AN: "Cookies" → Speech / spoken air quotes
"Cookies" → Thoughts
"Cookies" → Spells / Martial Arts
"Cookies" → Message spell speech
I don't own Overlord
Have fun, enjoy and please review
Chapter 14
→ Arwintar Nazarick-mansion / Arachama ←
Arachama woke up early through the motions from Arche. She opened her eyes to see Arche trying to move around and free herself from Arachamas hug.
"Ara ara. Why try to run?" Arachama mumbled and Arche sighed.
"I just didn't want to wake you up, mother." Arche told Arachama and Arachama simply sighed.
"Ara ara. It isn't bad. I had to wake up early anyways." Arachama said and scooped Arche up.
She carried Arche to the western part and then went back to her room to change into her daily attire. On her way she saw Entoma and Ninya preparing breakfast and asked about Tuare. It seemed that Tuare was preparing breakfast for the homunculi-maids and Yuri, under their watchful eyes.
Arachama also noticed how Ninya was now much happier than before and smiled more than before. This made Arachama quite happy, since she liked the smile from Ninya.
After breakfast she decided to read the report from Demiurge, who had gotten her one big folder full of this report.
"Hmm, we got a big supply of albion sheep and grain. Sounds good. Mony was mediocre, since we only took the lower district, but it will cover our costs for the time being. We also managed to drive a rift between the commoners and nobles." Arachama mused. She then remembered that she had left Monga to his own devices.
"Monga?" She used "Message" to contact Monga.
"Yes?" He asked.
"How did your day turn out yesterday?" She asked him.
"It was great. First I relaxed with Albedo. Then I sadly got a "Message" from Naberal. We were asked by the guild to travel to the capital and help them. I then had to do a faux battle against Demiurge in the disguise of Jaldebaoth. We even got praise and much needed money for our "Services''. It went well." Monga reported.
"That sounds great. I personally managed to make my exit from the kingdom and have an explanation why the arachne Arachama disappeared from there." Arachama messaged.
"I heard. There was quite some ruckus from the throne. The guild was not pleased, but promised to root out the ones that tarnished the kingdom's name in such a way. They also wanted that you would be peacefully contacted If they ever find you, that is." Monga explained and Arachama whistled.
"So they fear that I traveled to the Baharut Empire?" Arachama asked.
"They do. Though that is more or less true." Monga giggled.
"Yeah. How are things moving, you only said relaxed. When do you marry her and when do we get a nice child inside this gloomy palace to lighten the dark mood into something bearable?" Arachama asked and Monga simply cut the connection.
"Such a spoilsport" Arachama thought and pouted a bit.
After the breakfast she teached Arche, the twins and Ninya in mana-manipulation and had Zesshi practice with Enti. She did this until Foire led Fluder and Leinas into the mansion and she sent her children through a "Gate" into their living room. She then turned around and saw both kneeling.
"Good morning, what brings you here?" Arachama sweated and asked.
"We might have a slight problem?" Fluder asked and Arachama was confused.
"What is the problem?" Arachama asked and Fluder didn't look sure.
"The emperor will be hosting a party. Nothing bad in itself. There is just one small detail. He is adamant that you attend there." Leinas sighed and Arachama nodded.
"What might the reason be?" Arachama asked, fearing the worst.
"Since he talked to you he mostly thinks of you. We think that he simply wants you there since he sees you as … how do I put it… great company." Fluder tried and Leinas nodded vigorously.
"I see. I will prepare. Do we have a time limit?" Arachama asked.
"Fluder is to report back as soon as he has your confirmation. I am to escort you to the party, since he fears your safety within the capital." Leinas explained and Arachama nodded,
"Such a struggle. Now I have to play cripple again." Arachama sighed and saw Leinas and Fluder smile.
"Just shove it." She said and laughed a bit.
→ Arwintar Imperial Palace / Jircniv ←
Jircniv had a tough day. First all the administration of paperwork. He also had to plan for the normal annual war. Especially the logistics and then processing the documents Leinas needed. He also prepared a party. He did it for three reasons. The first was that the nobles were decadent enough to like them. If they were happy they would rather support him. It was just a larger version of carrot and stick.
The second was that the nobles usually drink at parties. He uses this to get information, since they usually later take in nice women, sadly for the nobles they are also Jircnivs spies.
The third reason was much more personal, and the reason why he did hold this party in his garden rather than his ball room. He wanted to see Arachama again. Sadly she can't climb stairs, which means that he would either go to her or that he moves the location of the party to the garden. He chose the latter, since he wanted two things with her visit.
He wanted to protect her, by showing her around the party. The nobles would know that he was her protector and therefore under his protection. The second reason was that he wanted to have a good evening with Arachama. Sadly he would only have the latter half for Arachama. Parties were usually opened with a dance, Arachama was in a wheelchair and would most likely not dance.
"Such a shame she cant move her legs" Jircniv thought.
He had sent Fluder and Leinas out to relay his "invitation" and to have her protected. He was now waiting with high anticipation and prepared for other parts of the party. He had already approved the buffet and the drinks and was now seeing the table arranged when he saw Fluder approach.
"So old man. Did she decline?" Jircniv asked.
"No. She will be here with Leinas this evening." Fluder replied and Jircniv was pleasantly surprised.
"So I can see her again," Jircniv smiled and Fluder sighed.
"She will be here in the evening. Enough time to do your duty and to prepare your party. I will be going to do my research. I nearly cracked the alphabet." Fluder grinned and Jircniv shuddered.
After Fluder left Jircniv started his preparations again.
→ Arwintar Nazarick-mansion / Arachama ←
Arachama had used the "Doppelganger Ring" to change her wheelchair-form and waited now. Leinas was opposite of her and Arachama had asked Ninya to bring Leinas some breakfast. Arachama read while Leinas was eating. After Leinas was finished, Arachama got a "Message" from Monga.
"I will have a meeting with all the floor guardians tomorrow. I want everyone to attend, even you. Please be here." Monga said.
"I will be there, though I am visiting a party tonight" Arachama replied while Leinas looked at her. Arachama cut the connection.
"Lady Arachama?" Leinas asked. Arachama shuddered and looked up at Leinas.
"Yes Leinas?" Arachama replied.
"Is everything in order?" Leinas asked.
"Of course, I just used a spell called "Message" to contact an old friend of mine. He wants to meet me soon. I told him that I can meet him tomorrow, since I am at a party tonight. Nothing dangerous. I assure you" Arachama answered while Leinas looked at her confused.
"Okay." Leinas simply sighed.
"How is your life treating you? Still those annoying 'family members' going around you? I am happy that I don't have that trouble." Arachama smiled and looked at Ninya.
"They are harassing me outside of my home. At least I can sleep in my home" Leinas replied.
"Ara ara. Such pests." Arachama shook her head and Foire ran inside the living room.
"Lady Arachama, there is a family waiting in the foyer. We managed to tell the other children but…." Foire tried and was interrupted. Luckily Arachama saw this and had teleported Ninya into her room and then teleported back. For anyone it looked like maybe a second was gone.
Three people barged into the room and looked at Arachama like a disease. Then they looked at Leinas like meat.
"Ara ara. This is not nice of you." Arachama commented and inspected them further.
Leinas meanwhile just shook her head.
"This is my self announced family, Rockbruise Ari Styx. He calls himself Gerhard, she calls herself Boa and the son is Plurim." Leinas introduced the family and Arachama had turned towards them.
"My name is Arachama. What is your business in my mansion and why can't you be polite like everybody else?" Arachama asked, a bittersweet tune in her voice.
This got the family on edge. It seemed that they rarely got called out on their manners.
"Ara ara. I now understand your problem. Only because they share a similar name do they think they have any hold on you. They parade as nobles, yet they neither have the behavior nor the power of nobles." Arachama said and smiled towards Leinas, since the family hasn't replied towards her.
She then saw the mouths of the family moving and she meanwhile took a deck of poker and a few poker chips from her inventory.
"Do you know poker?" Arachama asked and Leinas nodded. Arachama gave out the cards and chips and they began. Both simply ignored the family of three, since they were only cursing them out.
After a few rounds, and Leinas losing all her chips, Arachama turned only to see the family still hurling insults and fuming.
"I recommend that you calm down." Arachama ordered and the family stopped in their tracks after Arachama let a bit of MP show around her. To them it must have seemed like a giant spider while she only felt a small drop in her MP.
"We want you to seize your influence over our daughter" the father shouted and a few dots of spit flew out of his mouth and on the floor.
"Since I don't have more influence over her like a good friend, I will not do what you wish. If that is all…." Arachama tried but the son had walked towards her and beaten her in her wheelchair, which threw the wheelchair over. She was now laying on the floor, whaling. The son proceeded to destroy the wheelchair, while Leinas stood up and grabbed her spear.
"You will stop this at once" Leinas ordered while holding her spear close to the son's throat.
"Such stupid idiots" Arachama thought and simply looked up.
"Foire, please bring me the spare wheelchair." Arachama asked, while sitting on the ground.
After Foire brought her new wheelchair and gathered the remains of the old one, Arachama glared at the family.
"You insolent, bratty family of …, doesn't matter. You dare to attack not only me within my own walls. You also dare to do all this while I remain under the protection of not only my close friend, but also of the imperial knight Leinas Rockbruise. Get out of my sight before I might do more damage to you than your son did to my wheelchair" Arachama hissed.
The Styx family looked at her and then laughed.
"What are you gonna do? Glare me to death?" The son laughed.
"You are nothing but a peasant. We can do what we want to you." The mother chimed in.
"We would get a small fine, but that is worth it to teach a lamprey like you a lesson" The father thought out loud.
"If I were you I would think again, since she is more powerful than you think and she is under the protection of me, by imperial decree" Leinas said and placed herself between the Styx family and Arachama.
Yuri barged in and looked furious.
"What is going on?" Yuri shouted and Arachama smiled.
"These mental heteromorphs decided it would be funny to knock me over and destroy my wheelchair. Would it be a problem if I dispose of them?" Arachama asked.
"Just say no, but next time it would be ok" Arachama used "Message" to tell Yuri.
"In principal no. But please refrain from destroying them now. Let's give the justice system a shot." Yuri smiled and the Styx family looked a bit paler now.
They stomped away and left the mansion in a hurry.
"What is wrong with them?" Arachama asked herself and Mini-Arachama put on a doctor's robe while shaking her head.
After that Yuri announced lunch. Arachama ordered Leinas to eat with Yuri's group while Enti walked in to prepare the lunch for Arachamas group. Leinas saw Enti and shuddered a bit.
"Ara ara. Leinas, this is Enti. She is just cute." Arachama said and smiled.
"I understand," Leinas simply said and left.
The lunch went without any problems. Arachama used this time to heal her arm and gave orders for them all. She ordered Ninya to help Tuare and clean the living room. She then gave Zesshi the order to continue to learn Nazaricks alphabet while Arche and her sisters were training their summoning. She then explained that she would control their respective orders the next day, since she will be outside tonight.
All nodded and Arachama simply smiled.
The afternoon went without a problem, aside from boredom. Leinas asked more about Enti, but Arachama simply smiled and evaded the topic.
"Maybe another time" Arachama had said.
Enti walked in and prepared dinner. This time all could eat together. Cottlet with potatoes was on the menu with refreshments and dessert.
Arachama ate in silence and smiled at the different conversations going on. Leinas seemed surprised and talked with Zesshi. Both exchanged information about techniques. Ninya and Tuare were ecstatic and talked about their training, while Yuri sighed at their behavior. Enti nibbled at a cockroach, which she most likely caught in Nazarick. Arche talked with Foir and Fith, while Arachama learned about a prank, which Kuuderika and Ureirika wanted to play on Arche.
She smiled and felt reminded of her guild, Ainz Ooal Gown. How they talked with each other. How they planned their raids. How they planned their "evil schemes". She remembered her former comrades, took a glass of sparkling wine.
"To you my former comrades and friends" Arachama sighed. Enti, Yuri, Foire and Fith understood. The others looked confused, but let her be, since they at least understood that she missed her comrades and friends.
After some more time Leinas saw the sun setting and looked at Arachama.
"We need to go, lady Arachama." Leinas said and Arachama smiled.
"Then I will take Fith with me. Fith, please be my legs for now." Arachama smiled while Fith went behind Arachamas wheelchair and pushed it.
They traveled through Arwintar and towards the imperial palace. The attention was almost guaranteed, how many times do you see someone, except the emperor, accompanied by one of the "four imperial knights".
"Lady Arachama, what did you mean at dinner?" Leinas asked.
"I am from a great tomb, by the name of Nazarick. It was built by the guild Ainz Ooal Gown. I had many friends within this guild. Sadly most of them either died or left. Now only Monga and I remain, but that is a secret, got it?" Arachama told Leinas, who nodded.
The rest of the trip went without any problems.
"The palace looks like this old picture of the Hagia Sophia '' Arachama said and Leinas and Fith were confused.
"Nothing you could know. It was a famous building, until it got destroyed. Actually a sad story of greed and human nature." Arachama smiled and Leinas sighed.
Leinas led Arachama and Fith towards a side entrance and Arachama saw a gigantic garden. It was filled with beautiful flowers. There were giant tents and buffets. It didn't take long for Arachama to feel two things.
She was the outsider, and for more than one reason. She was the reason this probably took place within the garden. She traveled here, where they ruled, and was pushed into their realm without their consent. She was also a woman without a father in the family, which made her bigger outside. That she was an enigma to all of them didn't help her.
The second thing she felt was lust and anger. Most of the man on the ball thought her good looking, while also being angry at her for stealing their future chance to shine in the next annual war
"Let them come. I will ruin them and then I will cut them off." Arachama grimaced, while Mini-Arachama stood in her mind while caressing a baseball bat, giggling evilly.
She was greeted by many nobles, though she felt their contempt and lust dripping from their teeth. But she managed herself through the mass of humans, years of being the wife of a rich husband had given her practice. Leinas accompanied her while Fith pushed onwards. They traveled to the edge of the party, where they did some small talk.
From time to time a "bold" teenage heir would try smalltalk and Arachama would humor those people with meaningless chatter. After some time the dance floor was opened and all were dancing, except Arachama, Leinas and Fith. She stood out again.
"This is the reason I hate parties like this. I can't dance and I stand out" Arachama fumed.
She waited a bit more until the emperor got free of the woman he danced with. He was stopped a few times by families, amongst them the Styx family. He closed in and smiled when he saw her. Leinas took that moment to leave her, since she didn't want to be in the same place as her former "family".
"I wish I could have gotten to you sooner" Jircniv sighed when he reached her.
"It is alright. How is life treating you?" Arachama asked.
"It is going. But why don't I introduce you to some of the capable families? Before that though, what happened with the Styx family?" he asked.
"They trespassed into my part of the mansion and hurled insults. Then one of them knocked me out of my wheelchair and destroyed it. They proceeded to laugh at me and then left after I asked my friend if disposal would be allowed." Arachama explained and smiled.
Jircniv looked a mixture of astonishment and shock.
"You are quite blunt. Did they threaten you?" Jircniv asked, with quite some fear inside his voice.
"Only laughed about "punishing" me. I will be fine." She answered in her sweet voice.
She smiled and Jircniv calmed down. He then looked at her and found a few bruises.
"I will take care of them." Jircniv smiled evilly.
"There is no need for that. I only want the money for a new spare wheelchair" Arachama sighed. Jircniv nodded and promised that she would get it.
He then led her through to some nobles and she immediately saw the difference between here and Re-Estize and them and the Styx family and Furt family.
In Re-Estize the nobles grew fat and complacent and only cared for their pockets, while their peasants would die. The nobles she met here were not only well mannered, though she felt contempt drip from their teeth from time to time. They also had gotten their position thanks to their merit, which makes them more humble than their "competition" like Furt or Styx family.
All in all it was quite boring for her. She did some smalltalk and even got to speak with the other imperial knights. All the chatter was meaningless though. The only advantage was that the nobles understood her as protected by the emperor.
After quite some time Jircniv and her were at the edge of the party again. She smiled and he flushed.
"It is cold, though I liked this evening a bit." Arachama thought while Mini-Arachama was putting on a long trench coat.
Sadly this peace wouldn't last. After a long while speaking and joking, Arachama felt three people closing in.
"Emperor, I will bring us refreshments, if you wish." Arachama offered.
"I can't send a lady in a wheelchair to get me a drink. What am I? A Monster? I will go while you wait tight" Jircniv replied and went.
Arachama felt the family closing further and decided to play a little.
"There you are slut." the son of the Styx family fumed.
"Ara ara. Directly insulting. That is not really polite. We are not in a private area nor are we best friends." Arachama rebuked and the son got bright red.
"What did you tell the emperor, you bewitching monster?" the father accused.
"The truth, only the truth and nothing but the truth" Arachama smiled and he also grew red.
"You don't take us seriously?" the mother asked, anger in her voice.
"That is a correct assumption. I don't take you, Styx family, serious. Your display and what you claim to be doesn't match. It doesn't help that I could destroy you here and now. The only thing protecting you is your insignificance." Arachama said, shrugging.
"You insolent, worthless peasant" the son tried to deck her.
"Ara ara. "Hold Species". Now I am getting angry" Arachama hissed. The son stood there like a statue, his intention quite obvious to anyone. The people started to look at them and Arachama sighed.
"I am getting annoyed by your family. When I say I could destroy you easily, I mean it. There is a reason why I was asked directly to help in this year's annual war. But you, in your herculean logic, decided to get on my bad sides. Leave me alone and carry this excuse of a human being with you. The spell will only last three days. Losing a bit of fat might be good for him." Arachama ordered and the father took up the son and they sprinted out of the party.
The rest looked at her dumbfounded.
"I excuse the interruption. Please continue the festivities." Arachama excused and bowed a bit.
The party started anew, with many nobles now talking about her, especially her power. Jircniv came back a bit later and smiled.
"I saw what you did there. It can be frightening." Jircniv said and gave Arachama a glass with sparkling wine.
"Ara ara. It just happened. I hope that this punishment will sting enough to make them better humans" Arachama sighed.
"Lets hope, though they are from the older noble families. Those don't change their views and will only demand things from you in the future" Jircniv told Arachama.
"Ara ara. Let them try. This family is nothing more than a walking group of clowns" Arachama whispered and smiled to Jircniv, who now blushed.
"I will leave it to you then?" Jircniv said and Arachama nodded.
She took her glass of sparkling wine and clanged it on Jircniv.
"To old friends and comrades and a better future." Arachama smiled and Jircniv nodded along. They drank it and Arachama saw the emperor getting even redder cheeks and then saw why. She didn't correct her sentence though and simply ignored her stupid wording.
"Ara ara. I have two interesting pieces of information for you. Do you want them now or would you rather hear them in private?" Arachama asked and Jircniv signed for them to leave. Fith took the handles of the wheelchair and pushed her right behind the emperor.
They went into a private room and Arachama took a folder from her inventory. She placed them on her lap and then took a deep breath.
"The first bit of information is that the capital of Re-Estize got hit badly by a demon called Jaldabaoth. More information is within this folder. I don't know if you gathered it already, but there is more. The nobles turned their backs on the peasants and it showed in a strong resentment. If the annual war would be even more devastating, how would the nobility be seen?" Arachama told Jircniv who nodded.
"So it is going better than anticipated." Jircniv nodded.
"The second is that my great-ancestor Arachama got attacked in Re-Estize and is now leaving the kingdom. I don't know where though." Arachama smiled and Jircniv looked confused.
"She is the arachne who fought off the sunlight scripture. I mentioned it in the report before this one." Arachama explained and Jircniv remembered.
"So you're an arachne? I knew that this couldn't be a coincidence." Jjircniv said.
"No I am human, though I have arachne ancestry. She would be my grandmother in the 24th or 25th generation. In my family the first daughter always gets the name Arachama. That is also the main reason for my specialization in entomancy. To me it's childsplay." Arachama told this background story.
"I see. Please excuse my outburst." Jircniv sighed.
"I have even more in this folder. A bit about Re-Estize, the empire and eight fingers. I also have a nice tidbit about the Slane Theocracy." Arachama said and took a "Mirror Of Remote Viewing" out of her inventory and let Fith hold it. So that both could see its content. She also placed the folder into Jircnivs lap.
Arachama needed a bit of time, but managed to push the view onto the "holy city", Slane's capital.
"The Slane Theocracy is a bit incapacitated at the moment. Its capital has fallen." Arachama reported while showing encampments with the sigil of the kingdom.
"I think we should go a bit earlier this year, or they might have an advantage, but that is your choice and I am not a martial leader." Arachama concluded. Jircniv seemingly needed a bit more time and then nodded.
"I could kiss you for this information. Thank you" Jircniv said and gave Arachama a peck. She now flushed and looked sheepish.
"Ara ara ara. You flatter me, though I am unworthy of such a gesture." Arachama replied and hid her face.
"I will go now, since I have preparations to make. I wish you a good night. I will also send a letter to Yuri Yamana with changed times, since we will probably move out in roughly a month.." Jircniv ordered and Arachama nodded.
"I thank you for your invitation, emperor. I will retire for the night. Sadly I will need more sleep, therefore I will not be available tomorrow morning and noon." Arachama explained and Jircniv nodded.
"I will see you soon enough." he said and left.
Arachama saw Leinas and told her about the discussion and they went to Arachamas mansion. Once Arachama was there Leinas left them and Arachama changed back into her arachne-form.
"It went well. Once the soldiers with my product perform better, these will sell like hot buns. Though I hope that the wars stop then" Arachama sighed.
She went into the western part, scooped up Zesshi in a way she couldn't grope her and went back into her bedroom. She was tired and needed cuddles.
"Night" Arachama sighed and fell asleep, feeling comforting hands on her.
→ Arwintar Imperial-palace / Jircniv, Leinas ←
Jircniv had a mix of emotions. He was glad that he got a good party over with. The nobles had retired and went to the guest wing of the palace. He was excited, since his new spy network proved itself capable and had proven itself reliable in the past. The information he had read about was mostly either well hidden for the enemies themselves, normally unobtainable or crucial.
Arachama managed to point out over 12 bases of eight fingers in the empire, a few ongoing schemes to steal money from the empire and slave trading and smuggling in great proportions.
She also managed to gather lists of nobles to watch out for and nobles who were not useful. She had also collected information on important people residing within the kingdom. Such as the adventurer teams Darkness, Blue Roses, Red Drop and Titans Hand. She also gathered connections between the kingdom's nobles and eight fingers, which was an astonishing feat in itself.
The information on his own empire was even more surprising. It contained multiple topics, from nobles over army structure to economics. He was flabbergasted when she uncovered a few nobles with their schemes. He was shocked to find out a scheme to remove him through the annual wars. Arachama even made suggestions, covered in a different color to mark them as such, like in the other parts. He thought over each suggestion and saw reason in all of them, which is far more convincing than the nobles "I get more money from you doing this and that".
"I was right. She is extremely clever, looks great and quite frightening as a foe." Jircniv thought and smiled.
"I like her." He spoke out loud.
"Who, emperor?" Leinas asked.
"Arachama. She is quite intelligent, capable and has the looks" Jircniv told her and Leinas giggled.
"I bet she would say "Ara ara. Don't flatter me too much" or something like that." Leinas laughed.
"But you can't say that she doesn't look great." Jircniv chimed in.
"That is true." Leinas replied and both laughed for a while.
"I just wish I wouldn't use her for the annual war." Jircniv sighed.
"Then she should be cherished and be kept happy." Leinas suggested and Jircniv simply nodded.
"That is why I ordered you for the logistics surrounding her. I will also deal with the Styx family. I know that you dislike them and hope that you will not stand in my way nor that you will be insulted by it." Jircniv said.
"As long as I have my peace from them I am fine" Leinas grinned.
"That is good to hear. The only thing I need now is a grave mistake" Jircniv smiled.
"I see Arachama the day after tomorrow. Should I ask her to get material?" Leinas asked and Jircniv nodded.
"Sadly she was too kind towards them." Jircniv replied.
The rest of the evening he continued to read over the report and was frightened how detailed it was. He was sure that lady Arachama, and he now, knew the nobles better than they themselves. He also thought about a great way to repay her after the annual war.
→ Re-Estize Royal-palace / Renner ←
Renner was ordered to observe and report. Though she found it boring and seeming obsolete, she also knew that she had to follow these orders. She especially paid attention to the movement within the court. She saw how quite a few nobles showed signs of stress and fatigue. She knew those individuals, since they worked together with eight fingers. Now they feared that their cover was blown.
She would not do anything against them, since those nobles would prove useful within the plans of Nazarick. At least for now.
She was also asked to attend the court more often by her father. Renner guessed that it is because of her reputation within the population. She was not known as "Golden Princess" for nothing. The people on the streets adored her and she managed to improve the lives of the poorest a bit, even if it only served another purpose.
She also focused a bit on her oldest brother's actions. While he was the heir to the throne, he was sadly incompetent in terms of politics and keeping public order.
She also saw how her brothers were envious of her, since she had success, where they both failed. She had managed to establish a network and got much needed information. This was mostly part of her new masters plans.
Her father meanwhile was stumbling around, trying all he could to gain stronger people in his fold. He would need them, if he would fight the Baharut Empire, which now had strong casters and was famed for their combat capabilities.
Her brother Zanac has not been seen by her lately. Though she knew that he was thinking about a propper deal with her.
"Such a shame that brothers offer wouldn't change anything" Renner thought and smiled.
She was sitting in the office of her father.
"What is so important, daughter?" Ramposa asked.
"Now he calls me daughter. He didn't do that until a few months ago, argh" Renner thought.
"I got some interesting information," Renner said.
"That is good. I couldn't work with reliable information for quite some time." Ramposa sighed.
"That was probably the last relaxed sigh for a while though" Renner replied and Ramposa gulped.
"What can be more terrible than a destroyed capital and crown prince?" Ramposa asked.
"Your future" Renner thought while she thought about her brother's nightly activities. He was more terrible than most of the drug and slave department.
"It seems that the arachne Arachama is older than meets the eye." Renner replied.
"So she has descendants?" Ramposa mused.
"Yes. She has a granddaughter of 20 something generations. She is a known entomancer and you can guess where she is residing." Renner fit in a sigh.
"So she is the new caster under which the Fluder Paradyne is learning?" Ramposa asked and nodded.
"Yes. She is also named Arachama, if my spy is correct it is part of their family tradition to name the first girl in the family after Arachama. The descendant is quite fragile though and needs a wheelchair." Renner described and placed a booklet on the table.
"So the empire has an advantage over us." Ramposa said.
"It seems to be the case. That isn't the only thing…." Renner began and the crown prince barged inside.
"Father, I got a new …" Barbo began.
"Ahem. I was about to give information to my father. If you want your daddy time, please wait outside." Renner fumed.
"What did you…" Barbo began again.
"Barbo, please sit down and learn how to act accordingly. Renner was giving me reports from her network." Ramposa tried to defuse the situation. Renner was surprised when her father took her side and when her brother complied.
"Can you continue Renner?" Ramposa asked and Renner simply nodded.
"Where was I? Descendant in a wheelchair and strong magically and dangerous. Ah yes. I also got my hands on big information. The empire will declare war soon enough, though I don't know their casus belli. I also know that this descendant will be using her magic in this war." Renner reported.
"How dangerous could a girl in a wheelchair be?" Barbo hissed.
"She can cast magic not seen since the eight greedy kings" Renner said and Barbo turned red.
"So we need to prepare, if possible. Anything that gives clues on Arachama the arachne? We might get a chance by finding the arachne." Ramposa asked.
"No. But I heard something interesting about the relations between the emperor and Arachama. Rumor has it that he is acting quite protective of the Arachama in his empire. He even assigned one of his four imperial knights to her protection. He is quite smitten with her, which presents a big threat" Renner said and Barbo smirked.
"Then we should catch this woman on the battlefield and make her a bit more .. docile. Maybe we could also sell her" Barbo smirked while Renner and Ramposa looked disgusted and moved away from him.
"Here is the booklet. I even attached a small picture of Arachama, the one in the empire. I must say I am envious of her looks" Renner giggled and Ramposa smiled.
Ramposa looked inside and found the picture.
"Does she really look like this?" Ramposa asked, showing a drawing.
"It might be a bit crude, but the drawer is vowing for its credibility" Renner answered.
"It was, after all, Demiurge who brought it.". Renner thought.
"I will ask Gazef if they look alike, though she has some unique features," Ramposa said. Barbo then looked at the picture.
"At least the emperor has taste. It is nice of him to bring such a nice piece towards us. Though I will not take it easy on her" Barbo smirked and Ramposa and Renner moved a bit further from him, again.
"Why did Ramposa make him his heir?" Renner thought. Though she knew that her father had little choice in that regard, Barbo was a walking argument against their system of government, along with most of the nobles.
"I will be going now. I am tired and I still have to visit the orphanages" Renner told them and left.
She wouldn't leave for the orphanages, though she would take a long bath and then "accidentally" cuddle with Climb.
AN: Happy new year and good luck. We will now come closer to a phase where we will diverge from Canon, to some extent. Slowly and steadily at least. I thank you for reading and please review.
Till next time.