"Mono/Dialogue"

  'Inner thoughts'

  Narration

  [Message/communication apparatus]

  Date: 18th January 1920 NWC or 647 AU.

  Location: Argonume, Arganean Protectorate, Helicar.

  POV: Ionie Xiel Arganea

  “Ice thaws at st… but it brought me no respite… I feel… dread…” My heart thrums hardest even when I can feel the warmth of someone who understands me. I could him close, and the crown closer. A crown that shall be our ruin… Gods… why have you tested me so?

  “… I fear that yours had floated to the surface, dear…” Darelio’s hand slowly lifted me from nestling on his bosom. We are currently in our room, consummating the binding of Queen and his Consort-Regent. Our union was… is… tumultuous. I can hear the people calling me with scorn, and those who believe in me are losing hope… but Dzargo had opened my eyes to the terrible darkness lurking beneath. So… why does it hurt so much?

  “I wagered… my legacy, hope, and dream… I yearned for us not to be swallowed by the Darkness… so why… why won’t you give up?” My words were accompanied by translucent crown sprouts emerging on my brows, shining brightly and seeming to herald the coming spring.

  “… Heavens preserves us…” Darelio's voice was croaked, heavy, and tired as I surmised so. “The Crown is incomplete… what manner of resolves has that brother of yours found out there?” He wearily sat up in the bed, carrying me in his arms.

  “The fleet loyal to my reign had assured that he would never sail west; he sailed east. Aquysor Fastharad… If only he had lost his will there, we wouldn’t be here.” A forlorn smile painted on my lips as the crown shimmered brighter, sensing its intention to mock my resolve. Showing me everything that I had become, all bathed by the majestic light… a Kinsyer’s coronation. Fitting.

  “Where do you think he found his resolve from?”

  “… It cannot be the Astagar Imperium, nor would it be the High Council of Eldrethia…”

  “What about them?”

  “The First Kingdom… I do not know… Last report of our liaison spoke of them gradually embracing the Constitutionalists' Ideal. We are running out of them, and the most they could spare us was sympathy.”

  “The Superpowers are always at each other’s throats. It feels as if the Great War meant nothing to them. They lost their vision…”

  “No… It’s worse. They are watching us. They are preparing to come to our aid when it is all too te… Are you sure about your brother?”

  “His ambition is second only to his wish to see the future. As you know, he is a very changed man. He will either be remembered as Great Tyrant, or Accursed Emperor.”

  “… Was everything truly necessary? Was it truly right for us to decide who dies and not? Are we sure that the Great Spirits’ abandonment wasn’t caused by their disgust of us?”

  “… I am afraid… yes, we are the makers of our own fate… but the Gods had remained silent.” He gently brushes my hair, a gesture with true warmth in this cold time. “We don’t know where the Invaders shall be coming from. Now, we have Zorphal’s return all but assured… the Crown only acknowledged strong cimants with will to match, was it not?”

  “Yes… Eline would know what to do, but I am not her. Resline too…”

  “They won’t. Their rage was the reason you raised your swords to spare them from becoming monsters… Why don’t you tell them?”

  “Because the people won’t believe me, and if they know… all trust will be shattered and this continent… my home… my people… my family…” Tears crested over and streamed down my cheeks, as I bear it no longer.

  “Everything… will be for naught… I can hear them, you know? My Twin Sibling cursing my name as I plunge the bde into their hearts… My Father’s heartbroken tears as he y limp on my hands…” My ice met his fme, our arcane might resonates into a soft, glowing warmth.

  “I don’t want it… I don’t want to do it again… Father… Mother… Elder Brother; Elder Sister…” He gently cradles me tight as I sink deeper. I can feel his eyes burning with sorrow and resolve. “You must rest, focus on corralling the Crown to our will. Helicar depends on you, as for your brother…”

  “… I know… It hurts… I don’t want him to do this, if only I had the time to expin it all… There will be a pce for all of us in the future.” His words, his hope, made me ugh. What a wonderful, insultingly beautiful world that had slipped through my grasp that was… “No… we don’t deserve that. By trying to save the majority… we had cast the rest into hell…”

  “… I am sorry… My brother was forced to compromise… time is running short.” He kissed my forehead, and I silently prayed deep in my heart that the coming war would not be one to st for long.

  Yet that hope is a mere flicker in the wind as I gaze outside. The winter is subsiding, and the sun will soon return with a fre that will brighten the world… and from that fre is a harsh gre.

  Harsh gre for the season of war continues to spring.

  Location: ???, Convallis Tenebrae, Regalian Autarchy.

  POV: Narrator

  All lower and mid-ranking RAIO (Regalian Autarchy Intelligence Office) employees are diligently performing their tasks around the building, making a conscious effort not to see bck-cd soldiers along the hallway. Despite the undercurrent of fear, these men and women are moving with lighter steps with a disciplined gait. Information was processed and shared to be analyzed and then published or censored as needed. The same could not be said for these people, who are experienced in reminding dissidents that Regalia has eyes.

  The war was, in a way, a massive boon for the intelligence department for obvious reasons. Unfortunately, and due to Cylene’s infamous streak of harsh and inventive punishment, a lot of personnel had been sleeping with one, or even both, eyes open. Each day is a grueling task of keeping a serene fa?ade, performing tasks adequately, and hoping against all hope that the unknown intelligence unit that is overseeing them won’t come knocking.

  The air inside the briefing room is cool, serene, and the perfect picture of tastefulness on the inside. This blocky build could still hold immense beauty that is easy on the eye and yet remains functional. As, many of the attendees can feel nothing but cold sweat running down their backs.

  Yes, it is an open secret no one wants to acknowledge if they have a functioning brain that Regalia has an Intelligence Agency overseeing the Intelligence Agency. In fact, each department has these unknown people who keep checks on the very nerves of this whole country.

  Their execution was swift and unseen. Often, a whole family vanished for a few weeks before returning a changed people. There was an uncountable number of people vanishing during the war, and it was a sort of mental horror pguing the public’s consciousness. Fortunately, this unknown group has the decency to compensate for colteral damage.

  A dozen high-ranking officers sat down in their seated arrangement in abject silence, eyes forward and spines so straight they might snap into pieces. None dared look behind them, none even entertained the idea of breathing overtly lest the terror breathing down their neck would start moving. These people have massive political clout to their name, but that all meant little should they incur the displeasure of one who stood above them all.

  Their eyes are doing their damnedest not to look at the exit door, not to run because that’s impossible, but to wait for their department leader. The long wait ended as Prime Director Joshua reentered the room with an adequately decorated handcart.

  ‘I really shouldn’t have written that banal trivia...’ Mental anguish marred a certain someone’s heart as she watched him prepare to welcome her. She pced her hand beneath her chin while her eyes inspected the line of Spesdecs standing silently behind the Intelligence Officers. One thought, and she can kill these people, and not one person breathing in this entire building will bat an eyelid.

  ‘This is ridiculous... is this how NKVD felt when Joseph Stalin was in the room?’ She makes sure she doesn’t make a sour face from remembering one of the most infamous dictators of her old world. It is one bit of trivia she kept hearing from other Elders who were versed in history.

  “The trackers had reaped us a windfall of information, although I must insist that there are too many irregurities, Your Grace.” Joshua maintained a pcid expression as he said, those No problem. Then he ys a tray in front of the most powerful woman on this continent with practiced competence.

  He is internally sweating buckets from the subpar selection of confectionery that just so happens to be occurring at such an inopportune moment. He was leading a meeting when Cylene made a surprise visit, throwing the department into complete chaos.

  “So enlighten me, director.” Cylene takes stock of the Intelligence Department’s hospitality, showing not a flicker of emotion of injection nay inflection in her voice. She is presented with consommé soup, a bottle of wine, five pieces of well-done prime ribs, and st but not least, a chocote sandwich.

  Joshua (and his men) inwardly sigh with relief, seeing the Grand Autarch making no particur comment on his ckluster welcome. “It will be my utmost pleasure, Your Grace.” He nodded to his assistant, who had been visibly sweating, to turn on the projector.

  “As we can see here, OpFor elements had been conducting a steady retreat from the Southern and Eastern part of the continent, at least until winter subsides. My department’s analysts are confident that this rapid retreat was meant as consolidation in friendly territory.”

  “How many assets do we have on the ground?”

  “We have five mobile companies actively disrupting their rear line, and an increasing amount of smaller units operating under Field Mars-” The Prime Director coughed lightly from his tiny blunder. “Ahem, excuse my impertinence. What I was referring to was the Auxiliary Force Chief Executive Officer expedites in enlisting all she could muster.”

  “I expected as much from her. Do continue.”

  “Understood. I was alluding to the existence of irregurities, Your Grace. Namely, these few cross-referencing...” His assistant went onto the next slide, and there are lines of where the tracker went. The signals often get weak or briefly vanish because of thick foliage and the limited range of their spy satellite.

  “We had marked points of interest closest to the route taken by our trackers. We had uncovered an Imperial army depot, underground supply storage, a fortified position reminiscent of the 18th Global War’s bunker, checkpoints, and all manner of infrastructures that were made with one frame in mind.”

  “... You were insinuating our foe being capable of limited mass production? What will be their industrialization level according to the analysts?”

  “Gathering the necessary data from our colborators and prisoners, Imperial had achieved one or two centuries' worth of advancement in less than two decades. They have managed to slowly reduce their usage of melee weapons in favor of their scientific and arcane smoothbore gun.”

  “The same gun I kept hearing to eschew logic? How so?” Meredith steps in to cut the meat into fine chunks for her Grand Autarch’s pleasure. For some reason, the Head Maid’s eyes look way too sharp as she observes the contents of the served wine. To anyone else, Meredith looked unfathomably insulted that the department dared to serve the Grand Autarch with ‘cheap’ sewer waste.

  Thankfully, she is not saying a thing when the Grand Autarch herself is saying nothing. People had started to fear the Head Maid; there’s a rumor that she has more than the Grand Autarch’s ears. The more scandalous rumor spoke about her attention. Of course, no one dared to dig deeper into it, and these people are Intelligence agents.

  “Indeed. While it uses gunpowder weaponry, we also managed to uncover a secret reted to their construction. Namely...” He moves onto the next slide to show a glowing part inside the gun barrel. That certainly piques her interest.

  “This is what the Arganean refers to as a wind stone that had been ground into part of the weapon. Apparently, it prevents fouling inside the barrel and propels the bullet by at least 40% faster than our old musket.”

  “... Intriguing... accuracy-wise?”

  “Due to the velocity, it has more range and short-range accuracy, scoring 8 out of 10 hits against targets less than 100 meters (328 feet), a very impressive feat if I say so myself.” Joshua means it. Having a lead ball capable of reaching transonic speed without the use of rifling is worrisome, but he then shares his next finding.

  “It is conversely becoming extremely susceptible to wind draft. Anything past 100 meters is barely able to score 2 out of 10 hits against a target. This might be the reason why they are still using dire by ranks or pikes-and-shots.” He held up a finger. “However, that is not the most impressive innovation that they have.”

  The next slides are photographs. “One of the trackers had exhibited an outstanding phenomenon.” She watched as the tracker had been blinking at least 100 kilometers away from the site it was attached to. According to older records, it had been moving steadily.

  Then it stopped at a point of interest. “Here it was located one week, and then...” As he said, the blinking was relocated away from its st stopping point and ended up 400 kilometers away from the camp it was attached to. When there should have been murmurs of shock, no one dared to voice it.

  Cylene, who had been nibbling at her food, slowly creased her brows before wiping her lips with a napkin. “Did my eyes deceive me, or the objects we had pnted trackers on had been relocated in the blink of an eye?” There’s a tiny hint of amusement from Cylene’s choice of words, but Joshua pretends he never realized such a thing and smoothly proceeds onward

  “I assure Your Grace that I have conducted checks with my personnel, and they attest to seeing the same thing. We are currently investigating the veracity... but I surmised OpFor owns teleportation magic.”

  “Worrisome...” Cylene taps her finger on the desk. One tap. Two taps. Three taps. Until she finally spoke up. “What a displeasing thought. If we let this information slip through our grasp, we are in for a nasty surprise.” She looks back at Joshua, and he stands straighter after gaining her undivided attention.

  ‘What a goddamn mess... Even if they could only teleport a whole ptoon behind our lines would be stupidly potent enough... imagine if a whole regiment, or god forbid, an entire division was shoved up our ass? I don’t want to be the commander to deal with that.’

  “Our adversary, we deemed primitive, aren’t so much as we thought less of them for. They are inventive and understand the sheer advantage of speed in war. I can piece together why they could overwhelm Arganean’s ‘Wall’ so easily... their tactical and strategic pace is on par with modern army corps.”

  “That is indeed pusible, Your Grace.”

  “We need to verify whether it was an object or manpower they managed to teleport; neither would be good for us. It will make the battlefield an utter mess should the tter possibility be proven.” Cylene internally made a face as she had just bitten into a rotting bug. Yes, she had eaten bugs to survive.

  “Your order shall go without saying... then may I share a conjecture? I honestly cim this is merely hypothetical.”

  “Seldom have I consigned to fantasies, but you may.”

  “My gratitude, Your Grace.” He proceeds to insert a small USB into one of the projector’s ports. The operator navigates through the files before arriving at Joshua’s. “We had compiled information in regards to Otherworlders. The New Worlders are intimately linked with these enigmatic sorts, and the current situation alluded that such a person is under the Empire’s influence.” Next slides showing changes from footmen and archers to pikemen and arquebusiers, and from pikemen to cssical foot infantry with musket and bayonet,

  “This had been reported from our assets deep inside the Empire’s secret facility. Project Syracuse works as intended despite early concerns. This photograph,” He points at the marching and drilling stance of this new (for Helicarian) model of infantry. They are shown to practice square formation, fire by ranks, and such. However, they also emphasize greater zeal in skirmishing using a loose formation.

  “Advancement at such a rapid pace is intriguing, and yet it puzzles me. It gives an impression of them trying to choose the smoothest possible way to develop a doctrine they do not know, which is based on. This leaping motion of technological advancement was usually made under impetus... and best impetus? Threat. Otherworlders had been cimed and were again advancing technology. It is not out of the realm of possibility that they are behind everything.”

  “Hmm... An outrageous cim when we have little proof... but do enlighten me further. I find you a most fruitful conversation partner thus far.”

  “Your Grace was too kind, but I humbly accept.” He inclined his head to a bow, which was replied to by an imperious nod from her. “Concerning this supposed Otherworlder, we must take into account the speed of the Imperial’s development. Our colborators, while remaining evasive upon certain matters, had shared truths.”

  ‘Or they are lying by omission, but I suppose it is high time for me to allow a benefit of doubt.’ Cylene kept her words sealed behind her lips. She was reminded of her position back during the war. Her superiors often hide information for fear of affecting morale, and she was often lied to. So, of course, she will become a skeptic to an extent.

  “Logically, technology shall scale up in stages. From bronze to metal, from steam to coal, and from gasoline to electricity. However, we must also take into account that the existence of magic made several inventions redundant. You will not have much need of a match if a fme by your fingertip shall suffice. You will not see much practicality with electricity of a magically charged stone shine the same... so what’s the cause of this shift?” The next slide shows simple popution charts.

  “One of the reasons is how many mages there are, and their skill shall vary. It is bewildering how something so entrenched and a sign of social hierarchy could be thrown out of the equation so soon because of one man. Was he really?”

  “...” Cylene inwardly clicked her tongue. ‘He is alluding that someone is controlling the Empire... and this someone is valuable enough that they can steer a whole nation’s sentiment... is it those Soothsayers that had been reported to me? Was the prophecy real or was it... oh no...’

  “... Interesting. You were alluding to why the Empire bothered to take a drastic turn. Someone, or a group, is in possession of earth-shattering knowledge dire enough. This information will have little use should the one at the top refuse to listen... The Empire’s Otherworlder, if they do exist, must have made small miracles... but these small miracles are... inventions...”

  “As expected of Your Grace’s mind, and yes... These inventions must have been the concept for a weapon in the hands of Imperial’s brightest mind. The Otherworlder possesses limited knowledge, but that limitation is enough.” Cylene turns slightly to her right, and a man seems to wish to interject.

  “You may speak.” He gratefully nodded at her before clearing his throat. “If that is true... shouldn’t this Otherworlder’s usefulness be diminished? I mean... if we take what is needed... how long until the useful Otherworlder came?” All eyes (except Cylene, because her eyes are closed) turn to him.

  “This is my subpar hypothesis... but the Arganean had shared that summoning magic was lost... what if it was rediscovered?” The room froze after he shared his theory. She slows down her chewing, her appetite abating the longer this meeting goes on.

  “From what I can gather, the Empire is increasingly becoming meritocratic. It shouldn’t be unusual for these Outherworlders to be rewarded handsomely for their contribution.”

  “Hmm... will you rule out the possibility of innate hatred and distrust upon these summoned personages?” Her voice was meant for Joshua, and thankfully, he knows when and to whom she’s addressing.

  “I had that taken into account, Your Grace, but I doubt it will be so. Arganean and the few cooperative prisoners we do have spoke about the Otherworlders with suspicion, but not to the point of hate. I had inquired with my section to interview some of the prisoners, and they, too, think that having an Otherworlder is a big boost in their legitimacy.”

  “Legitimacy... in other words, it would have made an excellent Imperial propaganda?”

  “Logically, yes. Not only in painting a greater, heinous picture of their superiority.”

  “Your point was noted. It is vexing why they refuse to capitalize on such a safe venture. It will prove a massive boon to their cause… truly intriguing.” The Grand Autarch returned her attention to the man, and he cleared his throat politely.

  “Next… what of the Otherworlders that were proven to be a burden? The Empire practiced svery.”

  “Wholesale svery is a common suspect, but that won’t be acceptable publicly.”

  “If I may boldly assume, it is safe to say that Otherworlder is a status of immense prestige and propensity. It might be viable to assume this respect came not from gratitude but also fear.”

  “Hmm… fear… and why is such the case?”

  “Our think-tank’s interpretation and natives’ admittance pointed out that Otherworlders aren’t necessarily a force of good. We have yet to understand the scope of their power, either mundane or otherwise, but we could assume that angering an Otherworlder could be of grievous consequences.”

  “Logical assumption. It is probable that the Otherworlder, the competent and resourceful one, could shake the world’s foundation by their differing ideas. Even should one is feeble, the mind could be sharp. A sharp mind could turn a well-established army into chaotic bands of thugs… and you posit an unspoken question of how deeply involved was the Otherworlder, I presume?”

  “… Um… it is within Your Grace’s assumption.”

  “Don’t patronize me, speak your mind.”

  “U-Understood, and my deepest apology, Your Grace! I had made a pse in judgment!” He bowed his head low, but she said nothing. After gathering his thoughts and will, the man continued. “It was… not what you had… assumed… I wish offer a different possibility.” A corner of her lips quirked up slightly, finding simple joy that he could finally be direct. “Fascinating, and let's rephrase, why did the Imperial refuse to propagandize their clear advantage?” She pressed him on, and the man inhaled deeply before voicing his answer that doubled as doubt.

  “… What if they only need the Otherworlders for their knowledge? It matters not that the Otherworlders were cooperative, even taking into account their wrath… We cannot rule out the possibility that magic meant for interrogation exists.” Cylene almost choked from that, blindsided by something that should have been ridiculously obvious. That obvious piece of information also unearthed an uneasy conjecture.

  ‘I almost fucked up…’ She mentally kicked herself. Her mock-tyrannical mask slipped to show a woman who was shaken to her core. Meredith trembles beside her, as well as others who finally understand his implication.

  It is not about how well these hypothetical Otherworlders cooperate, but how far one could be exploited. It is one thing if civilians were summoned… what would happen if someone competent were summoned, forced against their will, and sped up the development regardless of consequences?

  No matter how well Haumelchor is doing now, once he is gone and the next ruler takes up the mantle, there will be a mess to pay. Regalia thankfully had only meddled in a position where they could afford to pull out their support easily, but this doesn’t truly answer what the hell Haumelchor was thinking in risking his own legacy.

  There’s a missing piece of the puzzle that needs to be studied, and not a single one among them knows what this piece looks like.

  “... Our attention had been so focused on the present problem, we had failed to notice... we might have been summoned into this world by a force strong enough to dispce an entire subcontinent- no... One whole nation.” She calmly enunciated, a beacon of stoic interest. “Be seated, I treasure your input, and Prime Director?”

  “At your service, Your Grace?”

  “Elevate that man, effective immediately, he will be granted his own section to study the nature of this world. His report shall be for both our eyes only. Start writing up the budget and proper documentation, understood?”

  “At once.” The Director complies immediately, and the meeting enters a silence. Silence borne from Cylene’s still form, a storm brewing in her mind.

  This suffocating silence is enough that those outside instinctively lower their tones. They don’t know why or how this happened. Those inside the room are watching their Grand Autarch closed eyes tightened slightly. Outwardly, she is thinking... Internally?

  ‘What the fuck?! Was Regalia brought along with me because I was in Neural Space? Was there someone out there who tried to summon me for their own gain? Then svery? What?! SLAVERY?! I had suffered in that bsted world long enough that it was practically one! At least there I could entertain a degree of self-respect, no matter how ironic and shameless, than literal subservience! Then what, they wanna probe my brain?! They wanna see the hell I went through?! I sure as hell wasn’t surviving the Fourth World War to be someone’s bitch just because they have some stupid mumbo-jumbo nonsense!’

  The Grand Autarch is seething, and many desperately pretend they aren’t aware of how hard her utensil, made of steel, is bending out of shape. Her silence was observed by the rest, most feel fear from her sudden rage, relief that their Grand Autarch doesn’t try to dismiss this possibility... and suspicion.

  It can be said that this continent is made up of three sorts of people: Fanatics, Skeptics, and Rebels. Fanatics constituted 98% or more of the total popution, skeptics at 0.1% to 2%, and rebels, what’s left of it. So for every 100 agents, one will either be a loyal skeptic or a true skeptic. One of these agents is present in the room, and they are more focused on the Grand Autarch.

  Even knowing that a gun barrel could blow their heads off, they just can’t help it. To be a competent Intelligence Officer, one must harbor a healthy degree of skepticism. While it is true that she had been there herself, there was concern that this Grand Autarch is... not the same one. For one, Cylene was nicer than she used to be, and she is more lenient.

  Such heretical thoughts weren’t baseless because of the capricious nature of an Elder. These men and women had been cursed with skill and knowledge on how to understand human nature. Although reading Cylene is a very hard task, they can infer her attitude with several examples that were procured from outside sources from the old world.

  There were records of Elders one day acting sweet and kind, while just a few weeks ago signing an order for a massacre. Another record spoke about how an Elder who was stern had mellowed too much, which hampered their ability to assess danger. One of the UFSNE Elders had also been noted to be very confrontational or mellows at the flip of a hat.

  Cylene isn’t any of that. She was always fairly decisive and uncompromisingly ruthless. Her continent-wide pardon was one of the earliest suspicions that something had gone wrong with her. For one, she is the only person who fainted when the world changed, while they are all lucid. It can be chalked up to motion sickness or something that is against logic, as SIEZ demonstrated.

  The Grand Autarch remains decisive, but she reigned her ruling with a lighter touch. Common people are overjoyed seeing her like that. The same couldn’t be said for those whose paranoia has always been a close friend. As much as it torments them inside for harboring this seditious mind, they must because Cylene herself had made them as such. They are made to suffer and serve. So suffer and serve they shall.

  Regardless of the Officer’s misgivings, suspicions, and fears, at least their Leader won’t suddenly dismiss everything just because it isn’t to her liking. Cylene being able to see the reality on the field is a massive boon.

  Imagine what would have happened if, when Cylene woke up, she wasn’t herself? The sheer chaos of seeing their unbending leader suddenly feeling squeamish with blood is one of the more outrageous theories. Or that she was panicking so much inside that the whole country was paralyzed.

  As these courageous people deliberate in their minds, Joshua and Cylene continue.

  “How many assets do you need?” She doesn’t beat around the bush as Meredith prepares to write down what he will need. “Two satellites dedicated to keeping eyes on a rge concentration of forces.”

  “Rejected. I have only one to spare, but I shall authorize temporary command of my Flying Citadel, and three companies of Grasdivis shall be under your immediate command. As an aside, I shall approve your request to requisition two Maximian bombers and two squadrons’ worth of Maximian helicopters for independent operations. Would that suffice?”

  “That is more than sufficient, Your Grace. The loss of one satellite is regrettable, but I swear on my own name that this Department will see that your will be done.”

  “I shall hold onto your vow... and the person by the yonder...” Cylene pointed at an officer who had a distracted look in their eyes with a nudge of her chin. Soon, the very air froze faster than boiling water dumped into liquid nitrogen. The officer gulped hard as a gun barrel could be felt touching the back of their head. Their colleagues pretend to see nothing, except for Joshua. Joshua follows her gaze, and his own hardened murderously.

  Instead of trigger pull, Cylene smiles. “Keep up the good work.” She finished up on her dessert before leaving the stunned officer behind. As an aside, Meredith’s hand had snake onto a revolver near her thigh, but she otherwise remains pcid, unlike with the piss-poor (by her standard) wine.

  The Department heaves a sigh of relief once the Grand Autarch leaves the vicinity... or is it truly?

  [END OF CHAPTER]

  Author’s Note:

  Yo there, this is me, myself, and I, the author who prefers to vibe but needs to grind.

  This chapter is a prelude to what is to come, if you can’t tell already. I want to shake things up a bit, if you know what I’m saying.

  As per usual or something, an update is whenever I feel like it… maybe… I don’t know, lmao.

  Ciao