After they spent some time digging through the remainder of the dirt piles to find a surprisingly hefty amount of gold, Michael could feel that he was ready to receive another vision. He washed in a shallow tidepool left by the Lake of Beasts, had a small meal, and went to his tent. Ollie was practicing his spells with his new hat and seemed to be taking a lot of joy in the increase to his concentration and magicka. He'd already begun the process of coilign his channels as well. Michael was intending to coil his magicka channels too, but he knew he needed to focus on one thing at a time. He went to his tent and laid down. The moment he closed his eyes, he was back with Sylas.

…

Sylas stood in the center of the grandest and most opulent ballroom he'd ever imagined. The surfaces were all black and white marble gilded with gold and silver to fill any cracks. There was a kind of chaos to how it was all arranged, as if the stones were carved out randomly and then fit together like puzzle pieces. The ceiling was domed, and the windows all made of stained glass that made the light within the massive chamber a calamitous riot of colors.

Among all of the opulence, was the Emperor. He was a tall and broad man with a boyish face and easy smile. He was wearing a bright red tunic with solid gold buttons and fastenings with a black fur cloak over it that seemed to have been made from some kind of titled beast as it glimmered in the light in a way no natural fur could've produced. He had his red hair braided in an elaborate pattern and his golden crown sat on his head at a jaunty angle.

They were alone in the ballroom. The Emperor needed no guards. He was the single strongest person in all the kingdom, perhaps the world. Being in his immediate vicinity was enough to cause lesser men to faint, and even Sylas found himself nearly incapable of looking directly at him. It was like staring at the sun. He did not like the Emperor. He reminded him so strongly of those that had invaded his home. The arrogance backed so thoroughly by true strength. He hated it, but hid it behind a smile.

The creature, as he'd grown to call it, had chosen not to hide in his wizarding cloak as had become its custom since they began their collaboration. If there was anyone that could've detected it, it would've been the Emperor, and that was something they couldn't risk. He didn't trust the creature fully, it had killed one of his servants and eaten through their skull after all, but he did believe that their goals aligned, and its help had been invaluable so far.

Sylas took a deep breath and began muttering his enchantments as he raised his spear and began walking in a figure eight. When he was done with his incantation he slammed the spear into the air, where it pierced something. He dragged it down, and a few yards from where he cut the air, a matching cut appeared. Both of them were edged in plain white light and if one looked closely then they could see the other side through the portal. It was tiring, but also much simpler to open this form of portal and maintain it. Sylas then took a rubber ball from his pocket and tossed it to the emperor who caught it perfectly.

"Give it a try," he said.

The Emperor smiled and took a stance, raising a leg high in the air and putting his arm back before launching the ball using the force of his entire body. It moved through one portal and out the other before bouncing incredibly quickly all throughout the chamber. When it was about to hit Sylas he erected a half dozen barriers, five of which it smashed through, but the Emperor caught it, the impact of it on his palm causing a sound like a thunderclap that echoed all around them.

"Incredible," said the Emperor as he looked through the portal again. "And you believe you can create these across great distances as well?"

"If we can create the right apparatus and with the right help, yes."

The Emperor smiled as he began lightly tossing the ball into the air and catching it in his hand. "Wouldn't you know it? I'm the right help for this. Whatever you need, you shall have it. This could change the entire empire. We could even expand again. There are a few pockets I still have yet to conquer on the continent, but with this I could reach beyond it. Who needs boats when the right mage can bring a legion across the world in moments?"

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"In order to pursue a project like a consistently active portal that can be maintained, I would also need more…raw ability."

"Titles? They're yours," the Emperor held out a hand in his direction. "I name you a grand Vizier, a Court Mage, a Chosen of the High Court, the Baron of Bascony, the Count of Mount Crist, and just for fun, a General of Hume."

Sylas's eyes widened as the Titles all hit him like a truck. His vision sharpened, his muscles felt oddly hot and swollen, and time in general seemed to slow around him. He could feel a flood of magicka enter his channels and cause his spiral to swell with power and for a moment the portals he'd summoned doubled in size before he calmed himself and dismissed them.

He took a deep breath as he struggled to regain control of his senses"You are… too generous, Lord Emperor."

He chuckled. "Lord Emperor feels a little redundant. Think nothing of it. This is an investment and as of this moment you are giving me an opportunity to improve things within Hume more than any of my predecessors. Besides, to me those titles are a pittance. Beldon will be upset about losing his Court Mage title, but that's his own fault for not bringing me anything interesting despite my investment in him."

Sylas simply nodded. He got what he wanted, and was eager to confer with the creature on next steps.

"Come, share a glass of wine with me and we shall talk about what else it is you'll need."

Sylas kept himself from sighing, he'd hoped a simple list written on paper would've sufficed, but refusing would be foolish. He fell in line behind the Emperor and they walked out of the massive ballroom and into the series of intricate halls that led to the various chambers of the imperial palace.

A woman stepped into their way. She wore the white robes of the priesthood and around her neck hung the emblem of Seras, a shield with a six pointed star in the center.

"My lord," she said, bowing deeply to the Emperor.

"Cyrese, we were just on our way to have a drink. Join us, won't you?"

"My lord, I appreciate the invitation, but that is not why I approach you."

"Well what is it?" he asked impatiently. "If it's what I think it is you'd be best to keep your mouth shut."

"This man is an enemy of all the gods," she said, pointing at Sylas whose eyebrows raised at the accusation. "Diviners from across the empire have received visions and warnings of him and what he intends to do. He is going to lead you astray, destroy the empire that you so love." Her words were a desperate plea, but her tone was calm, almost relaxed as she spoke. "What he is doing will put the entire world at risk."

The emperor paused and turned his full attention to the woman in front of him. In spite of his powerful presence she did not flinch. "Do you know why there is a High Priestess at court?" he asked.

"Because it is the will of the Gods."

He chuckled. "No, it is because it is tradition. Diviners, priests, you were all once respected and beloved. Until your gods led to men and women losing the souls of their children."

"The gods were simply weakened by the creation of Titles and Deeds. The very thing on which you rely to maintain your power. If you and the people were to use them properly then their power would be restored and no more takers would occur."

"The god's weakness is the reason my great grand uncle was killed and his body puppeted to murder and rape his way across Svict. Do you have any idea what that did to us? How that hurt the Empire? My family name?"

"Supporting this man will do worse to your family name. It may even end it. You will let another taker take advantage of your family in a similar way to what you just described?"

The Emperor pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I am not as naive as they were, now that we know what takers are we can use them. How better to make up for the mistakes of the gods. You are dismissed."

"I am not done speak-"

"I said, you were dismissed."

The priestess was quiet, and the Emperor and Sylas began walking, but as soon as Sylas's back was to her she drew a dagger and lunged.

In the blink of an eye the Emperor was behind Sylas and sent out a backhand that caused the woman's jaw to fly across the room and her entire body to twist around.

The Priestess stumbled over to where the rest of her jaw hand landed and pressed it against herself with a glowing hand, re-sealing her jaw and stopping her bleeding.

When she was healed the Emperor shook his head. "If you were smart you would've just let yourself bleed out."

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