He exhaled, it carried a strain beyond his years.
"Because I’m planning offensive that might get thousands of demons killed. Seems relevant to know if they’re volunteering for suicide mission or being paid for risk."
"They’re being paid adequately by demon standards. And honestly, after your demonstration at assembly, most would follow you without paynt. Combination of fear and faith is powerful motivator."
"That’s not comforting."
"It’s not ant to be. It’s reality." Lilith’s golden eyes studied him. "You’re worrying about economics now? After restructuring political hierarchy and committing to apocalyptic war?"
"I’m realizing that military victory ans nothing if economy collapses before we fight. Or if winning costs so much that aftermath is worse than losing." He rubbed his temples. "I thought war was about tactics and killing enemies. Turns out it’s equally about supply chains and trade negotiations."
"Welco to actual leadership. Where boring logistics matter as much as dramatic battles."
A knock at the door interrupted them. One of Lilith’s advisors entered, looking apologetic.
"Your Majesty. Lord Azra. There’s... situation."
"What kind of situation?" Lilith’s voice suggested she was expecting bad news.
"The Naless Litany has established marketplace outside Cathedral. They’re selling rchandise."
Silence.
"rchandise?" Liam repeated carefully.
"Yes, my lord. Items bearing your image. Prayers you allegedly spoke. Fragnts of stone from Vor’esh where you perford miracles." The advisor looked uncomfortable. "They’re calling it ’holy relics’ and selling to demons who want to feel closer to Primordial."
"They’re rchandising your divinity." Lilith said intrigued.
"Apparently the demand is significant. They’ve generated more essence currency in three days than so small Houses produce in months."
Lilith started laughing. Actual, genuine laughter that she tried to suppress and failed.
"This isn’t funny," Liam protested.
"It’s hilarious. You’re worried about trade negotiations and military economics, anwhile your worshippers have established religious rchandise empire that’s probably generating more revenue than legitimate businesses." She wiped tears from her eyes. "Welco to organized religion. Where faith and comrce intersect in deeply uncomfortable ways."
"What am I supposed to do about this?"
"Nothing. Let them sell their trinkets. The essence currency they generate actually helps economy. And if demons want to buy fragnts of stone that probably aren’t even from Vor’esh, that’s their choice."
"But it’s fraud. They’re selling fake relics."
"They’re selling faith. The physical objects are just excuse." Lilith’s amusent was evident. "This is actually brilliant economics. The Naless Litany is creating demand for products that cost almost nothing to produce. That’s profit margin rchants dream of achieving."
"I’m uncomfortable with this."
"You executed House leader yesterday. Made legion commanders kill him through divine compulsion. Committed empire to war that might result in extinction." Lilith’s voice was dry. "But your followers selling rchandise is where you draw ethical line?"
"It feels different."
"It feels different because it’s absurd rather than tragic. But absurdity is part of this too." She stood, moving to window overlooking Eldhar. "Look down there. See that plaza near Cathedral? That’s where they’ve set up market. It’s crowded. Demons buying your image on crystals, fragnts of supposedly holy stone, prayers written on parchnt."
Liam joined her at window.
She was right—the plaza was packed with demons purchasing rchandise from enthusiastic Naless Litany vendors.
"That’s my divinity being comrcialized."
"That’s your divinity generating economic activity that helps empire. Those demons are spending essence currency that circulates through economy. The Naless Litany is generating revenue that can be taxed. Everyone benefits except your dignity."
"My dignity was sacrificed when I sang drunk prophecy."
"Fair point." Lilith smiled. "Just accept it. You’re god now. Everything about you becos commodity. Your words beco scripture. Your actions beco theology. Your drunk singing becos analyzed prophecy. And your image gets sold on crystals to faithful who want connection to divine."
She turned to face him directly.
"This is what you signed up for. Not just military command and political restructuring. But complete transformation into symbol that people interpret however serves their needs. Including comrcial exploitation that makes you uncomfortable."
Liam watched the marketplace below.
Watched demons eagerly purchasing items that claid connection to Primordial. Watched the Naless Litany managing transactions with efficiency that suggested they’d found their calling.
"At least soone’s making money from all this," he said finally.
"At least soone’s making money," Lilith agreed. "And honestly, religious rchandise empire is least of our problems. Let demons buy their connection to divine. As long as faith remains strong and economy stays functional, the comrcial aspects are just... flavor."
"Deeply weird flavor."
"Everything is deeply weird here."
Liam and Lilith stood at the window, watching the marketplace below where his divinity was being sold for profit.
And sohow, despite the absurdity, despite the discomfort, despite everything—it was working.
The economy was functioning. The trade would be negotiated. The soldiers would be paid.
Everything connected. Military strategy to economic policy to religious comrce.
And standing at that window, Liam Cross—Lord Azra—the Primordial Demon—realized sothing profound.
Saving an empire wasn’t about grand gestures alone.
It was about understanding that soul-forges and trade routes and military pay and even religious rchandise all mattered.
That boring logistics and absurd comrce were equally important as dramatic battles.
That being god ant accepting your image would be sold on crystals to faithful who wanted connection you couldn’t personally provide to everyone.
"I need to learn more about economics," he said finally.
"I’ll arrange more etings with Arcturus and Vel’thas." Lilith’s voice carried satisfaction. "Good. Understanding economy makes you better leader. Even if the education is boring and overwhelming."
"Everything about this is overwhelming."
"Yes. But you’re handling it."
She smiled.
"Better than I expected, honestly. Most demons would either ignore economic complexities or beco paralyzed trying to understand everything. You’re finding middle ground—delegating to experts while maintaining enough understanding to ask intelligent questions."
"Still can’t get over the fact I sang drunk tunes."
"And you’re still functioning as supre military commander. That’s prove they really do believe in you."
Down in the plaza, a demon purchased what looked like a crystal bearing Liam’s image. The Naless Litany vendor blessed the transaction enthusiastically.
Sowhere, Arcturus was probably calculating tax revenue from religious rchandise.
And sohow, improbably, it was all working.
Reviews
All reviews (0)