Princess Olscilia Nevstan.

10 Septara, 1492.

07:27.

***

While Sin spent most of the event with Rickley Ravenbrook and the other bards of the Legio Noctis, I had the pleasure of spending a not insignificant amount of time with the Tengu Tamer, and learned much about him whilst reading about his Legions through the ManaNet. Namely, that he doesn't speak much. But also that he's been Amun's vassal since they were five years old. I even saw a rendering of them as kids made from Amun's memories and his regent. They were so cute! But also… frightening.

Amun had them kill their shadow clones as part of their daily training. Not spar with them. Not fight them. Toril and Jaimess killed their clones - themselves, essentially. Daily, since they were 5 years old. They learned to kill at 5 years old. That made what we witnessed last year sensible. More than sensible, even. It made it natural. The thing that seemed unnatural was Jaimess's Legion. The Crowns of Eotrom. Described as the link between Eotrom, her Legions, and the nations they encountered, their role was all things civil services, commerce, logistics, and administration; all while protecting and maintaining the natural lands and its creatures beyond the borders of their cities. Here was a subguild of veritable demigods. Beings with the power to do virtually anything they wished. And with that immense power, they chose not to wage war or rule over us mortals. They sought to be public servants. It was admirable, and more, inspiring. A prime example to royals, nobles, and commoners alike. I couldn't wait to know more, but I respected Amun's wish of allowing them to enjoy their period of respite, intending to get to work the moment it was over.

To that end, it seemed I forgot who I was dealing with.

"Good morning, Princess."

The smooth words were preceded by a gentle tap against my door the moment it was pushed ajar by a stern visage, which quickly receded to permit my exit. Only for the red, grapefruit-sized bird to to rush forward and jab the point of its long nose against my cheek, bringing its stern gaze eye to eye the moment I stepped out.

"Oi!" came a shout before glimmering gold scales raced past my vision. Pushing through the door, I saw the towering form of my Captain-General fussing with his doublet as the adorable tengu hounded him with its constant pecking.

"Good morning, Jaimess." I smiled, gesturing to the aged dragonborne. "And forgive Captain-General Karolis. He prefers to bear the brunt of the attention that comes my way."

"The fault is mine." The young Marulean bowed, then stood to gesture to his probing Tengu. "My friend here hasn't yet learned the concept of personal space." The others had, however, as one always stared when we weren't looking and the other was half-concealed behind Jaimess's shoulder as he gazed at us intently, studying our every move as we turned our gaze to those accompanying Jaimess.

The first was a strifling with a 3 piece suit paired with an undershirt that matched her violet skin. "This is Tasah," Jaimess said, prompting her courteous bow. "Your butler and guide within our facilities. And these are the four administrators of the Civil Institute; our place of higher learning, dedicated to all things diplomacy. Mansel Sault, of Economics; Aurelie Chadwick of Logistics; Dakari of Administration; and Petra Frank of Law."

Smiling, I nodded to the dwarf, humans, and strifling of varying ages before gesturing to my companions. "You've met the Captain-General, Alaric Karolis. This is the Head Tribune, Roderick Nikolaev." I motioned to the aged halfling, and then his peer. "Treasurer Nasrin Abdullaev; and my aide, Rani."

Bowing at the young strifling as he did the others, Jaimess stood with a turn toward the exit, offering to lead the way. We obliged with few words, taking one final look at the grand coliseum the guilds constructed until we stopped at the edge of a balcony, right before the leg of a giant dragonfly that canted its head toward us uncannily. A deep hum emanated from it once Jaimess's reflection was mirrored in the many facets of its domed eyes, and it adjusted its posture upon straightening its gaze, canting its body toward us to permit a gentler ingress in its metallic exoskeleton. It was a similar design to one of the sky skiffs made by Pascal Industries, but a model few outside the legions had ever seen before now.

We stepped into its open carapace to find a space 2 to 3 meters wide, filled with twin rows of plush seats clad in beige leather. They faced each other akin to what one would see in a conference room. Yet, no table broke the space apart, only polished wooden panels on the arm of each seat and a thick root running along the ceiling, its polished black surface glowing from blue conduits carved within in ways that reminded me of my data slate. The rush of cool air retreated as the open walls fell shut behind us, bathing the space in a dawn-like light touched by the blues of the vine above and the many colors of the Bodhi Tree, shifting and receding through the panoramic dome surrounding the lounge-like space at the front. Spacious and ostentatious it was, but I could tell there was much more to this vessel than we could currently see. Much like the Imperator before me and his organization. The Crowns of Eotrom. And so, after seating myself beneath that panoramic dome, I met Jaimess' beige eyes with none of the blind enthusiasm I showed him before.

"We have made our decision." I flatly said. "The Principality of Nevstan has no issue being assisted in becoming the Nevstan Monarchy of Eotrom, sponsored by the Crowns, so long as you allow us to retain our customs and sovereignty. And though we would prefer to dwell on the ground, we'll gladly accompany Eotrom to Maru in due time."

While there was a look of surprise on his face, Jaimess swallowed it hard and gave me a warm smile before shifting his gaze above. "We can begin immediately after coming to an agreement, so long as your citizens have agreed." Rather than produce the illusory field I expected, the shifting landscape beyond the dome darkened and flickered blue before thrumming to life once more, albeit with thick black lines that broke the dome into four distinct windows, each filled with renderings of Nevstan's counties. "That's our first policy - that your citizens must vote to be assisted. Every citizen who is of age." Jaimess began, matching my flat tone, despite the tengu wrestling itself under his arm, perched atop his head, and ramming his shoulder incessantly.

"That won't be a problem." I shook my head to mask my laughter. "Especially if they'll be protected from the barbarians of Mazi."

"I can assure you that Issac Galliard's Bulwark Corps will help Nevstan's military become an impenetrable wall. Likewise, Winston Epeth's Peasant's Guard will be working closely with your guardsmen to ensure your citizens remain in a place of order."

It was quite a name for a royal Epethian's unit. They were never known to be… favorable rulers. It seemed his duel against Amun broke the cycle, for him to take up the noble role of the city guard.

"That said." Jaimess continued. "It seems many have misconceptions about our sky cities and your… expansion into the Darkworld. It's not that your cities as you know them will be placed in the sky - unless you want them to, of course. However, the lands we place in the sky are, for all intents and purposes, land grants. You can expand your lands into the sky and build infrastructure with the knowledge and technology you'll gain, allowing the surface to maintain its natural state. Those who wish to live one lifestyle or the other choose to live on the surface or in the sky and travel freely between them. Conversely, you can consider your lands within the Darkworld your prisons, in a sense, or otherwise where those who wish to live lawless lives can dwell."

"That would mitigate the strain on our dungeons," Roderick mused. "However, I believe we would need to review who is truly deserving of exile to the Darkworld."

"How can we ensure these vagrants will remain in the Darkworld?" asked the Captain-General.

"To address the Tribune, I posit this," Jaimess said, gesturing to his shadow as it darkened, condensed, and shifted into a hand that reached for the floor and pulled, erecting a duplicate of the Imperator before our very eyes.

Of course, I'd seen it before. But… "I have heard of this before." The Captain-General growled. "The Shadow Puppeteer, Azrael Cole, had a similar ability."

"The God-Emperor's grandfather, he created the spell and passed it down his family." Jaimess nodded, gesturing to his clone. "The Doppelganger was the first sorcerous spell Amun learned, and he quickly made it a point to make one for everyone in his empire. They teach and train us in his stead, and act as both assistants and peers. More importantly, they cannot lie to him. We have since adopted similar abilities, yet the effect is still the same. Thus, with the doppelgangers of the accused, legal courts will proceed much more smoothly, and much quicker. To address the Captain-General's point." Jaimess turned to him while one window shifted to a voluminous realm of stone, metal, and darkness filled with sprawling settlements. "The God-Emperor is one of freedom. And so, while the lands in the Darkworld will be lawless and filled with vagrants, their standard of living will be comparable to the surface and skies. If all goes well, they will have no want or need to leave. And if they do." He shrugged as the map expanded to show the impossible distance between there and here. "They'll have to fight their way to the surface."

"I see." Alaric growled, still not convinced.

Regardless, Jaimess pressed on with another wave that caused a subtle glow from above but yielded no results other than a soft vibration and melodic chimes from our data slates. "While you can see we have but a few conditions, you can choose many more. In short, the counts will discontinue building up their lands for themselves, competing amongst each other for political favor. They can still do so with their cultures, economies, or anything else, if they wish, but we will assist you in creating and maintaining a minimum quality of life for all citizens. Our engineers will assist the locals in building farms and ranches for each city, both above and below, with infrastructure to handle excess food waste and garbage. Schools and public lore halls will be constructed and staffed by educators of living or, if you approve, undead and mechanical origin, made free to all citizens. Lastly, orphanages, programs, and institutions for the youth would be the highest priority for funding and support. Places like the Backstreets of Chor will still exist, but with a cultural basis focused on training young bards, not a haven for urchins desperate for a better life. In the meantime, the four heads will see to the construction of various structures in the capital and select cities, meant to increase their productivity and truly make Nevstan the country of commerce and diplomacy."

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With those words, Jaimess stepped back to allow the four heads to step forward and begin the negotiations between the administrators and my staff. Following suit, I trailed him to the spherical room at the front and swiveled the plush seats to face them and listen intently while I stared at the dazzling rays of the sun scattering across the cloud tops. Though, between what I was hearing and the adorable Tengu's antics, it was difficult to focus on one thing alone.

While Petra Frank sat with Tribune Roderick to discuss laws, they remained silent and turned their attention to Nasrin and the dwarf of deep brown skin and golden beard, Mansel Sault, to listen to the ideas they pitched back and forth. Rather quickly, they agreed to build a school of economics, where everyone from commoners to international merchants could learn everything from a few ranger skills to protect them on long journeys, to gaining knowledge in finance, investing, lobbying, and business marketing. Moreover, in conjunction with the Grand Hadal Enterprise, our coin house would be renovated with their enchanted vaults to give people access to their money from anywhere, doubly protecting them on long voyages. Lastly, they agreed to host job fairs in tandem with the request board, much like they did in Maru, with some menial jobs targeted towards the youths to act as apprenticeships, but where they start their own business when they come of age.

As Aurelie Chadwick took the floor, Captain-General Karolis and even my aide, Rani, were brought into the talks. Much to my interest, as she unveiled the design of a new market square in Chor as a template and proof of concept for the rest of our cities. They would be vast, semi-enclosed structures partially embedded in the ground, where all couth things could be purchased and sold. Interestingly, however, Aurelie made it a point to not shy away from the existence of black markets and smuggling rings, but played into them with regulations and measures to ensure no human lives were exchanged.

It was a trait I assumed came from Odissi, as few but the House of Cole would willingly face the flak of adopting such practices. Or rather, none would question the family of the Shadow Realm and the Underworld bringing order to those deeds so often done in the dark. Amun, however, was a god of the Mortal Plane with 11 legions at his command. So I supposed it was natural for that same order to be brought to the Mortal Plane.

Aurelie's dismissal of the illusory model silenced my musings just in time to see another, appearing as a vast campus filled with towers, keeps, and the roads and rails of Pascal Industries, albeit made of wood, stone, and crystals. The School of Logistics, or whatever we would eventually name it. Like the school of economics, it would be open to the politicians, merchants, militaries, and civilians and would work in tandem with the new transportation hub between Chor and the capital to teach the people how to make the most use of the vehicles used by the Crowns. Transportation would be free locally, but not abroad. And lastly, trade agreements would be established between the 2nd Legion and the Principality of Nevstan, giving us access to the specialized materials of their 'home world.'

Turning mostly to Rani, the charming strifling they called Dakari shared another illusory model; this one of a subterranean castle that could be placed anywhere in the country. The School of Staffing. A vast complex where those working in all facets of a noble or royal court could absorb, practice, and put to test the various forms of administration and government found within Legion's libraries to find the perfect system. It was a place where those like us would understand what it meant to be a civil servant, teaching people to build relations with their commoners and ensuring their needs are met to build a firm foundation for their country.

Amusingly, that was a point of ire for both Nasrin and Roderick, for I agreed with Jaimess that part of that was to be accomplished with the annual practice of voluntary hardship, where nobles and royals would live like commoners for a set time to ensure they remained humble and thus remembered that such privilege could be easily lost should our nation fall. But it went beyond that. A proper census would be conducted the moment the people received their doppelgangers, and with that came knowledge of their wants and needs beyond the improved witch huts and law houses. More than the free healthcare our citizens would receive and the medical wonders we could use for our handicapped, Roderick's ire was trumped by the law houses. Or rather, the reformation practices they would adopt for those who were truly remorseful and deserving of redemption. Beyond that, their primary directive was to weed out corruption via the doppelgangers, which they made clear was present in every type of government. Legions notwithstanding, for Amun was kept in check by his ancestors.

The Tribune remained the center of focus as they discussed the School of Law, where young and old royals, nobles, public speakers, bards, or other diplomats learn practices and theories related to persuasion, public speaking, and foreign relations besides their legal studies. To add to that, an embassy district was planned for the capital. Not just to give offices for the Crowns and Eotrom but for the other nations in the Peninsula as well.

In closing, we agreed to have the legion's founding members construct branches of the facilities and institutes they established in their homes. Willard Rowe would have the College of Lore in the outlands of Chor, as would Ritrix have a Laughing House in the old Backstreets. Toni would build a Ranger School deep in the wilds, with youth camps and other events to teach kids and people of all ages survival skills. On top of it all, the Crown's rangers would conduct survey operations of the local environment. Every creature, plant, and fungus would be documented and tracked, with dead lands being revitalized and some creatures being protected or hunted to ensure a stable ecosystem.

"With this and Nevstan's culture, it's my hope that Nevstan's surface can become a nature reserve where bards can explore and use the networks to teach people about nature without disturbing nature, giving them a better appreciation for it while retaining Nevstan's bardic culture. But of course, you can remain on the ground if you so wish. However." Jaimess charmingly smiled. "At some point, we will be leaving Nonus and not returning for centuries. If you don't wish to dwell in the skies, your land can be relocated to Maru when the time comes. At any rate, don't think you have to make your decision in haste."

After shifting his charming grin among the crowd, he gestured to the surrounding glass dome as the clouds shifted beneath us and this strange bug lurched. But before us was only the sky. Not Nevstan, not anywhere, other than up. My heart pounded with excitement as I realized we were ascending to the worlds above, making the clouded sky and speckled worlds above break apart and disperse into countless motes that streaked around us as we lurched forward, bathing the many faces within in a dazzling multicolored display. Blues, grays, reds, and golds, zipping around this strange bug like fast fireflies before it faded, leaving us with a dazzling display.

I first saw a distant marble of white, beige, and green. But as the seconds grew to minutes, that marble grew larger and larger still; eventually encompassing the entirety of our view. A deep grumble from the vessel met us as we descended into the air. Moreover, it or, more likely, Jaimess seemed to respond to my curiosity, for the surrounding dome partitioned itself once more, bringing various areas of this marble of endless mountains into clear view.

A thick band of misty jungles encompassed the middle- the equator. Birthed from the mountain glaciers and deep lakes within, water fed the wide steppes bordering the thick jungle. The water that survived the journey fed into the drier lands further north and south, carving deep canyons as they made their way to the colder regions where those that changed to glaciers settled in the only relatively flat region of the world's poles. As amazing as it was, I began to suspect it was largely unsettled. That was until we landed on a curiously flat patch of stone in the mountains, where we disembarked and were led into the most impressive structure my eyes had seen to date.

Firstly, it was vast. Moreover, it seemed as if it was an integral part of nature. As if it were grown naturally, rather than constructed by hands, no matter how divine. Roots protruding from the ground formed gentle stairs, padded comfortably with velvety moss. Bulbous flowers or mushrooms acted as sconces or braziers, suffusing the space in a warm bioluminescence. Hollow roots hung from various corners, blowing warm earthly aromas into the otherwise dank space while yet others extracted foul odors.

"Welcome to the Crown's home world. Naubuuru." Jaimess exclaimed, spreading his arms in a bow so that his Tengu could perch on them. "Only the legion's citizens may dwell or even come here. So, be honored to know you are the first foreigner to come here. If uplifted, your lands will be put in orbit of this world, which follows me across the Mortal Plane."

"Thank you." I bowed. "However, for the time being at least, I believe it best we stay on the ground. Being so far away from the Plane would make us lose our bardic culture, over time."

"I can only agree. To that end, that's part of the reason for my bringing you here. Besides the courtesy, of course." Jaimess smiled, gesturing around him. "Now, it may sound… uncouth, but I think it best for Nevstan to adopt our architectural practice. Using specialized wise rocks, we can form isolated mountains near each city, much like these. Historical or heritage sites will be preserved and protected, of course, but otherwise the goal will be to recreate the cities within the mountains and allow the existing cities to be reclaimed by nature. In this, up-and-coming bards will have a veritable playing field- one without restrictions that would prevent them from uncovering a story worth telling."

It was an interesting idea. Nevstan's infrastructural problems were much more than walls made of toxic materials, I was sure they were aware. It was sewage, foundations, a lack of space within the walls and so much more, for none in the earlier generations believed Nevstan would become a place of such rich tourism. It was meant to be a launching point for bards to spread their mark. But now, in being part of this empire, tourism would only increase. This proposal would fix all the problems that would arise from that, and more, enable the people of Nevstan to live like the prosperous Maruleans I saw across the Net. That said, I was unsure of how the people would feel about abandoning their cities. To that end…

"We could do a trial run." I eventually said. "The land of the Alnoreiril family is the most densely forested, being closest to Vruria. Its cities are spread apart, except for those straddling the Misthand. O'azinlean would be perfect. They're the most isolated, and their population is only around ten thousand."

"Then it's settled." Jaimess smiled. "At least until we work out the fine details."

"I suppose that's it for now, then." I looked up to him. "When does the work begin, if I may ask?"

"It already has." He smirked at me, exuding a certain playfulness that didn't exist before. Seeming to catch my surprise, he explained. "Here in the Empire, we believe in the separation of work and play. But with our doppelgangers, the work continues while we play. Although, play for me is quite different." He muttered beneath the embrace of his tengu. Then looked at me again with that curious smirk. "Thanks for the name, by the way." He snickered sarcastically. "Highly accurate."

"Well, 'Tengu Befriender' doesn't have the same ring to it, does it?" I huffed out a laugh. "Sue me."

"I very well may." He smirked, stealing my mirth in a moment.

"T - that's not… you're not serious. Are you?"

***

Jaimess A. Corey.

***

With Princess Nevstan preoccupied, it was time to settle greater business, still within the Bodhi Peninsula, though it was. From the steppes of my woven world, I gazed upon the 'great' Melbenzar Forest of Rhar and saw vibrant arcana, and yet no spirit. Not like the groves of Redagh, the mountains of Ligin, or the great forests of Vruria, and soon, Nevstan. But that came later. For now, I looked at the first publications coming out Chor and the damning words that came with them.

'Rharian Rampage Goes Unpunished! Accomplice Walks Free.'

That was the first of many snowballs thrown down the hill by a few daring souls. But now we would add fuel to the fire, first by 'leaking' the footage of Zaos and Ranren's actions around Roheisa's tower, then by organizing interviews with the Rharian residents who were escorted to better lands; residents whose stories of Rharian oppression dated back centuries; stories that would spark conspiracy theories and debates regarding the dark practices done in the deepest parts of that so-called great forest.

Practices we would expose if true; and perhaps manifest if false.

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