272. Revitalizing Old Seeds
C272
Year 266
The first of the cot fragnts erged from the void. We have been tracking it the mont it appeared within our vision, and we watched with great interest for the mont it entered our bubble of reality.
The first few teors popped out of the darkness, like a cluster of rocks that suddenly shed its cloak of invisibility. A quick scan revealed that we didnt detect Multipuss presence, but among the rocks was a slightly larger chunk of the Cots core, and that rock maintained a small bubble of reality.
Engage! My mages ordered as the teors entered our range.
Mages, in our tree-based environntally controlled battlesuits, attacked the rocks. They were much smaller, and it seed the very act of travelling through the void had eroded them one way or another.
It was a good sign. It ant that without a strong bubble of reality, the rocks we expect to face should be smaller than the main Cot.
The distant dark skies, not visible from Treeho, erupted in explosions of magic. With extrely powerful telescopes it would be possible to see so small sparks and explosions, but we destroyed the smaller remnant teors. For the Core remnant, a few of our mages hopped onto the rock and tried to steer it.
Core material was valuable. I have it in such little quantities that if there was a core chunk from the Demons Cot, we wanted to see whether we could process it, and learn from it.
But like Core Mana, it degrades quite quickly, especially when exposed to the light of the sun. Which was strange.
One of the quirks of Core mana.
For now, with magical propulsion, we guided this remnant rock from the core of the demons cot, and directed it into a sowhat stable orbit. My Valthorn mages then quickly set up a basic manipulation system, just a few magical patterns and formations that created so propulsion to steer the core away from Treeho. This would allow it to maintain that stable orbit.
It wasnt big, but we wanted to examine this core remnant in greater detail.
I was fairly impressed that we now had our first space-based research station.
My Valthorns first space-based research station consisted of portable living quarters from our almost century-long experience of building underground bunkers, and later on our developnts on the Demons Cot, Lavaworld, Cotworld and our moon.
Travel to and from the research station in our world was a lot simpler, since we had access to magical portals and teleportation spells. We didnt need rockets.
Even deploying our new wood-based chs involved teleportation to the closest undisturbed space.
***
Stella watched as the first engagents with the teor remnants proceeded as planned, and as my forces exert itself on Threeworld, on Mountainworld, on Dwarfworld, and now, even this world of Satrya.
-And so begins the Imperial Era of Aeon. Stella said as she arrived in Threeworld, and watched my Valthorns crawling all over the city of Maelga.
You speak of it as if its new. I chuckled.
Its just an observation, really. My void domainholder watched. Within a year, we had to quell dissent in the human lands.
In many ways, an era of great political change for the Threeworlds humans. In normal tis, the sandpeople and the centaurs would capitalize on this to wage an attack and try to claim so fringe territories from the human kingdoms.
But with the presence of my overwhelming beetles, they know better. The centaurs have seen my warriors in their lands, and know that we have far stronger warriors than them.
Zhaanpu, of them all, seed to have most to think about. The nature of our relationship was perhaps an ally of convenience, but my occupation of Maelga had made him feel a little-
Queasy.
As if he invited evil into his ho.
Perhaps it was a sensation to have power challenged.
I thought it might be a sense of vulnerability.
Or perhaps it was how relatively easy it was to suppress the Crystal King, even with the Crystal Kings huge array of hero items. He didnt manage to use them, and I also discovered they were primarily designed for use against heroes that turned rogue.
The hero items effectiveness against Lumoof was suspect, and this was sothing that I saw Zhaanpu thinking about keenly. I noticed because he began asking Khefri for more general-purpose hero items, instead of human-killers.
So this Empire- Stella looked at the human lands. What do you have in mind?
The war to free ourselves from the demons will not end. Not with how they bend the system to its will. We will need warriors. We will need equipnt. The myriad worlds will supply them.
I see. Stella said. It is like that.
Maelgas priests of Maelas adapted surprisingly easily. I still wondered who Maelas was, whether Maelas corresponded to any of the religions of Treeho. Gaya, Neira, Hawa, Aiva. Those are the main four of Treeho. There were a few smaller ones, but their presence has been minor, and its hard to tell whether they are real gods, or just fake ones.
Then on the Satrya, theres Hawas gods.
Then, on Delvegard, the dwarfworld, the dwarves, so far, didnt seem to believe in any of the gods we know of.
Looking at the trend, there may be more than ten gods, scattered over a vast area. The gods may be able to exert significant power over a set of Core worlds, but a much more reduced presence over the rest.
An Empire gearing up for a war, but I cant help but think about the day after.
You make it sound like we will win.
We will. Stella said, unsure of herself. But I hope there is sothing for the people, after all of this. That- you know, we beco a post-scarcity society, where everyone lives at peace, and can decide to live the lives they want.
That will happen after-
Will you let go?
Yes. I said. I was sure I would. Id be more than happy to shed the mantle. If life was no longer at risk of extinction. If forests and my trees are allowed to prosper, why do I want to ddle in all this shit?
Its pointless. The squabbles of life against each other.
Pointless. I dont care for it.
But I have to, because I need them to win this fight.
Stella looked at the growing empire, and sighed. It was a ss. You know, Im torn whether thats a good thing.
***
Kei watched as the city of Freshka fell asleep that night. It was getting dark and the skies were clear. There were lights that littered the city, it is said that Freshka could be seen from miles away, the sprawling ss of Freshkas city, at tis, never seed to sleep.
The streets glowed from the colorful lights. Magical stones, not fully ford crystals, were sohow converted into magical lights through the inventive manufacturing processes of crafters and enchanters.
The crystal shortfall due to the manufacturing of bombs significantly drained the traditional supply of crystal based lights, so cities such as Freshka and many others found alternatives. So cities used a type of glowing bug that is specifically bred to provide lighting. So cities found glowing trees and plants, which provided much needed lighting.
Others reverted back to fires. With the huge variety of woods these days, there are a certain variety of slow-burning woods that give enough light. So just embed a [light] spell into various types of magical material, to cause them to emit light. But this required a [mage] to constantly maintain lights throughout the city, instead of materials that could draw in ambient energy.
Freshka was still busy at night, but traffic was less heavy than dayti.
The citys resource demands were so high that logistics guilds resorted to moving goods at odd tis to maximize efficiency.
Kei dodged a convoy of beetles. The Valtrian Order leased cargo-ferry beetles to the various rchants guilds for comrcial use, and they were a large source of inco for the Order. Cheap, magically sustained, and hardy, they significantly reduced the need for horses for goods, but most kingdoms, especially those that fear Aeons retribution, still maintained their own stables and horses.
Just in case.
Dinner was over, and there were streets filled with bars and clubs. It was a scene that sotis reminded her of ho. People everywhere still have a need for entertainnt, especially those of the flesh. Taverns were noisy at this ti.
Past the noisy comrcial streets, she walked into one of the quietest, most privileged corners of Freshka.
She arrived at her destination. It was a large mansion. Quiet.
She knocked on the gate, the gate opened magically.
Lady Kei. An Order guard stood at the guardhouse. There was also a maid waiting for her. You arrived earlier than expected. Shell take you in.
She was escorted into a quiet waiting room. Tea was served, along with so fruits. The walls had paintings. Of places.
Kei! Lausanne walked into the room. Thanks for dropping by.
The crystal golem smiled at the master of the house. Laufen and Lausanne didnt live together. Her mother lived a few doors down the street.
They talked about Arlisa, how Arlisas still spending her ti with adventurer stuff. About Lausannes son, Lauda. Both Arlisa and Lauda are more than 100 years old now, and both as half-elves, their lifespans were going to be shorter than Lausanne, unless they gained a lot of levels. Still, they should live until at least their 200-300s if all goes well, unlike Ardi who died so much younger.
Despite being a quasi-royalty of Freshka, Lauda founded his own small magical entity that focused on research and ruins. He didnt want to be too closely associated with the Order, even if they still received Orders funding. Unlike his mother and grandmother, who were still Order mbers till this day.
Partly because he saw how Arlisa went through a rebellious phase and essentially burned bridges with many of her old friends.
What about you- whatve you been up to? Kei asked.
I visited the Northern Islands recently, you know, to et ela and Alexis-
Oh. Them. How are they? Kei said with subtle contempt. She still struggled to fit them into the plans. Even Ken didnt really want to include them, given their complicated past with Aeon.
They are fine. They took my advice to bunker up well. The Norths growing well, the cities feel a lot more prosperous since I last saw them a few years ago. The vassal and guild wars didnt hurt them as badly as the rest.
The vassal wars have mostly co to a standstill. The resource demands of the great Cot attack drained much of the fire out of the war, and now that it has de-facto ended, both sides settled into a comfortable ceasefire and status quo that neither wanted to restart. There might be an incident or flare up that causes it to resurface, but for now, both sides are focused on licking their wounds and preparing for the eventual resumption of hostilities.
Crystals also began to trickle back into the market.
Kei looked at Lausanne, and then dropped the question on her mind. Lausanne. Would you be willing to take up arms again?
She paused, realizing Keis question was serious. -why?
-Your children are old now. You no longer have to care for them like you used to. You have free ti, and now, more than ever, we need you to do what Jura once did. Be on the front lines once more, and be one of the Pillars of our world.
Lausanne closed her eyes briefly. Is this request from Patriarch Lumoof or Edna?
No. - and maybe Stella. Kei answered. Of all the elves from the first days of Freeka, only you remain. Well- and your mother, but she is not a warrior.
Romas around.
Kei grinned. You know its not the sa. You are the first. The First true Valthorn.
That should be Jura.
Hes dead. Kei said. I believe Aeon would still give you a [soul strengthening seed] if you ask for it. For decades you are at level 85, theres probably so overflow experience in you that would-
Lausanne looked at her room. You want to abandon the comforts of my beautiful ho, and head back out there in the wilderness, battling demons and monsters.
Yes. Because you are special, Lausanne. Till this day there is no one with your tier blessings. Sure, there are many, many others with the lesser variants of [Blessed by the Soul Tree], but knowing the system, there is an unspoken value as the first Blessed One of Aeon. You are the first, and that grants you a weight you can wield.
Lausanne closed her eyes. -tell whats really on your mind.
Kei sipped her tea, and allowed the question to linger a bit before she spoke her mind. Aeon needs moral guidance. There are the domain holders, but we know he needs more than that. He needs a bit of your presence. You have history and a past. A bond few others can claim to have.
A bond that has turned distant.
All I see are your internal struggles, Lausanne. Kei answered. Youre doing nothing with the rest of your life and you know it. You had just reason when you wanted to care for Lauda, but those days are over. Long over.
What if I dont live up to that? There are so many with far better innate talent. The domain holders are all incredible people in their own ways.
Is that what you fear, Lausanne? To try once more and find yourself not worthy?
Lausanne closed her eyes. In many ways, it was a crisis of self confidence. She didnt answer.
Kei continued. You once said to Aeon that you wanted to be a hero. We now know that the path to power exists. Edna is close to that point. It is no longer an impossibility. Not like your earlier days. Aeons access to the other realms enables opportunities for growth we never had before. Lausanne, please. Its ti to give that old dream of yours another chance. Jura once said your dream was foolish. But even he didnt see how things developed.
Lausanne listened, her heart swirling. A part of her was convinced. Whats- whats your interest in this?
The golem laughed. Must everything be about interests?
-But you have an interest in this.
Id like to see an end to this. Properly. I feel sorry for those like , that we are on this treadmill of endless fighting, summoned to fight in worlds that dont know us.
Lies. Lausanne countered. Thats bullshit.
The golem smirked.
Kei closed her eyes, and then spilled the beans.
I- I look at Arlisa and you, and see different versions of wasted potential. Arlisa is one where she couldnt take the expectations and crumbled. You could and so, but you chose to walk away. Weve known each other for years, decades, centuries! Lausanne, ever since the day you trained us, protected us and got us to level, back when we first t in that dwarven city, in the Eastern Continent. That day, almost 130 years ago, in my eyes, you were always a hero. You can still be one. With Aeons resources, I have no doubt about it.
Lausanne stared at Kei.
Both of them looked at each other for what seed like an eternity.
Eventually, Lausanne let out a long sigh. I have- I have a lot of catching up to do.
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