Azarinth Healer Chapter 713: History

Chapter 713 History

Ileas head wouldve probably hurt if it wasnt for her constant healing, her high tolerance for ntal exhaustion, her super human body, and high stats. In a way it felt wrong, to be so perfectly aware and calm after hearing so much articles of law. Granted, the wording wasnt exactly as complex as what shed seen back on Earth, but a lot of details and eventualities had to be covered. Most of it focused on Awakened beings, as defined by the adow in the first few articles.

You outdid yourself, Ilea mused, eating a piece of cake with her legs on the table. Twin had left at so point to talk with the adow, Violence sleeping on her shoulder. So of the people had left to refresh themselves or sleep, teleported of course by the adow.

I had a lot of examples to look through. Most of the considerations as to what to include was done by the others. I mainly focused on adapting it to all species, it explained. Youre the reason everyone is here. This wouldnt be possible without you.

Ilea puffed, eating a fork full of cake. Says one of the main people responsible for the creation of the gates. We quite literally wouldnt be here without you. She didnt miss the quick glare from Catelyn and addressed the fox. You can take a break you know?

And devour a cake like so savage beast? Catelyn asked. In a tone that suggested that yes, that was exactly what she wished to do.

Can you help her out adow? Shield her from perception, bring a cake, and let her go ham, she sent.

The fox vanished, including one of the cakes from the buffet.

Thanks, she said.

Political considerations are an interesting concept. Im learning a lot from this eting, the adow spoke.

For your eventual world takeover, Ilea mused, closing her eyes as she savored the sweet taste.

Of course. Yes. That, it spoke.

Ilea opened one eye as she looked towards the tree. You seem distracted.

Twin is providing stimulating concepts, it explained.

Hey, good for you, Ilea said and pointed. Just make sure to use protection.

Any resulting magical creation will be placed under great protection and examined until its safety is assured, the adow reassured.

Im not sure were talking about the sa thing, Ilea thought, guessing by the tone that the being wasnt being a sarcastic shit for once, but truly mistaking her joke for genuine concern.

Just let know when it convinces you to kill all humans, she said.

Ilea, you know my nature. No being can change what I am, just like nobody can change humans at their core. Which is of course why they must all be killed, it said.

Good, Ilea mused when Catelyn reappeared. The fox looked the sa as she had before, but sohow more happy. Youll be able to eat those all the ti when the gates are done.

Ill have to consider that a manipulation of my mind, Catelyn answered. Well done. You successfully infiltrated Hallowfort.

Easy. Were the sa you and I. You just prefer sweets, Ilea said and patted Violence when it woke up.

I havent seen Twin sleep, Owl whispered as she leaned in a little closer.

The Baron vanished and appeared on top of her head, spinning its arms when it started sinking into the ethereal being. A continuous giggle went through their minds.

Owl reached into her head and gently pulled out the creature with her large purple hands.

Theyre as different as they co, Ilea said when Violence floated away, trying to find sothing with a little more action. He would succeed in the do the adow had set up for Doravin and Rock, the two warriors already being observed by Pierce and Verena.

When are we moving on? Ilea asked Claire.

She looked up and smiled. Just another ten articles and were done. The rest shouldnt take as long. Well continue in half an hour.

You probably need a break too, Ilea said and stood up. Trian, you too. Let show you sothing.

adow, can we get a teleport up, should be night right? she asked.

Indeed. Here you go, the adow answered and moved them all up to the northern landscape, seas of mist all around them, moonlight shining down from above. A near cloudless night.

Ilea stretched and sat down on a chair made of ash, a cold bottle of ale in hand as she sat back and relaxed, two additional chairs forming next to her as she watched her friends frozen in awe, a smug grin on her face.

She let them be, until they eventually joined her.

No wonder you like it here, Trian said, refusing the bottle she offered.

You should see it by day, Ilea mused. You might even survive the lightning due to your magic.

I understand its arcane in nature. Ill try, but not without supervision, he answered.

Ilea pointed down. Still the domain of the adow, she mused when a do like shield flickered to life around them for a split second. Nice, great timing. Proud of you.

Thanks. I think theyre suitably impressed. And a little terrified, the being replied.

I might be interested in so barrier magic discussions with the adow. At a later ti, Claire said, sighing as she sat down.

Whats your feeling so far? Ilea asked.

Its going really well. Theres less resistance from the more problematic mbers of both parties than we expected, she said.

Trian smiled. Good preparation and even better opportunities help smooth things over. Even the worst enemies would find a way to agree under these circumstances, and were not enemies. Far from it.

Acceptance from the citizens of our cities will be the more difficult task, and that of other countries, Claire said.

Trian nodded. Yes. But a suitable show of wealth and power will be convincing enough. And before they know it, the world will have changed already.

Kyrian appeared next to them. His armor gave off a different sheen, similar to that of the Warden blades Ilea had collected after the battle in the Pit. Leaving out?

Youve seen this before, Ilea mused.

Not with all of you, the man answered and ford a chair made of tal.

Sorry, Ilea said.

He waved her off. It is quite a sight. If you wouldve told a few years ago that this is where wed be by now

They were quiet for a little while, watching the endless dance of mist in the starlit lands of the north.

Quite a journey, Trian said.

Hmm, Ilea mused. Team thirty four, she said and looked behind herself, a part of her expecting Eve to deactivate her invisibility. But the woman remained gone. Her gaze went up. You wouldve loved the view, she thought and raised her bottle.

Kyrian touched her shoulder with one arm.

So this is where you fought a Dragon? Trian asked.

________________________

The conversation in regards to the universal laws finished without a single major argunt. Catelyn had expected at least so issues but their previous communication and the additions from the adow made the whole process rather smooth. Not as smooth as that strawberry cheese cake she had been given earlier. It had been a mistake. She had to focus on the tasks at hand. Dont be so hard on yourself. Youve worked enough in the past weeks.

She stretched, sitting on her chair. The movent was lost on the humans, her small and strange form protecting her from the usual issues that ca with political etings. In regards to the body at least. Catelyn ignored the look from Elana, the woman always schooling her in these matters even though she herself didnt adhere to those principles. Hypocrite, she thought with a slight smirk.

The woman smirked back before she changed her expression back to her usual face. Arrogant royal would describe it the best, or perhaps side lined protagonist. Catelyn wasnt sure which one shed choose. The latter had co from the adow. To be fair, Elana had plenty of lovely nas for the tree as well. Perhaps in a way to balance out the near reverence the being received from most of Hallowforts denizens.

A reverence well deserved, she thought. Catelyn had t a few high level beings in her ti, the adow being the most powerful of them, or perhaps the Fae, though she knew the ones present on Ileas shoulders werent their true form. Their motives perhaps misunderstood or differing from most awakened beings, she knew they were just that in the end, awakened beings. The fact that they wielded world changing magical power was useful but to call them gods? Creators perhaps, makers, protectors, destroyers. To think I would arrive at questions like that.

She glanced at Ilea, the woman on her own way to beco sothing akin to a goddess. Would she consider her a god? If she reached level one thousand? When she can build entire cities made of ash? Probably not.

What is it? Ilea asked without looking her way.

All seeing, Catelyn mused.

Want more cake? the woman said.

All knowing. The fox smiled. Im satisfied for now. But once these arrangents are set, I will want to visit the maker, she sent. For they are the only true god. The creator.

Discussions went well. Unsurprising with my incredible additions, the adow sent.

Of course. Your intellect is unmatched great one, Catelyn deadpanned. It is thanks to you. Thanks to your protection, that we could focus, she added. The arrival of the adow had been an uncertain ti. Trusting Ileas judgnt had been the right decision of course but even those who knew of her heroics in the Descent had reservations about inviting a four mark into their midst. A few days was all it took for the adow to convince them, a few weeks for so to nearly worship the creature. And now they knew peace like never before, both monsters and the factions in the area simply unable to get past its perception and magic.

Im grateful to be of help, the adow said.

As are we, Catelyn answered. Peace like never before and now an opportunity to go to the southern lands, to see and live in places unhard by arcane storms, cities built in the safety of low mana density, untouched by the constant threat of miststalkers, on the surface and below the very suns. They welcod the opportunities. It would be somber to see them go. Warriors, smiths, brothers, and sisters. Survivors. Beings she had known for years, so for centuries.

She sighed, reminding herself that with the gates, she could always visit. And their town would flourish with new faces, young and old, adventurers looking to explore the lands of the north. She was especially excited to see the Sentinels. If they were anything like Ilea, the entire region could be affected. So many ruins, treasures, forgotten crypts, waiting to be uncovered. Catelyn glanced at Elana. She knew the forr queen of Rhyvor had plans, not just for Hallowfort but for all the lands she had once called her own. Perhaps she will manage to revitalize a part of it after all.

In case of war, all parties will attempt to help those under attack, Claire continued, going through the details of their agreents. An unlikely event based on just the present people but we all know there are beings out there even we cannot handle.

What happens after an enemy is defended against? Say the Feynor. They would retreat, regroup, and try again. A preemptive strike against their strongholds and holy sites would likely prevent a lot of issues in such an event, Elana said.

For scenarios like that well simply have to co together and discuss. Universal rules for such matters make little sense. These treaties are ant to be joined by more than the present settlents but the extent of our cooperation goes beyond a simple defensive pact. We will build towards prosperity with trust, Claire answered.

Elana rolled her eyes and puffed. Do you know how many soldiers die when you delay war preparations by even a single day?

No. And I wont need to know. Because we dont plan to go to war, Claire said.

If I may, Wayland said, receiving a nod from Catelyn.

She had been inford about his inclusion, a potential spy whose loyalty was as of yet in question. And yet it wasnt him she worried about. Sulivhaan and so in her own council she considered more likely to undermine their talks. Transgressions they could handle in the future, once everything was signed. She hoped it wouldnt co to that but reality had a way to disappoint.

I would agree with the notion of forr Queen Invalar, if we were talking about conflicts between traditional human nations. Resources and numbers are relevant mostly because the higher level nobility would generally not risk a direct confrontation with an enemy city. Not before they weakened it with armies or siege weapons. You may have heard about Liliths confrontation with Lord Harkens army. I would imagine the results would be similar with her increased power, the man explained.

Im not a weapon, aid and fired at whatever army is causing issues, Ilea said.

No. But you could aid in the destruction of infrastructure, the apprehension of important individuals, or simple intimidation. If the intelligence gathered manages to convince you, the man added.

Treading dangerous ground. She doesnt like responsibility, Catelyn thought, giving the woman a glance.

Look, Im happy to defend a city under attack, but I dont plan to get involved in anymore wars, Ilea said.

The man nodded. I understand. Apologies, Lilith. The point is, this potential alliance will not work with conventional ans. Conventional rules will not apply.

Elana gave him a considering wave of her hand.

So very condescending in nature, but she just manages to make it co off as an honor. Catelyn never really questioned how the woman had beco a Queen.

I believe with the defenses in place and the high level beings part of our alliance, we can allow ourselves a few days of consideration before we decide on a potential offensive strike. And in case of a worst case scenario, the respective individuals wouldve already intervened anyway, Catelyn said. She noted the light nod given to her by Claire. We do not want war.

What would constitute a worst case scenario? Elana asked.

Elven Oracles, Monarchs, or sothing like Audur, Ilea said.

A few whispers were exchanged.

At least the adow could show off its expertise, she added with a smile.

To think shes challenged a Dragon, Catelyn thought, rembering the first ti they had t.

We prepare for what we can, Claire said. Our resources arent unlimited. We dont know when the next crisis will co or what it will look like but its my conviction that we have a better chance at surviving it together.

Well said. Already we have fought and survived, Catelyn said, gesturing to the many engraved scenes in the table. The Descent, the demon summoning in Ravenhall, what had happened in Erendar. The two latter she had only heard of but knowing the dangers, it was certainly preferable to face them with allies.

We will pause the talks for five hours in which I ask you to go through the full treaties again, Claire said. After that we will hold the vote.

Catelyn turned to her council and gave each of them a glance, a few likely not very much in the mood to read through the treaties again. If only they knew the work it took to get them all set up.

They had to sign off on the teleportation gate treaty, a trade agreent, the universal laws, and the treaty in regards to cooperation, defense, and war efforts. Elana had called it a wonder that all of it had co to be in just a few months, a benefit of the small number of people involved. She had voiced her concerns early on in regards to that but as ti went on it beca clear that the people Claire worked with were more than just experienced. The forr Queen being one of them.

More reading. But cake is nigh.

_________________________

Ilea gave everything a read as well. She rembered so of the university registration process being more dry than this. Maybe it felt different because she was involved with it all. Not just aningless text written for an administrator far removed, for scenarios that would never co to be. She had fought in the Descent, had trained with the Shadows, she had seen the benefits of long range teleportation, and she knew what the adow could provide for a settlent, even in a harsher environnt than the north.

For the first ti in these talks did she truly realize what this all ant. It was the start of sothing massive. Sothing that could shatter the foundation of the status quo. And they were at the center of it all. She rembered arriving in Riverwatch, a city that would surely join into this agreent soon enough. She thought of Dale, the expedition to the west, to Dawntree. The Elven attacks, her arrival in Ravenhall. Her journey to the North. The Ascended corruption left behind by an ancient enemy of this realm.

If they planned to survive monsters like the Ascended or even worse, they had to cooperate. The Azarinth Order was gone, but they had the Sentinels. The Elves remained in their domains, but the Cerithil Hunters fought on, in long forgotten dungeons. The Taleen were gone, but with the help of the adow and a few gifted enchanters, they would take and improve their ancient technology. Available to all.

She finished reading through, waiting for the rest to do the sa.

There will be ti to discuss any additional agreents afterwards, Claire said. As the speaker of these first talks between Hallowfort and Ravenhall, I ask you all to speak your vote on the first treaty, the teleportation network agreent. I Claire Russel, head administrator of Ravenhall vote in favor.