Waiting on the promised documents from Gozu's clan, I learned that Sebet had expanded upon our originally threadbare backstory. Using the opportunities afforded by Gozu and the guards' earlier attentions to plant the seeds of our origins.
Displaced by a loss of territory as a result of a Monarch Challenge, we had signed on with a mercenary group to earn a living. Our relationship with the now deceased commander had been souring for quite some time, and we had taken the opportunity to betray him in hopes of finding a new home.
Cultivators had ingrained self-oriented reasoning, with a drive to secure personal benefits that often caused strife in wider society. Provided they were allowed to indulge in those selfish impulses. Where I used Oaths to bind my subjects to a strict code of conduct, other Monarchs enforced outright draconian punishments on the worst offenders to make examples of them. An approach that was ubiquitous through Cultivator societies.
Many chose to call it the rule of the strong, where the weak must fear and obey the strong to survive. However, all too often, it actually devolved into who had the strongest allies. The personal strength of those involved in the original dispute holds little to no bearing at all on the outcome.
It made confrontation common, but meaningful resolution incredibly rare. More often than not, prompting indirect retributive strikes to appease the bruised egos of those involved.
Naturally, this would create a significant amount of collateral damage. Most often, deliberately, as a means to impact the rival's economic foundation and thus weaken their long-term prospects.
Throughout the inspection of the small town and the spirit stone mine, I found it increasingly odd that Gozu was the only Ogre representative of his clan that we had encountered thus far. Even the previous lord, a high-ranking administrator of sorts, had been human. Which was strange.
Thus far, my previous experience with Cultivator clans and established families had been nearly exclusively represented with a single Species for each group. Nepotism directs resources toward immediate family members, creating feedback loops as a means of consolidating power.
What she was saying made sense, but a part of me felt a mild sense of disappointment all the same. Pete and Suzy were growing up fast, and my daughter in particular was suffering due to a lack of friends her own age and, more importantly, size and strength. There had already been several instances of Suzy miscalculating her strength and taking things too far.
If she weren't my daughter, her peer group would have abandoned her in droves. As it stood, many parents had discreetly withdrawn their children from the group activities. Suzy had put on a brave front, pretending not to notice, but I recognised the disappointment and shame I had so often experienced during my own childhood.
Pete was often attending lectures and reading in the library, but had made sacrifices to spend more time with his sister. Even if he didn't enjoy Suzy's high energy and overly physical choice in activities, he tried not to show it.
Aging as rapidly as they were, they were both still children in the ways that mattered. Suzy was trying hard to relate to the adults in her life, but I was growing increasingly concerned that it was coming at a steep price.
Our foster daughter, Eg, and the handful of children from the near-exterminated Ogre tribe we had rescued were a rough match for Suzy physically, but by no means her intellectual equal. This had often led to frustration and discontentment on her part. Similarly, the Orc youths were closer to her level of mental development, but those who were a physical match were more emotionally developed. Creating a poor match made such interactions rather strained.
Suzy's half sister, Momoko, visited often, but spent most of her time with her mother, Hana. Tending to the trees of the Grove and sharing the knowledge passed down from Hana's deceased family.
It didn't leave much time for Suzy, and again, their difference in emotional maturity made one-on-one interactions closer to an aunt and niece relationship than true siblings. A relationship that Suzy already held in abundance, with no shortage of adults from my inner circle of confidants as a part of her daily life.
Despite outward appearances, my wife was still grieving the death of her sister. She was making progress, and I didn't want to endanger her long-term emotional and mental well-being.
Sebet shifted tactics.
A small part of me felt a measure of shame for not immediately rejecting the idea outright.
Strictly speaking, Sebet was forbidden from emotionally manipulating members of my family. However, in this instance, I had done it all for her. She had simply provided solutions to problems I had presented.
Contrary to my expectations, Sebet stiffened in response. It only took her a fraction of a second to recover, but the reaction had appeared genuine.
I couldn't help but frown at the unexpected refusal.
Sebet was, at heart, a power-hungry sociopath. Empowered copies created from the Lesser Summon Servant Spell and my own blood were literal copies of her in every respect. Unlike normal Summons, they were capable of regenerating mana independently and would continue to exist until they were forcibly destroyed.
Gric had several dozen such copies of himself serving roles in administration, processing and integration of recently acquired Territories. However, his unique physiology made them all closer to a hive mind. Sharing a single stream of thought rather than dozens of individuals collaborating through telepathy. Which was what Sebet had done before her Empowered copies were exterminated by the beetlemen.
There had been no evidence of friction between her multiple selves. Quite the opposite. She had a near-outright incestuous preference for her own company. Even going so far as to suggest that more copies would make her work more effective. Which I likely would have obliged, if events had not spiralled out of control as they had.
Sebet remained silent for several long moments. However, I could feel her thoughts whirling and crashing against one another through our connection.
Sebet clenched and unclenched her clawed fingers while grimacing and popping the vertebrae in her neck and back.
Shocked, I recognised the symptoms of the crudely named Summons Sickness. A catchall that served as a diagnosis for combat PTSD incurred by Summoned persons.
Sebet was one of my most frequent Summons, behind only Gric and my wife. One of the reasons for that status was based on the understanding that Spirits were supposed to be immune to the summons sickness.
There was a part of their brains that was hardwired to process actions undertaken by copies of themselves while maintaining mental stability and without becoming compromised.
The Daemons had died dozens of times over in the early days of establishing the Settlement. Yet they were none the worse for the experiences.
So why was Sebet different? Was it because of her Species? Or was it because of the Empowered effects of the Spell?
Given she didn't express any discomfort or reluctance toward regular Summonings, I was increasingly convinced that the Empowered effects of the Spell had bypassed that natural defence in some way.
Perhaps creating an echo of her soul that had regrafted itself onto her true self after the copy died. Causing the memories to imprint themselves directly, instead of passing through the buffer first.
Sebet regained control over herself almost immediately, ruthlessly repressing the symptoms through a force of will that indicated she had been far from helpless. Capable of suppressing the effects at a moment's notice if required. A sign that she had only shown weakness, as near-negligible as it was, because I had required an answer.
An answer that our Contract compelled her to provide.
Sebet observed with cold calculation, a stark contrast to her emotional state only moments prior.
Sebet's thoughts surged in response. She hastily corrected.
I considered Sebet for a few moments and slowly nodded in agreement. She was right. I hadn't Empowered a Lesser Summon before.
If the Empowered effect functioned similarly and allowed a Lesser Summon to independently recuperate its mana, it would facilitate a much faster timetable for constructing the Grand Array to bypass the teleportation blocking measures encompassing this Monarch's Realm.
Lesser Summons could also potentially allow Sebet to begin making inroads toward creating a local branch of her information-gathering network.
The mine was less impressive than I had expected it to be. A small-scale affair that relied upon the use of pry bars, picks and other handheld tools to excavate the spirit stone veins within the hardened earth and stone.
Fewer than one hundred men from the town were employed within the mine. Reviewing the export figures kept by the head foreman to provide a frame of reference, it was obvious that the mine had nearly run its course. Possessing close to a year, perhaps two years at most, of low-grade spirit stone before it would be depleted.
Of course, I had no intentions of leaving things as they currently were. The Grand Array would need a considerable power source. Spirit stone veins were a form of naturally occurring magical ley lines. A phenomenon where the stone would draw in the ambient energy and store it within itself. This process could be accelerated through the use of an appropriate Formation or Array. However, the knowledge and means to create them on such a scale were considered greater than the potential gains.
With my blood to serve as an Empowering agent for the Shape Stone spell, artificial veins could be created and serve as batteries for the Grand Array. Provided no one was allowed to inspect them directly, Sebet was reasonably confident their presence could be explained by claiming the former lord was hiding the true scale of the veins.
Gozu's clan would probably be upset after learning they had signed away a more profitable venture than they had initially realised. However, I doubted it would amount to anything that a well-placed threat or bribe couldn't resolve.
The plan would be slow going if I had to do everything myself. Requiring a prodigious amount of mana to create the framework that the Grand Array would need to function. With twice as much mana if I took precautions to account for our safety while creating the primary Grand Array.
Sub-arrays for countering the myriad forms of trespass were a higher priority in my mind than the primary Teleportation effect itself. These features would reap benefits in the long term, but more importantly, would afford me the security I needed to complete the primary function.
Within my own Realm, relocation had become almost as natural as breathing. My authority allows instantaneous teleportation with a thought. Working within the existing rules that governed both systems was another matter entirely, and there was a lot that could go wrong. Brute forcing the solution guaranteed a final outcome, but it didn't provide assurances for what might happen to the location we would be leaving behind, or where we would arrive.
I could mitigate collateral damage within my Realm easily enough. However, it wouldn't do much good if the teleportation spread our internal organs over a hundred miles in any given direction upon arrival.
No, if this was going to succeed, I would need to take my time and arrange for steps to be taken on the other side.
Already long past the time I should have notified someone, I imprinted my memories of recent events and intended plans into a jade slip and issued Gric a simple Quest.
Required only to donate a magic item to the treasury, Gric completed the Quest almost immediately, and the jade slip disappeared from between my fingers.
Quest rewards were directly linked to the intrinsic value of the task being completed. The enchanted jade held a relatively high value to Cultivators despite being one of the more common magical items. So I had erred on the side of caution to ensure the message was received as swiftly as possible.
I removed the apprentice hood from my shoulders and handed it to Sebet.
Using the Shape Earth Spell, I bored a shaft down several dozen meters into the stone and then cleared out a large chamber to serve as our base of operations.
While I set about creating the first layer of security with a privacy Array, Yi Gim volunteered to stand guard above and deter anyone who might come looking for trouble.
After the Array was completed, I spent close to an hour carving and enchanting a runic ritual circle that combined every magical safeguard and binding I had at my disposal. With the singular objective that anything Summoned within would find itself incapable of escaping without my express permission.
Sebet's loyalties had been secured with a Contract and were reinforced with Oaths after the fact. I wasn't nearly so naive as to believe that any other Devil, Summoned, or otherwise, would be any different.
"Assuming we succeed, shall I bind the Summoning to our Contract, my Tyrant?" Sebet asked, excitement gleaming in her eyes as she surveyed the ritual site. The prospect of subjugating another of her kind as a subordinate had triggered a host of primal instincts within her soul, and she was eager to begin.
"Our Contract can have additional signatories after the fact?" I had not been aware of this fact.
Sebet nodded matter-of-factly. "Of course. It requires the consent of all involved parties, but such a thing is commonplace in arrangements such as ours."
"Then I see no point in delaying things any further..." I stated candidly, rolling my shoulders to temporarily alleviate the stress.
After cutting my palm, I circulated my internal energy to drive a stream of blood from my body and into the stone basin in the centre of the ritual circle. With only HP as a general reference for how much blood was required during, and currently occupying a significantly smaller body, I erred on the side of caution.
The lightheadedness from the blood loss was temporary. Almost immediately offset as I began consuming preserved meats, fruits and nuts from my Storage Ring. If I weren't trying to conserve my mana, I could have replicated new blood with a Spell. However, despite the slow recovery of my lost HP, I was in fighting form again within a handful of minutes.
Last of all, I crafted a stone staff and imbued it with the Summon Servant Spell. I didn't have any manastones on hand to serve as a backup power source, but I decided that was probably for the best. With the results of our experiment still unknown, there was no need to expend additional resources on such an item.
Sebet accepted the staff with eager fingers, "Shall I begin?" She asked eagerly, already circulating her mana in anticipation. Her focus was divided between me and the blood pooled within the basin. Eyes burning with undisguised possessiveness and desire.
Suppressing my misgivings, I nodded. "Begin," I commanded.
Smiling toothily from ear to ear, Sebet stepped into the ritual circle and dipped the end of the staff into the bloody basin. She then sent a concentrated burst of her mana racing through the body of the staff and activated the Spell.
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The blood in the basin surged and roiled violently in response. A fraction of a second later, an emaciated and deathly pale figure erupted from beneath the surface, gasping and gagging as it fought for each ragged breath and dragged itself free of the basin.
With roughly the same proportions and appearance of a starving adult human, the figure had leathery bat-like wings that twitched and spasmed on its back, and a thin whip-like tail connected to the end of its spine, which jolted like an agitated serpent.
A second figure erupted from the basin shortly after, near-identical to the first, only with a slighter smaller frame.
The blood within the basin had clung to the second figure as it clawed itself free. Seemingly knitting itself a body of flesh and bone from the unique properties within my blood. An observation that seemed eerily apt as the blood within the basin became increasingly depleted as the second figure's form became more complete.
Now free of the basin, the second figure had collapsed onto its side, its ribs protruding dangerously as it gasped for air. Incidentally revealing that it was female, or at least appeared to be.
Using the second of the figures as a reference point, I assumed the other had to be a male. With monsters, gender didn't always carry a significant degree of dimorphism. So it was still just an assumption.
By sight alone, my authority identified both of them as my subordinates. Specifically, direct subordinates of a Faction Leader, who was my direct subordinate in turn. This was more or less what I had expected from the beginning. However, what surprised me was that we had seemingly succeeded in our goal on the first attempt.
The two new arrivals weren't just Summoned beings. They were true beings in their own right.
Sebet had already begun to move, forcibly knocking over the male Devil with a sharp prod of her foot before bending over and seizing him by the throat.
Panicked, the male Devil hissed and spat like a cornered animal. His claws desperately swiped at her face as he kicked and squirmed in an attempt to fight his way free.
Sebet fixed the emaciated male Devil with a glare, ending its resistance without uttering a single word. She turned its face one way and then another, inspecting it. Although it was unclear what she was looking for.
All the while, the male Devil's eyelids fluttered, and his cheeks spasmed as if he were experiencing a seizure.
The female Devil had begun backing away, weakly crawling toward the farthest edge of the ritual circle. It's dark, sunken eyes darting about in obvious panic. Spotting me, seemingly by chance, it altered course.
I felt a weak flicker on the periphery of my mind. A jumbled mess of terror and a desperate desire to survive. The protective measures of the ritual circle would prevent anything approaching mind control, but I didn't have the means to block innate telepathy.
Without allowing the female Devil into my mind, I did my best to project an aura of calm and reassurance. As my subordinates, Sebet was forbidden to harm them unless they met very specific criteria.
To my surprise, the female Devil grew noticeably less distressed.
Concentrating briefly, her name, incidentally also serving as her True Name, identified itself in my mind.
Nebis.
With her name, I was able to review her status information. However, it took me several long moments before I was able to fully internalise what I was reading.
Like Sebet, Nebis fell into a subdivision of Devils with the Lust Suffix. Which was what I had expected from the beginning. Likewise, I had also anticipated that the Empowered Lesser Summons would begin from a higher stage of primary Evolution, following the same rules as the Lesser Summons I had used previously.
Despite her fragile appearance, Nebis had been created as a Greater Devil. She had also been created with an established Arch-Devil Bloodline. The male, Carcis, had as well. Which I only discovered, because I was surprised to discover that they were not only siblings, but recognised as Sebet's children on each of their respective Status sheets.
Overcoming my shock, I felt a sudden thrill of discomfort as I identified the source of my misgivings regarding our experiment.
Despite everything that had happened and the relatively short time Lash and I had been married, the very idea of intentionally upsetting her had felt repugnant to me. More than that, my own insecurities compelled me to outwardly demonstrate my commitment to her and our relationship.
Lash had been beyond understanding when I had created Momoko, even before she had been given a complete explanation of what had happened. However, a part of me still felt a profound sense of guilt over placing her in such a position to begin with.
The possibility that I could have created two more children outside of our monogamous relationship made me feel physically ill. A feeling made worse by the reality of the fact that I should know better by now. More so, that accidentally creating Momoko with Hana, a close but platonic friend, was VERY different to creating two children with a literal succubus.
Even if Sebet forgave me, and I felt a profound sense of shame in knowing she almost certainly would, rumours and snide remarks would doubtless intensify a thousandfold. Which would only taint and otherwise lessen the happiness I knew Lash enjoyed while engaged in hosting social gatherings or touring the newest territories.
Throughout my internal panic attack, Nebis had watched me in silence. Her pitch black eyes scanned my face with an intense, unblinking gaze.
I felt a fresh but brief pang of panic upon realising I had allowed my mental defences to slip. However, I was somewhat surprised to find that Nebis had made no attempts to independently establish a greater mental connection. Still limited to the faintest contact on the outermost periphery of my consciousness.
Even so, the subtle change in the Devil's behaviour was hard to miss. Her arms now wrapped defensively over her bony chest, and legs crossed to conceal her crotch.
Nebis's features, while emaciated, were still more or less human, but she showed none of the shame or embarrassment I would otherwise expect to accompany such a behaviour. Which made her actions all the more strange.
Even so, drawing attention to her nakedness now made it all the more difficult to ignore.
Withdrawing a bolt of simple linen fabric from my Storage ring, I cut five long lengths of fabric and then returned the remainder to storage.
Projecting a mental image of my intentions, I tossed the linen through the invisible barrier and then purposefully shifted my focus back toward Sebet and her son, Carcis. I could still see vague movements in the periphery of my vision, but I actively blocked them out.
Whatever Sebet was doing, she didn't appear close to being finished. However, Carcis' twitching had grown less frequent and drastically less severe. Which my intuition decided was a sign of positive progress.
After a couple of minutes, Nebis rose to her feet and cautiously entered my central line of sight. She had used one length of linen to bind her chest, looping around the back of her neck and lower back to accommodate her wings. She had also used two others to form a simple breach-cloth that covered her crotch while also leaving a panel of fabric hanging over her thighs.
Nebis showed no signs of being negatively impacted by the chill in the air or the cold stone beneath our feet. However, her emaciated, pale, hairless body cut a pitiable figure all the same.
Perhaps reading my expression, Nebis raised one hand and motioned to her mouth while resting the other over her sunken stomach. "Me-I...hunger...eat?" Hesitant and uncertain, her voice was otherwise warm and carried an almost musical quality. Nebis searched the chamber with her dark eyes, her gaze lingering briefly on the exit.
Withdrawing a portion of preserved meats and a water skin, I tossed them over the threshold of the ritual circle.
Nebis crouched beside the parcel and tore into the contents like a wild animal, gulping down a pound or so of meat in a handful of seconds.
I felt a brief sense of nostalgia as I was reminded of my early experiences after meeting Toofy.
Visibly discontent, the Devil looked pointedly at me again and motioned to her mouth. "Eat. Hunger," Nebis repeated, this time with greater insistence. The meal had only seemed to whet her appetite further.
While I considered how best to proceed, Nebis shifted her attention toward the waterskin and gave it a hard poke with a clawed finger. Stronger than she appeared, her claw punctured the waxed hide, and water began beading around her finger.
Nebis blinked several times in surprise before sharply retracting her hand and pressing her wet finger into her mouth. Bright crimson irises flared to life in the inky black of her eyes, and a low moan of ecstasy and longing passed over her lips.
Then, all at once, Nebis snatched up the waterskin from the ground and savagely tore into its side. Her throat greedily gulped down its contents in a matter of seconds, leaving the container a shrivelled husk.
The flesh beneath her skin began to swell, filling out and replacing her emaciated physique. Like a petrified sponge taking on water after decades of lying idle in the sun. Shock white hair slowly sprang from her scalp, brow, and in a much finer layer across the rest of her exposed skin.
Although still deathly pale, Nebis bore a closer resemblance to someone with extreme albinism rather than the sallow-skinned animated corpse she had been only minutes before.
Confused, it took me a few moments to identify why the water had such a dramatic effect when the meat had no visible effects at all.
It all came down to mana. Despite being created with full MP, the two Devils' physical forms contained only the bare minimum required to fulfil basic functions. Aesthetics falling outside the boundaries of what was deemed important for immediate survival and fulfilling their intended purpose.
It was also safe to assume, after witnessing the twins' reaction to Sebet, their own mother, that fratricide played a role in their normal development. With the strong and ruthless, devouring the weak and indecisive.
The water within my storage was all sourced from the lake within The Grove, and was saturated with mana. Under Hana's guiding hand, the ambient mana within the lake's waters had reached a sufficient potency that it could be considered a weak Mana Potion if consumed in sufficient quantities. All while contributing towards strengthening the Evolution of whoever drank it.
My own development had long since outpaced any noticeable effects in that specific regard. However, the minor boost in mana regeneration and cleansing effect it had upon my spirit was a sufficient reason to favour it over other beverages.
Without warning, Sebet released her grip on Carci's neck.
Instead of collapsing to the ground in a catatonic heap, he landed on his feet and remained standing. His eyes snapped into intense focus as he took in his surroundings with a predatory and controlled air that was a stark contrast to his reactions only a few minutes earlier.
With a few swift strides, Sebet closed the distance between herself and Nebis. However, as she began to reach for her daughter's throat, Sebet hesitated and turned to regard me with a puzzled look in her eyes.
Despite no longer being the focus of her mother's attention, Nebis kept her head bowed and avoided looking directly at her. All while watching me from the corner of her eye. Although I wasn't sure why. I assumed Nebis was waiting to see what I would do. Perhaps hoping I would intervene on her behalf to subvert-
The influence had been light, but the instant I recognised its presence, I violently expelled it from my mind.
Nebis staggered and fell, releasing a pained shriek.
Sebet spared a moment to look down at her daughter with unmasked disappointment. "A lesson in choosing your battles, and not biting the hand that feeds you," she tutted. "Apologies, my Tyrant, she did not know the rules."
Nebis flinched as if each word was a physical blow, but did not retreat or attempt to flee.
"And Carcis?" I prompted, eyeing the male Devil warily before shifting focus back to Sebet.
The mention of his name, his True Name, made Carcis reflexively twitch in response. However, he did nothing else.
"He has been instructed on the way of things, and is already bound to our standing Contract," Sebet replied calmly, although there was a hint of what might be considered disappointment behind her eyes. With a flick of her wrist, Sebet produced our Contract seemingly from thin air to confirm her words before dismissing it again. "I have already taken the initiative to extract your Oaths from him as well. Although I will not hold it against you if you require further proof."
"Is that all you were doing?" I pressed, "I thought Contracts could not be entered while under compulsions."
"Ah," Sebet nodded in understanding. "A misconception. I was simply imprinting knowledge and our expectations into his mind. Once provided with the appropriate context, he signed and swore fealty of his own volition," she explained matter-of-factly.
I looked pointedly at Carcis and allowed him to refute her words. However, he remained silent and gave a small nod of agreement.
"And you intend to do the same with Nebis?" It was not really a question, since I was quite aware of how Sebet preferred to operate. Now that I knew the reasoning behind her actions, I had no reason to believe she would act any differently.
"In accordance with the requirements you established before this experiment," Sebet agreed while making a point of redirecting any potential criticism for her actions. A reminder that I was responsible for what had happened and what would follow. "However, it appears our second recruit will require less persuasion..." Sebet scrutinised Nebis' face, raising her chin with long clawed fingers to pressure her daughter into making eye contact. "Although it is yet to be seen whether this alternative approach yields preferable results."
Nebis flinched, and her eyes rolled back into her skull. Eyelids fluttering and cheeks twitching as Sebet established a mental connection between them and presumably entered her daughter's mind.
After a handful of seconds, Sebet withdrew her hand and nodded with approval. "Carrot and stick it is then," she commented with a wry smirk.
Nebis released a choking gasp and swayed dangerously for a moment as her eyes reoriented themselves.
Carcis's brow twitched with momentary resentment before hastily assuming a neutral expression again.
"You do not approve of how I treat them," Sebet observed candidly. Seemingly unperturbed by the implication.
I saw no reason to deny it. Aware that I had likely been scowling throughout.
"You will have to take my word for it, but I can assure you that this momentary unpleasantness is a necessary evil. Intended to prevent considerably greater suffering in the long term," Sebet explained with utmost self-assurance. "Although perhaps the unpleasantness could be lessened if those who follow them were not so powerful? They were no match for my mental might, but did possess sufficient strength to attempt a defence. As ill-advised as it proved to be."
"You want any others we Summon to have a lower Evolution?" I asked, more curious than annoyed by the flagrant disregard she held for any suffering she may have caused.
"If possible," Sebet agreed candidly. "Increasing their Evolution and usefulness after the fact should not be a problem, and weaker Summons would require less initial investment. Which would help maintain your security in both the short and long term."
I couldn't fault her for her reasoning, but it was becoming increasingly clear that Sebet was taking advantage of our situation to expand her power base. She had made no attempts to hide it, but it irked me all the same.
"However, I strongly recommend we establish a cover and supply lines for local resource acquisitions before beginning in earnest," Sebet continued with mounting cheerfulness. "Cover identities as indentured miners and other servants will be sufficient for the time being. Keeping them close at hand for your security without raising too many questions. But the subject of rationing must be addressed sooner rather than later." She gave me a knowing look, well aware that I knew what she was talking about.
"You want to know who you all will be allowed to feed on without getting in trouble," I observed. Again, it wasn't a question, just a statement of fact.
"Just so, my Tyrant," Sebet agreed happily.
Ruthlessly silencing the quiet voice of my conscience, I reviewed our options and came to a decision. "Violent criminals, as specified under Sanctuary's laws, are fair game, as are any enemy combatants that refuse reasonable terms of surrender."
"Reasonable terms?" Sebet pressed. Aware that abusing an ambiguous phrasing might yield her a short-term gain but cost her greatly in the long term after I held her responsible.
"An offer to cease hostilities without demanding resources or extracting favours or commitments beyond a retreat from the other party," I replied, clarifying my position. "If they can't accept such an offer, then it is likely they would cause us more potential harm in the long term anyway. So they should be dealt with while we have the justification for it. Especially if there are witnesses."
"That is fair," Sebet agreed happily. "And what of the bandits and other such criminals?"
"If they back down, you are to follow them and wipe them out," I ordered coldly.
Kindness to violent criminals was cruelty to the innocent, and I had already seen such handiwork too many times to consider offering opportunities to reform. At a certain point, the certainty of preventing further harm was simply the better option, rather than hoping someone would fundamentally change who they had already chosen to become.
"And recruiting?" Sebet asked, shifting the subject slightly. "Recycling is out, but what about scouting for talent?"
"So long as they don't jeopardise our security or delay our return, you're free to exercise your best judgement," I replied after giving it a few moments' thought. We weren't here on a recruiting drive, but with a war looming, I wasn't going to pass up opportunities to increase our chances of winning. Or mitigating the damage if the unthinkable were to happen and we lost. "You may leave the circle," I added, directing the comment at Carcis and Nebis. Just don't leave the chamber."
The two Devils nodded obediently and left the ritual circle. Each sighed and took deep breaths after doing so. Suggesting that the protections had likely had some form of negative effects beyond the restrictions I had intended. That, or those restrictions negatively influenced their senses in a way I had not anticipated.
I removed a second waterskin and threw it to Carcis in addition to a pile of spare clothing, which I dropped unceremoniously to the floor. Less out of a sense of generosity than to spare myself from the distraction and discomfort brought about by his unsettling appearance.
Just the same as his sister, Carcis wasted no time in draining the waterskin dry. After doing so, he underwent the same transformation. The mana-rich water rejuvenating his sunken flesh.
Under Sebet's guiding hand, Nebis and Carcis were given human disguises with the Shape Flesh Spell. Incidentally, removing their wings and tails, which now allowed them to dress themselves without issue.
Sebet was confident that they would be capable of making such changes independently after being given time to practice and otherwise grow into their power. However, for the sake of expediency and overall security concerns, she had decided to make the initial change for them.
It hadn't escaped my notice that Sebet had rather deliberately given both her children exceptionally fair features that otherwise ran contrary to our intentions to go unnoticed. Whether this was out of paternal pride or to serve a future objective was unclear, and it wasn't a pressing enough issue to warrant the distraction in securing an answer.
Citing a need to vet the local population, with the unspoken but also undisguised intention of earmarking potential targets, Sebet ascended from the hidden chamber. Demonstrating a noticeably greater reluctance in surrendering the Summoning stave than in leaving her two children behind.
I crafted three more stone staves and imbued two of them with the Shape Stone Spell. After drawing a rough floor plan for the underground complex, I set Carcis and Nebis to work carving out simple passageways and private sleeping quarters.
Used to the impeccably high standard Gric had produced in the past, I had to remind myself to temper my expectations when the two Devils encountered initial difficulties.
Once I was confident that they could proceed without direct supervision, I stowed away the Summoning stave and rejoined Yi Gim above.
"So?... Will this mine suit our needs, or are other arrangements required?" Yi Gim asked through the communication tablet. A not-so-subtle reminder that he had not been involved in the finer details of what Sebet and I had been doing below.
"It should work," I replied somewhat tiredly and handed him an unremarkable-looking pebble.
Smooth to the touch, it would pass for any other stone plucked from a stream or riverbed. However, the inside bore a Formation that would serve as a key to the protective Arrays.
Graciously accepting the stone with a nod, Yi Gim surreptitiously stowed it away beneath his breastplate. "Gratitude," he bowed his head slightly and fell into step alongside me.
As the creator of the Array and the key to bypass its boundaries, I was made aware of his senses remotely exploring the ritual chamber and expanding tunnels below.
"They are reinforcements," I explained without waiting to be asked. "The first of many."
Yi Gim nodded to show he understood, but seemed confused. "They are not the same as the decoy..." He observed with noticeable restraint.
"They aren't," I agreed, seeing no point in lying to him.
"I was not aware of their presence while traversing Realms..." Yi Gim added, his brow furrowed in deep consideration. "They were well hidden indeed..."
"They were not hidden at all," I replied evenly and without judgment.
Yi Gim appeared curious. "A special Summoning Technique then?" He asked unobtrusively.
"Of a kind," I agreed. "Perhaps more advanced than you might have assumed."
"Oh?" Yi Gim's brow rose to match his interest.
"They are free-thinking beings in their own right, not puppets," I explained without going into the specific details. "As much a person as you and I."
Yi Gim stopped abruptly and considered me with a critical eye. "Truly? How did you come upon such a powerful Technique?" Despite his overt interest, I could tell that he was trying to hold himself back.
"Blood, souls and everything," I replied with a hint of a smirk. However, the amusement was short-lived as I remembered the scale of what we had planned. "There will be more as well. Our escape plan is simple in execution. However, the scale is such that it would take months, even years, to complete without trusted hands to accelerate the timetable."
"You spoke of this before," Yi Gim noted. "However, I had expected puppets, not spirits, to come to our aid."
I shifted uncomfortably and, for a moment, considered skirting the truth. Almost as quickly, I dismissed the idea outright. Our relationship wasn't built on trust, but lying by omission and eroding what trust had been built between us would only cause problems down the line. "Devils, a sort of Demon," I corrected somewhat hesitantly.
Yi Gi Froze, his eyes widening briefly in surprise before he regained his composure. He already knew that Sebet, Gric and Wraithe were Demons, by Cultivator classifications at least. However, it was also becoming obvious that he had not expected there to be others in my service. Nor that I had the capability of acquiring or producing more of them.
"They will all be under the same strict controls," I continued, pushing ahead to have the unpleasantness over with rather than dragging it out. "However, under strict conditions, they will be permitted to...remove...hostile and criminal elements while I create the Grand Array."
The moment I said it, I could sense Yi Gim latch onto my evasive language. "Remove?" He pressed. His tone strongly indicated that he was aware of what I had meant, but required an answer all the same.
"In this context...Killed outright, or incarcerated and executed at a later date," I answered honestly. "Depending on how powerful the hostile entity is, how likely they are to possess credible intelligence, and whether they can be abducted and transported without witnesses."
Yi Gim relaxed and released a short breath. Visibly relieved. "I had assumed the worst, and I apologise." He made to bow his head, but stopped when I shook my head.
"You still don't understand the full picture," I explained, suppressing a grimace. "They won't simply kill them by slashing their throats and leaving them to bleed out. The Demons will feed on them. Take their energy to make them stronger and more capable in contributing toward the Grand Array."
Yi Gim's face paled. "The same as the bandits..." He observed with noted distaste and discomfort.
"Exactly," I replied grimly. "Which is why they will have strict rules of engagement. I won't tolerate the slaughter of civilians-"
"Unless they have proven to deserve it," Yi Gim challenged. His eyes reflected deep concern. "But how will you, or these Demons, know who is deserving of such a fate? Can they read the hearts of men?" He spoke the last as a joke, but sobered quickly upon recognising my lack of reaction. "Can they read the hearts of men?" Yi Gim repeated. Only this time with profound discomfort and uncertainty.
"They can read minds," I clarified. "It's not the same thing, but it is arguably more reliable. The vetting process for entering my Realm as a citizen has proven as much."
The connection between us remained silent as Yi Gim processed the new information.
"When your servants spoke in my mind, it was not a Technique..." Yi Gim said quietly, his discomfort multiplying with every passing moment.
"No, it wasn't," I answered. "But is it worse than if it had been?" I countered. "The trespass of the mind occurs in either case. The difference lies only in the perceived limits of what is taking place. For all you might have known, it could have been a mind-based Technique designed to plunder your deepest thoughts, or plant seeds of treachery. The only real difference is that you now have a greater appreciation of her kind's capabilities."
"That is another way of looking at it..." Yi Gim conceded, although he didn't appear happy about it. "And you are comfortable with such beings walking the depths of your mind?"
"No, I'm not," I replied, trying not to smirk in response to his reaction. "You can train yourself to keep them out, and I have strict rules in place regarding contact without permission or extenuating circumstances. However, even without those rules, I can make anyone taking such an action regret it."
"Forgive my impertinence, but how would one go about constructing such mental defences?" Yi Gim asked, the barest hint of desperation and an undertone of resolute conviction in his voice.
"Practice, mostly," I replied somewhat glibly. Much to his chagrin. "However, you misunderstand. Being aware of what is happening and when that connection is being made is the most important part. Think of it like having the best weapons and armour made for your defence, only to have your throat slit while you are resting or at dinner. Recognising the enemy's presence will accomplish far more for your safety in such a situation."
Yi Gim slowly nodded with understanding, but still had doubts. "And how do I recognise the assassin if I was not already aware of their arrival? Surely one cannot maintain absolute vigilance at all times. Even as Cultivators, we inevitably require rest."
"Yes and no," I waved my hand to accentuate my words. "Being aware of yourself, knowing your own mind and thoughts, makes it easier to identify possible intrusion by identifying what does not belong. Even in a sleeping state, your self-awareness can recognise a potential intruder or manipulation. Depending upon the proficiency of the intruder, it might be rather simple. However, a more experienced hand will also know how to blend their presence, making it harder to detect them or their influence."
"A mental protection Technique would be more reliable..." Yi Gim sighed defeatedly but rallied quickly. "However, I am glad that you were candid with me." He paused for a few moments while considering things before seeming to come to a decision. "Would it be possible to arrange for practice in this mental defence?" Yi Gim asked hesitantly.
"I don't see a problem with that," I agreed. "However, it would probably be best to wait until we have unilateral control over the immediate area first. Just in case."
With that decided, we left the mine and stepped out into the sunlight again.
The guards that had been stationed at the entrance were nowhere to be found, and the road from the mountain to the town was empty. However, with no mention of trouble from Sebet, I was increasingly confused as to why that might be the case.
After I prompted Sebet for an update, I soon had my answer.
Gozu and the other members of his clan had packed up and left shortly before Sebet herself had exited the mines. Reneging on his commitment to remain until formal ownership had changed hands without leaving an explanation why.
However, after scanning the horizon and extending my senses outward, the reason soon became clear. A sailing ship atop a massive storm cloud was slowly flying across the sky and toward the town. Flanked by a host of what I assumed were magical beasts.
Too far to make out much detail, I still took note of several prominent Cultivators aboard the ship and mounted on the flying beasts.
Given recent events and Gozu's unannounced retreat, it was a safe bet to assume the newcomers had poor intentions.
A fact I was certain they would soon come to bitterly regret.