying.

The Countess then turned her gaze to the little girl. Now that she had had the beginning of an explanation, even if she didn't believe it, and looking better at the young girl, hearing her voice, it caused a realization.

"My…. Myui?"

"Yes mom, it's me."

The Countess' barely awakened spirit then did the only thing it could do: it fell back into unconsciousness.

Colt narrowly managed to catch his wife before her head hit the ground.

"Sweetheart, please wake up."

"[Her lethargy will end/she will regain consciousness/wake up] in 15 minutes. explained the Celestial.

All eyes then turned to Amiek.

"What did you do to mom?'' asked the Count's daughter.

"Her brain proceeded to suspend its functions to assimilate the excess information. I have [proceeded/caused/arranged for] this process to take place with optimal efficiency. When the process is complete, she [will have been updated/aware of/know] everything about her situation."

Nobody knew what to say, but the general opinion was that they didn't think it would turn out that way. In fact, nothing had happened as everyone had imagined. Bozes and Panache, for example, did not really believe in the possibility of raising the dead. It was contrary to everything they believed. Only the gods were supposed to be able to raise the dead, and still it wasn't sure because it had never happened.

But now if that were to happen, then everyone would have imagined the deceased appearing very much alive in a sacred light, as if the gates of paradise were opening to allow one of its residents to descend back among the living.

No one imagined a living body forming from the inside in the opposite direction, showing everything that composes it as it goes along. One of the principles of magic is that it is not universal like the laws of physics. There are places where certain styles of magic cannot work. In this case, no form of Necromancy could work on Falmart. You could, in a pinch, make a skeleton move like any other object, but that was more a form of telekinesis than animation of the dead.

Which didn't mean that the "living dead" didn't exist.

It was not possible to revive a corpse, but it was possible to kill a living one without taking away its last spark of life. It was a form of reverse "zombification". The person first fell ill for a few days…. Then his spirit left. His body continued to live, however, although his soul was no longer there.

It happened once in a while. A strange disease would manifest and then people would lose their souls while their bodies would wander and attack those who were different. The body continued like this as long as there were reserves of fat and enough water to allow this state until the flesh eventually tore as it was so dried out and the body crumbled into pieces under the skin as the effect of dehydration.

In short, after the abominable spectacle of the resurrection of the Countess and her hysterical fit that followed, no one felt comfortable.

"Uh…. What do we do now ?" asked Grassac.

"[At first/first step/to begin] to [make more effective/facilitate/simplify] the link between Italica and the city of Alnus, I will establish [a spatial opening/corridor/passage] between the two points. I cannot create a system [that would be more efficient/more sophisticated/more complex] because of the geo-spatial turbulence caused by the proximity of the Gate. However, this simplified system should be sufficient if you stick to limited use".

Colt knew what it was all about. Amiek had explained to him when he had done this during the encounter with the armies of the kingdoms.

However, things were different this time around. Instead of a dark square materializing in the air, a crack formed between Colt and Amiek. The fissure opened and Colt was able to see his room at Alnus through the fissure.

With the exception of Panache and Bozes, no one was really surprised. Even if they didn't know exactly what was going on, everyone had already had their fill of insane miracles over the past few days. So one more or one less didn't make much difference. They were still curious.

"What is this ?" Pina wondered.

Everyone was asking pretty much the same question.

"Only you, Colt Formal of Italica, and myself, and [those with affiliated deoxyribonucleic acid patterns/those who share your kinship/close family] will be able to cross that threshold to travel back and forth between here and Alnus [without loss of time/in an instant/instantly]. This limitation was chosen [for security reasons/to prevent the passage of unauthorized elements/as a precaution]. »

Everyone took the Celestial at his word because apart from Lelei, who would have liked to test the process but could not since she was not a member of the Count family, no one wanted to approach this strange magic.

"Good. This matter being settled, when do we leave?" asked Pina who had seen enough and wanted to refocus the situation on matters more important than the emotional well-being of the Count's wife. It's not that she didn't have compassion, but she had bigger issues to deal with.

"[Immediately/right away/please follow me]."

"Good, then I will leave Hamilton here as a representative to the Count while the investigation into him is in progress. Panache and Bozes will be responsible for maintaining peace and order. That way, my father and the senate will know that the situation is under control. I will go alone to Alnus''.

Colt had almost forgotten that. He was still suspected of desertion and treason. What a stupid situation considering the stakes.

Yes, the day his wife came back to life would not be a good memory. Too many things had ruined the moment. Of course he would be happy a little later with his wife when he would have taken the time to explain to her and that she would have accepted the situation.

"WAIT PRINCESS!" exclaimed Bozes, throwing herself at Pina's feet.

"WE CANNOT LET THE PRINCESS GO INTO ENEMY TERRITORY WITHOUT ANY PROTECTION!"

"IT'S TRUE ! WE WILL BE WITH YOU," added Panache, kneeling alongside Bozes.

Pina took a moment to think before responding.

"Very well. This will be your way of atoning for your mistake earlier. Bozes you will come with me, while you Panache you will stay with the Count and Countess to see if there are consequences to your actions and deal with them as best as possible."

"At your command Princess!" Bozes and Panache replied in unison.

In fact it took about an hour for everyone who left with Amiek for Alnus to be ready. In fact the Celestial wanted to leave immediately but the Princess had arrangements to make, among other things, to give Norma orders concerning the order of the Rose in her absence.

An hour later, therefore, everyone was present with Amiek's strange "magic chariot". Everyone preferred this definition because its real name was too complicated to remember correctly.

As everyone was making their way to the vehicles, the old servant Kaine came to meet Amiek.

"My apologies master, but before you leave, I would like to ask you something," she said, bowing politely to "the Apostle."

"[Please proceed with the transfer of information/I'm listening to you/what do you want to tell me?]"

"First I want to once again express my regrets on behalf of all the servants of the castle for what happened with Aurea. I never imagined that something like this could happen. I don't know how to be forgiven."

"Your guilt is [inappropriate/irrelevant/you had nothing to do with it]."

"I am responsible for each of the maids. It's a responsibility that I still have to take on. It's a matter of principle ".

"That is. [Do you have any other data you need to transfer to me?/Did you want to tell me anything else?/Is that all?]"

"No. I know very well that I am not in a position, even less in my right, to ask for something. However, I have a request."

This statement piqued the Celestial's curiosity. What could a request be? Statistically, there was about a 59% chance that the woman would want to regain her youth. 30% that she was asking for a resurrection, 10% to be cured of the arthritis in the hip he had detected and 1 percent of various other possibilities.

"We are not bound by contract. Any queries you may have should be [addressed/transmitted/it should go through] Count Colt Formal of Italica".

"May I nevertheless make my request?"

Amiek had no objection to this.

"I ask that you take good care of Persia and Delilah while they are with you at Alnus."

"[The procedures do not harm the physical integrity of the specimens/they will be treated well/you have nothing to fear], I promise."

"Thanks. I will be grateful to you again. The staff members are one big family and we take good care of each other."

"I…. Understand." replied Amiek. In fact, things were similar in the Celestial host.

Kaine made a few last minute recommendations to Persia and Delilah then stepped out of the way.

When they arrived at the gates of Italica Pina and Bozes stood on horseback near the strange "magic chariot" with which "the Apostle '' and those who accompanied him had come.

"We are ready to go." Pina declared.

"Very well. Get on the [Dodecahedral Translocator/Means of Locomotion/Vehicle]."

"I prefer to travel on horseback if you don't mind."

Everyone gave the two riders an incredulous look. In fact the princess was a little afraid of the strange vehicle and did not know if she would be able to travel in it. She had more confidence in her horse, especially since it would allow her to flee more easily if necessary.

"[The translocator is a more efficient means of locomotion/it will go faster/we don't have time]. However, you can stay on your [quadruped/mount/horse] inside if you really want to."

Indeed, Pina and Bozes could very well have ridden with their horse inside the machine since it was bigger inside than outside. It would have just been ridiculous.

The two women, having never been in the Translocator, did not understand what Amiek meant. From their perspective, riding with their horse inside the chariot was just impossible.

It was Lelei who explained the situation. Now Pina and Bozes had dismounted from their horse, standing apprehensively in front of the door of the vehicle, the interior of which seemed to them to be drowning in a pit of darkness.

"Do not worry. It's very clear inside. You will understand when you see it." explained the young magician.

Very little reassured but having no real choice, the two friends boarded the craft.

No sooner had they gone up than they were now standing in a room the size of a small house (but which could be enlarged or shrunk as needed). Another peculiarity is that they could perfectly see the outside, as if the they were sitting on chairs in the open air while it was impossible to see the interior of the "magic chariot" from the outside.

It was a very sophisticated form of "tinted glass" although the panes were made of metal alloys and not glass, but of course all of this the people of Falmart could not know.

"More magic. Is it all magic in the other world?" thought Pina

"We're leaving" declared Amiek without further details.

The vehicle then turned directly towards Alnus and began its advance. For the first 50 meters or so, everything went well. Pina and Bozes, as well as Persia and Mamina who had never traveled this way before, were a little destabilized but they were adapting.

It was then that Lelei noticed something.

"Wait, this is a dead end. The trees will prevent us from moving forward."

Indeed. Amiek had decided to take a shortcut back to Alnus. The path they had come by had many ups and downs and many detours.

"This vehicle is designed to overcome these kinds of obstacles." replied the Celestial without giving further explanation and accelerating.

If they had had the time the passengers would probably have panicked, but before they could understand what was happening, Amiek had already dashed through the trees that blocked his way…. And the vehicle passed through as if they did not exist.

"That's…. What's going on Lord Amiek?" Tuka asked.

It was the question everyone wanted to ask except Rory who, in her apathetic state, was completely uninterested in what was going on around her. However, she hugged the sphere that held Emroy to her chest, like a child clinging to a teddy bear.

"This vehicle is designed to be able to [go/travel/get] from one point to another regardless of any obstacles it may encounter. Its primary function of translocation allows it to bend space to create a void in front of it in which it can move forward. Once [it has passed/crossed/traversed], the fold it leaves behind unfolds under the pressure of space-time. It leaves no trace of its passage".

"Uh…. Why didn't we use this method when we came to Italica?"

"I wanted to do some checks on the operation of the Translocator and [it was not necessary/we had time before us/it could wait]."

Again no one understood much of what Amiek was saying, not even Lelei, but that was not very important. It was more interesting to admire the landscape than to try to understand the incomprehensible.

With the exception of Pina, however, who had other concerns in mind than understanding the "magic" used around her. The people of the other world were great magicians, yes. It was no longer to be proven. She should keep her calm and her Princess dignity.

She made a wish in her heart that henceforth she would no longer be surprised by all the miracles she saw.

This was absolutely necessary in the context of the upcoming negotiations…. If there was negotiation.

"I must do my best to plead the cause of the Empire and try to curry favor with those in the other world. Even if for that I have to throw myself into the mouth of the Griffin." she thought

She had barely finished thinking that when Bozes interrupted her thoughts.

"Princess, this is Alnus Hill."

"Already ? Don't be surprised Pina, don't be surprised!"

The journey had taken no more than 15 minutes whereas it would have taken several days for a journey on horseback. It could have happened instantaneously had it not been for the dimensional disruptions caused by the Gate which limited any space-time bending system in its proximity.

"Although it is considered sacred, in practice it is just a deserted hill. Is there a connection between this holy land and the gods of the other world?" the Princess thought.

From inside the vehicle, everyone could see that there was nothing. They could see that they were on top of the hill of Alnus and that apart from the landscape, there was nothing to see.

"What are we doing here?" Persia asked, scratching behind her ear.

No sooner had she asked the question than the vehicle immediately rose into the air. Newcomers who boarded the extrafalmartian machine for the first time were panicked. Delilah even tried to get out. Fortunately for her, the security systems incorporated into the vehicle locked the exits.

"That…. What else is going on?" asked Delilah who clung to Persia. The Warriors Bunny had a natural and unexplained aversion to heights.

"We go up to Alnus."

"How do "we go up to Alnus"? Where is the camp? The barracks? Why are we soaring in the air?" asked Bozes.

"The Celestials have built a city to accommodate the citizens of Coda. However, the city floats in the sky. This makes it impossible to attack from the ground."

"A town…. In the sky ?"

It was then that one of the robots that was observing and interacting with the environment around the city passed by the vehicle. A simple reconnaissance drone. It looked like a metal jellyfish but with the tentacles above the head and squirming in all directions.

The drone was simply making a flight plan for nearby units to let the accredited vehicle through. One of its functions was to protect the city against any possible aggressor. Which would be paralyzed by the same security system in force at Alnus: a temporal field would be activated to freeze the intruder in time and place him in stasis until he could be analyzed.

"What a strange bird…. Or maybe it's some kind of Wyvern?" Bozes asked.

"I can't tell you what it is. The sciences at work here are too complicated for our minds. All I can tell you for sure is that it's not a living being. They call it a "machine". In any case, it is the word that seems to correspond best to us humans."

Pina was curious.

"A machine ? What is that ?"

"Actually the Celestials know how to create life and shape it into whatever shape they want, but they also know how to create things that look like life but aren't alive. Their bodies have all sorts of metal constructions inside them that do things similar to what we do inside our bodies. Since they're not really alive, they can't die. If one of them is damaged, it can be repaired like we repair armor or a carriage."

"If the gods of the other world can restore life to those who have died or even manipulate life into any shape they want... So they can do whatever they want with us…. So none of our magic can compete with theirs."

"You are wrong princess. These creatures are not magical. They are made by means that require no magic. Kind of like a chariot, or a statue. They are not living beings but rather intelligent tools. They only do what they were created for. They have no will of their own. You might consider them perfect slaves."

"If these things can be made without magic, then anyone can make them if they know how?" Pina asked again.

"Yes in theory."

"All this is too different from what we know in the Empire. Our armies can do nothing against those who know how to raise the dead and create life." thought Pina.

"The knowledge of the Celestials is immense. This is why the Empire and the armies of the united kingdoms lost."

"If we could acquire this knowledge…. maybe we could fight those Celestials or at least have a better position to negotiate with them."

"It would be useless to try." Lelei said.

"And why is that so?"

"Because it's way too complicated. I too wanted to understand how these things were made. The Crystal Maids showed me what they call "the workings of a manufacturing unit." That is, where they were made. The only thing I could understand was the extent of my ignorance. I can't explain it to you with words. Just as you can't explain colors to someone who was blind from birth. You have to "see" to truly understand. Let's just say it's so complicated that we can't understand."

"Nothing on Falmart can compare to a flying city and beings that control life and death except the gods…. And we saw what happened to Emroy."

It was the wrong thing to say. Rory came out of her torpor for a moment to glare at the princess who hastened to change the subject.

"You mentioned a crystal maid. Could you tell me more?"

"They're not really women and they're not really crystal. They are so called because they look like women and their bodies are transparent. They were created by the Celestial Amiek to serve the people of Coda. They are, in a way, personal slaves for the citizens. Each inhabitant has one but for my part I have not yet a lot of used the service of mine. They are perfect for answering any questions you might have and unlike real slaves, they never mind any task no matter how degrading, they never tire, never complain and they do whatever it takes. They are better than any living being but there are still some reasonable limits. They will do nothing that endangers their own existence, will not harm anyone, and are above all loyal to the Celestials. They cannot be corrupted or seduced, for example. Oh, by the way, they have no feelings. They cannot love or hate, They cannot suffer or want something for themselves. In fact, they are intelligent tools capable of speaking, but they are still only tools".

"I hope they never come to Italica," said Persia who, without fearing for her job, did not like the idea of such perfect and dedicated servants in the Count's castle.

"Perfect slaves? If such a thing exists it is disgusting." thought Delilah.

While doing her best to hide her astonishment, the Princess couldn't help but ask a question.

" Why…. Why did the Empire attack these beings ?"

"The Empire has trampled the garden of the Celestials."

"HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT WHEN THE EMPIRE IS IN DANGER?" Bozes exclaimed, furious at what she saw as disrespect towards the princess.

"I am a nomad from the Rurudo clan. I'm not part of the Empire." replied the young magician.

"I am the servant of the Celestials." Tuka said for her part.

Rory didn't care either but she had other concerns.

"We all need to be united in this matter but yet no one seems to realize it." thought Pina.

A moment later, the vehicle hovered above the flying city of Alnus.

The resolution taken a little early by the princess not to let herself be surprised by the miracles of the gods of the other world had just been shattered. The vision of this gigantic city floating in the skies was completely foreign to the ways of thinking the princess was accustomed to.

Emroy's defeat the day before was impressive, yes, but after all, logical. It was simply a fight and the stronger had defeated the weaker. On the other hand, all the other marvels she had seen today bordered on madness. It was TOO much for her mind and the only thing keeping her and Bozes from fainting was their training as soldiers. Like what it was used for something finally.

Tuka, Rory, Grassac and Lelei hadn't this problem now, they was accustomed, but Persia, Delilah and Bozes were pretty much in the same condition as the princess. Their minds had no idea how to process what they seeing. Even the resurrection of the Countess, destabilizing as it was, was less disconcerting. Pina was a little better prepared for seeing the fight between Amiek and Emroy, but barely.

Moments later, the vehicle entered Alnus through an airlock. Every instant was a whole new experience for half of the vehicle's occupants.

Delilah was on the verge of panic. Her feelings were screaming danger. Something told her that this was all very dangerous. It was kind of an instinct... No, it wasn't instinct, it was deeper, like a warning. Like pina and Bozes, only her warrior training, and her determination, allowed her not to sink into a fit of hysteria.

When the vehicle finally stopped and the door opened, she jumped through the door and rolled on the floor. She had never loved the ground under her feet so much.

"Delilah, please dress up a bit. I remind you that we represent the Count and his family," Persia reminded her.

The cat-girl had chosen her words well. Delilah's sense of duty took over her instincts and she got to her feet immediately.

A little concerned by this situation, Pina approached Amiek.

"Excuse me Sir Amiek, could I speak to you for a few minutes please? Just the two of us."

"No. I will be busy. We will [exchange information/discuss/talk] later. This [work unit/artificial life form/crystal servant] will be your guide and answer all your questions." replied Amiek, pointing to one of the crystal servants who had come to meet them.

The newcomers looked around.

"Is that really Alnus Hill? The city of the gods of the other world?" Bozes asked.

Her gaze had rested for a short moment on the surrounding buildings and it was already impressive. These towers were at least three times taller than Sadera's tallest tower. However, it was the people flying through the air that really caught her attention.

"Is this a city for mages like Rondel? I thought it was a refuge for the people of Coda." Pina asked.

"They are not mages. There are no mages in this city except myself and my master. These people are the people of Coda." Lelei replied.

"EH ?! That does not make any sense. How can these people fly if they are not mages?" exclaimed the second in command of the Order of the Rose.

"Everyone who lives in Alnus gains the ability to fly. It is one of the benefits of the city. Now you can fly too, if you want. It's a gift from the Celestials." Tuka explained.

"How do we do it? Should I flap my arms like a bird?" asked Persia, who was very interested.

" No. Just think about flying. Look at a place where you want to go and pretend that you are going there, but without using your legs."

A curious request but Persia tried, and a short time later she began to rise from the ground.

"It's fantastic. I feel like I'm doing this naturally, like I always knew. You should try Delilah. Delilah?!"

After her moment of euphoria earlier, Delilah was now on her knees throwing up. Her organism, absolutely not designed for life at altitude, was having difficulty adapting.

Worried, Persia rushed to the side of her colleague and friend as well as Tuka and Lelei.

"Delilah? Is it going to be okay?"

Without the girl having time to answer, a light passed on Delilah who rose in the air to everyone's amazement.

One of the city's guardians, a kind of metal "disc" supposed to maintain order, had placed the Warrior Bunny in a stasis field. Now he was floating away with her a little further.

"DELILAH?! WHAT IS THIS THING ? WHAT DOES IT WANT WITH DELILAH?!"

The crystal servant approached her to calm her down.

"Do not worry. This law enforcement unit takes your friend to what you would call a "healer's guild" although its correct name would rather be "medical clinic". She will receive the best care. Would you like to accompany her?"

"ABSOLUTELY. I WANT TO KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO HER!"

A moment later, a metal disc similar to the first arrived.

"Let this law enforcement unit take you. You will be welcomed to the "healer's guild" and you will be able to see with your eyes what is going on. Let yourself be guided without fear."

Persia didn't trust her, but she was too worried about Delilah, and anyway, it was too late to back down now. The neko firmed up her courage and let herself be carried away by the strange metal disc. Instead of emitting a biostasis field, the law enforcement unit created an antigravity space and took Persia down the same path as her friend.

Bozes and Pina were dumbfounded. They were entitled to a new concept completely foreign to everything they knew one after the other. Their brains had given up.

"Bozes?"

"Yes Princess?"

"Since this morning, you have seen the Countess of Italica rise again, then you and I traveled in a magic chariot that passes through the trees, then we rose in the air to arrive in a city flying in the sky, after that we discovered that in this city everyone can fly, then we met a woman transparent like glass and finally we saw two circles of silver carrying two demi-humans in a tower higher than anything what exists in Sadera isn't it? » "Yes Princess. »

"It's good my friend, it's very good."

The Princess really appreciated that her childhood best friend could confirm her thoughts as she found it increasingly difficult to believe that she was not going crazy.

From there, everyone went about their business.

-O-

Normally, Amiek would be busy with Persia and Delilah himself, taking the opportunity to [run some tests/do some more in-depth research/analyze them himself] along the way, but he had better things to do right now. Admittedly, as Celestial he had [the ability to be in several places at the same time/the gift of ubiquity/simultaneously perform several tasks in various places], but any spatial or temporal manipulation was to be avoided close to the Gate. Never mind. He would just [browse the reports/download the results/view the data collected] by the crystal servants and conduct additional tests later.

Amiek had ordered Tuka to come with him. She didn't know what he wanted, but she was happy to be able to be useful to "her" Celestial, even if she had no choice anyway. The "First Principle" implanted in every Eternal was "Protect the Celestials". Which could perfectly be interpreted as "obey the Celestials". Which didn't prevent her from being curious about Amiek's intentions.

A few minutes later they had returned to the Celestial's laboratory. Some might have hated this place and the painless but disturbing experiments that the Celestial had performed on the body of Āīlo͞ovǣn. The Elf, on the contrary, loved this place very much, she even considered it sacred because it was there that the truth about her origins and those of her people, as well as her awakening to her full nature as eternal, had taken place.

"My Lord, what are we doing here?"

"I have to design specific material for those who will [accompany/follow me/come with me] tomorrow. Their [physical integrity/being/life] would otherwise be in danger."

"Can I assist you in any way?"

"[Your services are not required for this task/you cannot help me/No]."

"Then why am I here? What are you expecting from me ?"

"I have to appear before the Celestial assembly tomorrow. I might be [dismissed/reassigned/have to leave Falmart and can't come back]. I would like to complete at least one of [what I started/work/something about you] before that."

"So what my Lord?"

Amiek pointed to what looked like a human-sized black box in a corner of the lab."

"You must have already felt [physical-spiritual/your very nature/in your body and mind] change for some time. I wanted to observe [these changes/your metamorphosis/what you become] over the next few months. It might not be possible. So I will [finish the process/complete your evolution/accelerate your transformation] right now."

To others it might have been a frightening prospect. For Tuka? It was a blessing from her god.

"You just have to lie down in this accelerator of genetic potential. It is already [configured for your physiology/ready to use/everything will be fine]."

Without further questioning, Tuka lay down in the device, confident and intrigued. The device quickly put her into a dreamless slumber as it made all the necessary modifications to her body and mind so that when the Elf awoke, she was fully Eternal.

While Tuka left her mortal life for good, Amiek began to design and manufacture specific equipment for all those who would appear tomorrow with him in front of the Celestial host.

-O-

Meanwhile, Delilah too was in a dreamless slumber inside a device that looked a lot like Tuka's, but with the sole mission of analyzing and repairing the Warrior Bunny's body, under the supervision of the crystal handmaids.

To be able to analyze her more effectively and, incidentally, to save her unnecessary suffering, Delilah was plunged into an artificial coma. The machine had completed its analyzes and was now delivering a diagnostic that was transmitted instantly to the other diagnostic machines before the final result was transmitted directly to the computer minds of the crystal servants.

Persia would have liked to be with her friend to hold her hand, but it was not possible. This would have disrupted the work of the machines and hampered the care. She therefore had to content herself with watching Delilah on a holographic projection in an adjoining room. One of the crystal maids, sky blue in color, was answering her questions.

"What are you doing to her? How is she ? Why did she get sick just arriving here at Alnus?"

To what the robot was responding to the best of its abilities.

"We are in the process of determining what is the evil that is eating away at her. The problem has already been identified. She is simply having difficulty withstanding the change in pressure outside the city, but this problem has begun to resolve upon entering the dome where living conditions are similar to those on the surface of your planet. Not fast enough though. She felt faint and passed out. We have placed her in a more appropriate environment and her transition is underway. She'll be perfectly fine in two hours." »

Persia didn't understand everything. Words like "transition" or "planet" were not part of her vocabulary. However, she understood when the crystal servant said that Delilah would be fine in two hours. What really bothered her... It was the Crystal Maid herself.

Regarding Amiek, she had trouble understanding him but in some ways he was very easy to read. Her instincts, as well as some of her higher-than-human perceptions, told Persia that the individual was pretty much reliable. He felt emotions even if they were distorted or difficult to interpret.

On the other hand, the crystal servants were "unreadable". Their words were much more understandable but even if their voices could be warm and were varied enough to give the illusion of living beings, their bodies did not betray any emotions. No hesitation in their actions, no tremors. This feeling, which she could not explain, disturbed her a little…. But as far as she could tell, the Crystal Maids didn't seem to be lying.

"Could you explain this to me more simply?" she asked.

"It means that she felt unwell because the environment of the city is quite different from that which is lower down. This disturbed her and she felt bad. That's all".

"She didn't have that before she got here. How is it possible ?"

"You are mistaken. It is likely that everyone in her race would react the same way in the same situation."

Persia understood that there was no point in arguing.

"Very well, but I warn you that if she doesn't wake up, you will have to deal with me."

The female-looking robot understood the threat but felt no fear. Beyond serving the Celestials, the continuity of her existence meant nothing to her.

In the end, Persia had no choice but to wait while watching Delilah.

-O-

Grassac took Rory by the hand and led her back to their apartment. He was really starting to worry about her. The more he looked at her the more he thought she looked like those "zombie" monsters in World of Warcraft. As the idea of undead was unknown in Falmart, since neither Emroy nor Hardy would ever allow this even if the thing had been possible in the first place (which was not the case because remember, Necromancy does not work on Falmart. The other players even had to explain the concept to Grassac to their surprise, but they could not know that Grassac did not live on Earth but in another dimension on another world).

It hadn't been easy to bring Rory back since she didn't really want to move and because in one hand she held her halberd and in the other hand, the ball containing Emroy. Because of it Grassac could not take her by the hand to lead her away.

Certainly he could have tried to take the halberd or the ball with one of his hands but…. The halberd was too heavy, and Rory had made it clear that she wouldn't let go of the ball until she reached the safety of their apartment.

Once there, Grassac had managed to get Rory to sit on the bed.

"Do you want to eat something? I know you are an Apostle but you haven't eaten anything since...it happened."

Rory seemed to emerge a little from her apathy.

"I'm not hungry…."

"Grooowwwwlllll" said her stomach which was more honest.

"I…. Oh, I don't know how to say it but you can't stay like this. It's not good for you."

"I can't do anything anyway."

"You are the Apostle of Emroy. You have a sacred duty to perform."

"How ? My god is imprisoned under my arm. I feel like I can still send the souls of the dead to his realm but what's the point if the dead are resurrected afterwards?"

"Rory…. I…. Anyway, I'm sad to see you like this. There must be something I can do."

"Can you break this sphere and release Emroy?"

"You know very well I cannot. If you can't do that you who are an Apostle, me as a mere mortal can't either…. But I need you. You said you would guide me, that you would make me worthy of death."

Grassac was ready to do anything to make Rory react, but he suddenly had doubts about what he had just said. Rory seemed to have forgotten this idea of making him "worthy of death". Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to remind her.

However, this argument seemed to strike a chord in the Apostle. Certainly she could not help her god but she could indeed continue her task and help Grassac on this point. It wasn't much, but it would be better than nothing.

However, her attempts so far had not yielded much. It must be said that she thought she had all her time. Maybe another approach?

"Grassac…."

"Yes ?"

"Show me how we play your daydreaming game again."

-O-

Once in her apartment, Lelei wanted to know if Timus' condition had changed. She had taken part in this little trip to Italica to speak with Amiek at the time that seemed most opportune to her. However, the opportune moment had never presented itself. The latest events, be it the battle of Italica, the fight between Amiek and Emroy, last night's nightmare or the resurrection of the Countess, nothing had been able to distract the young mage's spirit from the absolute priority: her pet pig.

A surprise awaited her.

No sooner had he heard Lelei enter the apartment than the "wise" Cato El Atestan rushed towards her.

"LELEI?! FINALLY YOU ARE BACK! QUICKLY, YOU NEED TO SEE, OR RATHER, HEAR SOMETHING!"

Without departing from her natural phlegm but nevertheless worried about the hysterical attitude of her master, Lelei spoke.

"Calm down master and explain to me what is happening…. But above all, is Timus okay?"

"I do not know. It's hard to say. You must come and see. Something inexplicable happened.".

No sooner had the old magician finished his sentence than Lelei had already passed through the door, rushing towards the cradle where her pig was supposed to be. The first thing she saw was rather good news.

Timus was awake.

Lelei took the little pink pig in her arms, tears in her eyes.

"Finally you are awake. I was so worried. How do you feel?" Lelei told Timus, as if he could understand her and was going to answer her.

"I feel fit. I slept very well, Groink." answered the pig.

-O-

Pina and Bozes had been taken to an apartment close to Rory's, sharing a similar structure and a plethora of technological devices they didn't understand. Fortunately, a crystal servant had been made available to them like for the other inhabitants.

"So if I understand correctly, even if there is no water, this…. "Machine" as you call it, allows you to wash in seconds just by stepping into it?" asked the Princess.

"Yes, but you have to take off your clothes first. There is also a relaxing effect and a light cell regeneration process incorporated."

Pina didn't know what a "light cell regeneration process incorporated" was, but she assumed it must be something good. Everything was already complicated enough as it was without needing to delve too deeply into certain subjects.

For her part Bozes, after being amazed during the tour, began to have a headache. This day had become too complicated. She had already slept badly the day before because of the "conversation" with "The Apostle" Amiek, but in addition she had experienced more miracles and wonders in the last twelve hours than since her birth. Magic shows included.

She needed to sleep. A good night of sleep would do her good. Unfortunately she could not yet go to bed in this strange bed made available to them.

"You're telling me it's some kind of bed aren't you?'' asked the blonde.

"To be precise it is a regeneration unit. Similar to the shower but with more functionality. In fact, if you sleep in it, you don't need the shower, but since sometimes that's not possible, both have been made available to you." explained the crystal servant.

"How do you sleep in there? It's just a big piece of glass."

"You just have to press down a little with your hand. I will show you."

No sooner said than done. The female-looking robot "entered" the regeneration unit and layed down in the middle for a few moments before exiting.

"Once inside, the regeneration unit connects with your nervous system and the neurochemistry of your brain. Your "mind" if you will, and making sure your body is rested and repaired as well as possible. It is even possible to program a specific reality into your mind. Have the dream you want and have full control of it if you want. It will feel as real to you as if you were awake."

"You mean this bed can make us dream what we ask of it and make it seem completely real when in fact we are sleeping?" Pina asked.

"Roughly simplified, yes. If, for example, you dream of being a bird flying in the sky, then you will experience what it is like to be a bird flying in the sky. However, the machine has some limitations. It cannot make you discover things that are higher than your evolutionary level. Your brain must be able to understand the information it receives. You can't ask to dream what it's like to be a Celestial for example. I should point out that not all who live in this city benefit from certain technologies present in this room, including this unit of regeneration".

Pina thought she owed this privilege to her status. It was normal for nobles to have superior treatment to peasants. She had no idea for a second that this was an experiment to test her reactions. Experiments carried out urgently since his stay in Alnus would be very short while the experiments carried out on the other inhabitants, without their knowledge, benefit from much more time.

Pina had mixed feelings about the crystal servant. On the one hand it was a great relief to be able to talk to someone from the other world who spoke a language that was almost understandable. There were unfamiliar words and new concepts but overall the creature was a much more satisfying conversationalist than the Apostle.

On the other hand, Pina was frustrated. Many of the important questions she wanted to ask remained unanswered.

"What exactly are the Celestials?"

"Confidential information."

"What do they want from us?"

"No idea."

"What can you tell me about the world beyond the Gate?"

"Information inaccessible."

"How come you don't want to say anything?"

"I have been instructed not to reveal certain specific information to you."

It was frustrating. The princess had tried to ask the questions in a roundabout way or to be persuasive by trying to convince the robot that she would serve her masters better by answering her questions. Afterwards she had tried to make the crystal servant understand that she would be able to be generous towards her if she showed herself to be more cooperative and finally, she had played the frankness card by expressing her concerns and her need to have information to protect his people.

Of course, neither cunning, nor corruption, nor mercy had any hold on the humanoid-shaped machine. She followed it programming and it directives. The princess might as well have tried to bribe or search pity of a pebble.

Pina could not have known that the crystal servants had received a directive forbidding them to reveal this information to the Princess. Apparently the Celestials wanted to see how someone in authority would react when confronted directly with them without prior preparation.

A way of judging the adaptability of the governing authority. An experience like any other, nothing more.

Finally, Pina didn't know what to make of the robot itself. When the servant had shown on screen how she had been made from scratch like an articulated doll to serve as a perfect slave, the Princess had been shocked.

On the one hand, the fact that she was not really alive despite appearances, justified everything. She was a great tool. On the other hand Pina was afraid of a being who, despite appearances, could neither love nor hate, nor want to be free, nor desire. A perfect slave was something frightening for a person who since childhood did everything to prove that women are as capable as men.

Pina had nothing against slavery. It was in the order of things that the "inferior" served the "superior". It was the foundation of the world. Thus progressed civilizations, even if of course, slaves themselves had no importance compared to the nobility of the Saderans and more broadly of humans. It was this "nobility" inherent in their nature that made all the difference. If need be, they could do without a slave or change slaves which would be more suitable. However, their natural superiority was really what justified their right to rule over others. This was what had built the Empire and, although Pina admitted that the behavior of some Saderans towards their slaves, especially women, was sometimes repugnant (her brother's face came to her mind), she considered, like most Saderans, she thought that it was honoring the lesser races to allow them to serve the only noble race, to help them build something greater.

Anyway the world was ruled by the gods. If they had anything against slavery, they would have ended it long ago. They did not, which is why the slaves themselves, although finding their fate unjust, believed that fundamentally it was the nature of things and that it had to be accepted.

Rory was horrified by the "non-living" nature of the robot, while Pina was repelled by her absolute submission, even though she understood that she was not a woman despite her appearance but merely an advanced tool. Maybe it would have been different if the crystal servant had had the appearance of a man?

At least the Crystal Maid was very helpful in understanding their immediate surroundings. It was a pity that she didn't have time to visit the city, but it was getting dark and they needed to sleep. Tomorrow she would meet Amiek's peers, the other Apostles. They need to be at their best.

"Very well. I'm going to bed. You too Bozes. We have to be ready for tomorrow."

"Then I will leave you. If you need me, I will be at the door."

With that, the crystal servant left the room, leaving Pina and Bozes alone.

Now that they were alone, the two young women had things to say to each other.

"What do we do now Princess? All that…. This city, these people, these crystal women…. This is madness."

"A madness to which we will have to find the hidden meaning my friend. Well, like I said, it's time to go to sleep. A long day awaits you. By the way, I'm curious, if this thing really makes people dream, then what are you going to dream about?"

"I hadn't thought about it. Well, I think I want to know what a real battle is. Lead troops into battle against a barbarian horde to protect the Empire. I think I'm going to try to make this dream come true, if it's really possible. And you princess? What are you going to try to dream about?"

"Oh, probably something like that." Pina said without going on too much.

With that, Bozes and the Princess took off their armors and put their hands on their respective "regeneration unit" and lay down in it, floating halfway up. They fell asleep almost instantly.

While Bozes dreamed of a fevered battle, the Princess, despite having had the same idea as Bozes at first, decided to have a significantly different dream.

Sure, she would liked to lead the armies of the Empire against a barbarian horde in a glorious final battle that would decide Sadera's fate and after victory she would celebrate with her knights, but she had another desire that she could never accomplish in normal times. However, this "magic bed" could offer her what would come closest to it. She decided to take the chance because she might never have another one again. There was an aspect of humanity that Pina wanted to explore.

Her dream was not a battlefield, but a luxurious palace, populated by all kinds of very handsome young men between the ages of 15 and 25. Some wore armor like her knights, others were scribes in Roman togas. There were also slaves from the barbarian tribes of the south or the mountains of the north, with shiny and muscular torsos.

Then the dream began to come alive.

However, there was also a small additional change regarding the princess herself.

"I always dreamed of being a man," thought Pina.

Alright, now it's time to comment on some changes. First Set. The serpent god is an old adversary of the Celestials. I needed an antagonist for a subplot and he fits the bill perfectly.

Next let's talk about Count Colt. I know some of you liked him and would have hoped he would play a more active role for longer, but I don't have much more to write about this character. He will still occasionally play a role in certain situations, but no more.

After that, Lelei and her pig. Doctor Strange has had a talking ghost dog for the past few years. So I see no objection to giving Lelei a talking pig. This pig will have a glorious destiny that will make it a huge part of the history of the pig race. Oshtur did not do this by chance. For Rory, rest assured, she will come out of her depression, but not right away. I wouldn't spoil it but she still needs to "simmer" for a while.

Finally the princess. Like everyone besides Tuka, Lelei, and Rory, Pina is convinced that the Celestials, whatever name they take, are in fact otherworldly "gods" more powerful than the gods of Falmart. To win their good graces therefore seems essential to her. She does not yet realize how unimportant she and her Empire are to the Celestials.

As for her dreams…. Well, it seems to me that in the manga she very clearly made her interest in "manly friendship between men" especially when it is really "deep" and her own regret for not being a man. Everyone will come to their own conclusions on this subject, for those of you who really want to think about "that".

As always, please leave comments.