“He was born healthy at the edge of the kingdom.”

  He wouldn't tell me which edge. Afraid I might go take a peak. I put another weight on my construct. I give Malcor a smile.

  “Thats good. I hope he reaches tier two this lifetime.”

  “You've been at this for a while, Cea. How about we take a walk?”

  I turned to the man, “Alright, let's go.”

  -----

  “Your progress has been strong, most wouldn't achieve this much as their first life.”

  I pat his hand, he was on his fourth. “I've had a lot of motivation in my life.”

  The garden we walked through was the local nobility. They allowed any Elf to visit as long as we stayed on the path. The Lady's vanity project. She would meet us at the end and ask what we thought. We always would tell her how beautiful each manicured topiary was. I prefer the flowers myself but the silly woman wishes for compliments on her efforts and not her gardeners.

  We reach the end to find her absent. “Now that's bizarre, she is not here for her fee.”

  I poke Malcor in his ribs, ‘you know she might still hear you’.

  He just smiles at me, “She knows what she is doing just as much as we do, Cea.”

  We exit the garden and find a greater number of messengers running around than usual.

  “I think I'll go to the hall. Might be something going on.”

  -----

  He arrived as I was setting the table.

  “It's an invasion. They already made it past Udirnox.” He gives a tired huff.

  That's already thousands of kings feet into our kingdom. I snap my head to him.

  “Thats not where Binjal is, is it?”

  He winces, “Cea…”

  My anger rises at his plaintive tone, “Malcor, tell me, damn you.” He looks at me as if I had slapped him. I realized what I had done. “I'm sorry, I…” He left the room. I squeeze my eyes shut and sit at the table. By myself.

  -----

  I joined the volunteer militia. We were heading to push back the Yranorok forces. Just a small allotment under our Lady of the gardens. Each noble would supply a few soldiers and any volunteers. Malcor stayed behind to watch his guild hall. To have space from me. Doesn't matter, I need to do my best. To find my vengeance and die.

  -----

  “Cea, you were given an order to retreat. What made you think to advance instead?”

  I look at the Elf who wanted compliments on her gardens. My two blades were coated in blood as was I.

  “I succeeded did I not.” I say, with a bit of disappointment. I had sought death, but leveled instead.

  “Damn it Cea, you're supposed to be my militia's healer, not a front liner.”

  I swing the blades down, shaking the blood off.

  “I'm ready for the next set of orders.” Is all I say.

  She gives me a rather annoyed look.

  -----

  She is staring at me from across the fire. I boil some bandages. Today's wounded have been patched up.

  “You fight, then heal. Do you rest at all.”

  I look at my Lady. “A few hours.”

  “Not enough, you’re going to collapse, Cea.”

  “I'll do my duty.”

  “Why are you so driven?”

  I look at her, then sigh. “My first born's Tapestry was in their way. You know as well as I do that everyone is slaughtered. They very likely claimed his Tapestry for their kingdom.”

  The woman winces. She knows my history, “That doesn't explain your recklessness.”

  “I will see as many dead as I can.”

  My glare was met by her hardening set. “So you say, but dying is against such a purpose, Cea. If you are wronged, live and crush them.”

  Her glare cows my own.

  -----

  I felt the growth of a new arcane core.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  “Ahhh Cea just budded, what are you aiming for this time?”

  I look across at my mess hall buddy. We were the last of our Lady's original force. Either through casualty or apathy, we remained. She had left to gather more. I doubt Malcor would be part of the latest group. A muffin hits my forehead. I frown.

  “Cea, I asked a question.”

  “I was thinking water.” I murmur, looking at the sad muffin that was smooshed.

  “Water? Not void or light.”

  “Most are ready for those. But water? Most will not think much of being touched by that.” I said after salvaging the muffin.

  “Ya and why would they?”

  I smile, “Rachindal, I found putting a mental command into water mana to be a potent delivery system.”

  The man shivers, “I've seen what you do with your voice.” He rubs his chin. “Water as a means of physically touching. Most have strong skills against mental intrusion though.”

  “Yes, I find that mental commands corrode as they traverse my opponent's mana aura, hence the water. If they still resist, well water abilities are liquid manipulation, there are a lot of liquids in an Elf.” Cea gives her best predatory grin.

  He laughs at my bravado.

  -----

  “I confer the rank of [Countess] upon thee Cea, for your efforts in the war.”

  A war we should have fought till the end. Instead Arcond has seized territory as settlement for their ending the war. They returned our Tapestries as part of their surrender but Binjal had already been born again. I wasn't fast enough. Not strong enough. Will he be fighting against us in a new war? My heart couldn't bear it.

  “I take my duties with a heavy heart, your majesty.”

  He places his hand on my shoulder, a sign of trust. “I know you have lost much in this war, Cea. I want you to administer the lands we have claimed.”

  “As you command, my lord.”

  I will need to do my utmost to calm and bolster the new border. Strong trade between us and a strong military force that will make peace more preferable than war.

  -----

  I manipulate the lightning mana between the rods. It's a child's game but I am nearing a new core.

  “My [Countess], we received word of Yranorok opening its borders to lesser races.”

  I look up from my practice. They had lost a great deal of Elves but to invite others into their lands. It will only further lead to their weakening. “Propose to our farming consortiums on moving more food stuffs towards Yranorok. I suspect they will need more stores in the months to come. See if they can secure iron and gold in trade.”

  Get them to depend on us for food and remove iron from their smithys. Hopefully peace will continue.

  -----

  “A letter, [Countess].”

  I take it from the silver tray. ‘To Cea.’ Rather presumptuous, I opened the letter.

  Dear First Mother,

  I am writing to you many years after my first life ended, knowing that my early end must have come at a great hardship. I only just reached tier 2 and rediscovered our connection. I am so sorry my recklessness had claimed not only me but yours and fathers relationship. I have heard the slander of you in my new homeland and ache that I may have been a small part of your wrath. Please forgive my rashness.

  Let me tell you of my current life. I have two loving fathers who raised me to have strong moral standings. I've taken up smithing, which is a rather safer profession than adventuring. My brother has started dating a human woman. Can you imagine? I love them all dearly. I hope you are doing better now that time has passed. Please write back. I love to hear from you.

  Your First,

  Binjal

  I pulled the water that aimed to ruin the parchment. “Ophinalous, I like some time alone. I'll have a letter to send out tonight.”

  “Of course, my [Countess].” She replied.

  I wonder if I can talk him into visiting.

  -----

  “First mother, I would ask you permission for immigration for my brother and his wife.”

  I keep my face steady as I wince internally at Binjal's request.

  “Has an issue arisen?” I already know but best to see if he understood as well.

  “Their connection to me and through me, you, has led to their persecution. In fact many of the Tapestries from Arc'nila have found harsh treatment in their lands.”

  Thus a great deal were rejected by their Elven brethren and resorted to mating with lesser races. They too would seek asylum given time.

  “I will accept your brother and his family as personal guests. Ophinalous, I will be drafting a letter for his majesty. I will need a meeting.”

  “Thank you, first mother.” Binjal bows. I give him a small nod and a smile. I could never deny him.

  -----

  “So you seek to open our borders to our stolen Tapestries and their families.”

  “I do, your Majesty.”

  “Even though many of them have started families with lesser races?” A noble scoffs to the side.

  “A temporary issue, they were shut out of mating with their fellow Elves due to animosity from losing the war. If we meet them with compassion, their dalliances will pass away and they will begin proper relationships. After all, why settle for a mortal when an immortal never ages.”

  Binjal waited in the audience with a bemused smile. He understood that I need to convince the nobility of this over making a prideful stand. With compassion, they will integrate and we will be stronger for it. I see Malcor with him. I hold my smile. I still had more convincing to do.

  -----

  Malcor approached me with a pale face. I tilt my head.

  “Binjal has been assassinated by Yranorok rebels.”

  My eyes smolder. “I doubt they acted spontaneously.”

  “They had received backing from the previous land's nobility. They had little allegiance but were easily swayed by promises of positions of power.”

  “Then it is war, will you be joining me in vengeance this time, Malcor. It wasn't just happenstance this time.”

  “Let us burn their capital to the ground, Cea.”

  -----

  The campaign was nearing its end. We were in our fifth month of a siege of Yranorok capital. They had refused to surrender the nobility who orchestrated the assault on my family.

  “A personal missive, [Marques].”

  I pick up the letter, Binjal has been born to a hybrid named Senadina and a hybrid Venessa. A bit bittersweet. I suspect interference in the Central Tapestry Repository by my detractors in the Kings court. They have managed to strike a cruel blow on me. I will lose him again but I hope he will have a long life all the same. Perhaps with good care and proper tutoring we can raise him in tier to prolong such an outcome. I'll have to assign a good doctor to their village.

  -----

  This is a daily reminder: You have 416 unallocated stat points

  The siege can't end soon enough. I get up and go stretch my back. There is no strain. Strange I should have…I looked around seeing a room I was only vaguely familiar with. Have I been captured? They would have me in chains and not a guest bedroom. I walked over and sat at the mirror. My eyes are dull…and slitted?

  I blink. I begin to shake. My face was hers. My ears. My hair. My height. My body. All hers. Just my eyes and horns are my own. My heart thundered in my chest. My heart?!? “I'm not her.” I scream. My knife plops into my hand, I slam it into my chest. At my heart. I feel nothing, nothing but a growing thirst. More proof it is not my body. I carve more. Her elven bones are easily parted. I hear footsteps, I must hurry. The door opens as my left hand finishes wrenching out my heart. Good now for the ears. She catches my wrist with the knife.

  “Stop it, Cea!” Mags shouts.

  “Mother, I must remove her. I need to kill her.”

  I feel Cecelia wrap me in a hug from behind, “Demon, calm yourself. We will get you through this.” The knife drops, it returns to my soul space. My hand shakes, no more sweeties? She is calling me what I am. I start to giggle. I cry as I laugh.