“With no signs of blackmail, we’d been investigating the potential involvement of the flesh trade, blood cultists, or even a threat from overseas. We looked into movements in Irros, Novos and Exxem—all to no avail. Though we have not fully ruled out the possibility of foul play from beyond the continent.”
This was news even to me. While I had been involved in some of those more external investigations, it was mostly just due diligence. We had no reason to believe that any of the other nations of Aemos would be hostile. Save the Deadlands of Exxem where people lived a more nomadic, tribe-based lifestyle, trade was open and thriving between all continents. This realm had known peace for several ages.
“However, the reason you have been gathered today is not to recap what we already knew. I am here to share what we learned while I was in briefings with the House of Clay. I must warn you, the news is… disturbing, to say the least. I will remind you that this information is confidential, not only within our ranks, but when interfacing with those of the Atlassian Courts.”
“Yes, sir,” the room echoed again.
“We have reason to believe that there is unrest brewing across the continent. Namely, amongst mortals who are neithernoble nor Resonant—those who consider themselves to be the least privileged members of Atlasssian society.”
Those whoconsidered themselvesthe least privileged? Come on now, Demitrovic.
I held our general in the highest esteem, but took issue with his wording and tone. It was a simple, empirical fact that non-Resonant humans without wealth or power had access to the least amount of resources in this world.
“This is nothing new,” the general rumbled. “However, it would appear that the beginnings of a network are being built across the territories. As accusations against certain members of the Courts rise, as does a feeling of solidarity between the common folk of Samhaven, Vindyrst, Ithreac, and even Pyrhhas. The Isles of Luxtos and Stygos are not immune, though they are less likely to succumb to the same… pressures.”
That’s because there were no nobles in Luxtos & Stygos outside of the Lord of Shadows and the Lady of Light, as the isles were too small to need additional magistrates. Markus Makari and Theia Frey were good leaders, kind and generous to their people. I would be shocked to see the Isles involved in this anytime soon… but there had to be more to this story.
“During my time in Ithreac, one of the missing children was discovered dead. Strung up from the tallest tree in the Red Valley, considered to be a sacred space to the House of Clay. The child was… mutilated. With a note nailed,” Demitrovic paused for a moment, visibly upset. He swallowed thickly before continuing. “The note was nailed to the child’s forehead. A note that read, ‘Blood is thicker than Aether.’”
I felt sick to my stomach.
“Upon investigation, the Ithreacian clerics declared that the child had only been dead for several hours. They had kept him alive up until some predetermined moment—whether it had to do with my arrival or something else entirely, I do not yet know.But it is because of this most grievous offense that we have convened with the Elders. The Nineteen have approved that we call for a defensive alliance between the territories.”
Holy shit.
“While we were previously operating on an honor system between the other forces of Atlas, we will now be seeking more official lines of communication, and working alongside the Atlassian Courts to keep tabs on the growth of this unrest, to prevent any unnecessary violence, and hopefully, any further losses.”
It was a big deal that the Elders would allow us to get involved in such an official capacity, considering how firm they were on their stance of neutrality in the conflicts of mankind. The Aetherborne had been directly involved in establishing that new order of mortal leadership across Atlas, and the elemental houses had maintained said power and territories ever since with minimal influence from these Elders, or so we were told.
The Aetherborne established two caveats when the Houses began their rule over the continent. The first was that Sophrosyne would remain its own independent entity, existing under the temporal and diplomatic jurisdiction of the Nineteen.
The second caveat was that the city-state of Sophrosyne would remain neutral in the face of any future mortal conflicts. They would train Resonant mortals in the art of their arcana if they were deemed worthy, they would offer counsel to the mortal leaders when it was sought, but they would not step between mankind and its own destruction. Not again. That said, if there was one thing the gods valued more than their neutrality, it was peace. At the end of the day, we were their peace-keepers, after all.
As Demitrovic ran the room through more details—and some of the upcoming summits we would be expected to attend as a result of these alliances—I couldn’t help but wonder if all of thisshit could have been avoided if the Atlassian Courts would just do their fucking jobs.
I supposed it wasn’t my place to throw stones from a glass house, considering my own privileges, butgods.
The Elders were not infallible, and I feared they might have made a mistake when they established the ruling families of each House to be highly Resonant bloodlines. As a result, generation after generation, it was Conduits who led our people. Less than five percent of the population, making decisions that impacted the majority of non-Resonant humans.
It was easy to forget that though arcana was a beautiful, powerful thing, it was becoming increasingly rare as time went on. If the Houses didn’t start taking better care of their people, we could soon find ourselves entirely overrun, chased out of power by the common folk.
Despite my loyalty to Sophrosyne, I couldn’t quite say I’d blame them for it. Not when there were people out there who were starved for resources, who were just trying to survive, while the politicians of Atlas lined their pockets and amassed power just for show and ego in their idiotic internal squabbles.
Though part of me was relieved just to havesomeform of a lead or explanation behind the mysterious disappearances, a much larger part of me was preparing for things to get much, much worse.
By the time I made it home that night, I was so beyond exhausted that I was about ready to collapse at the door of my townhouse. But at least I hadn’t fallen asleep at my desk again. Hanjae would be proud.
My mood had taken a turn for the pessimistic and foul as I found it hard to shake the image from my mind. Righteous, validanger or not, there wasneveran excuse to mutilate a fucking child. I didn’t drink often, but found myself craving the harder stuff.
If only I wasn’t so godsdamn tired.
As I reached for my keys, I realized that there was something glowing on my porch. What in the actualfuckwas—
Oh.
It was a fox.
Not a real fox, but one that appeared to be made of Light aether. It looked as if it were molded out of the starry constellations of the night sky, and it was… sleeping? With a small scroll of parchment in its mouth. It was sort of adorable.