Sylia smiled and turned to Jezelius. "I heard that a few of the Province Lord's men took particular care of you after you reported me for some of my supposed lewd and depraved behavior in March. So, what do you think? Do you prefer Frieze's ways? Shall I send you to him and his Gods? What Frieze has to offer is on another level altogether. Those men are very tame since we broke their teeth. Better yet, perhaps I should send you to some of the King's men, or to another King who makes even the Empress of the Dark Empire cringe, though she counts many among her ranks who are as vile as his men. Each of them has their quirks."

Grenek frowned, his gaze narrowing with accusation. "Those men work for you?"

"As if I would admit that filth into my ranks," Sylia replied sharply. "I already told you. They pay me to stay alive, and they volunteer to deal with those who stand against me in order to buy themselves more time. Why do you look so shocked? Are you not from the Nights Churches? This is the true teaching of the Nights Flock. At least, the Original one. Not the Church led by the corrupted remnant who was allowed by a few Lords to take the Queen of the Night's name here. She once went by many other names in the higher Levels of these Realms. Some I hardly dare to repeat. Well, I can tell you the name Masha's Goddess went by in this Realm, at least. She was known as Graffnights and Graffira. She shortened her name, but she was never considered the Queen of the Night in the Gods' Register. If you study the old steles that Church used, you will see that she was actually called Graffnights. Do you know where that name came from?"

Grenek shook his head in silence.

Tamren leaned forward, his voice unsteady. "Wait. Are you serious? What about the real Queen of the Night?"

Sylia's eyes hardened. "She was a weakened Celestial who was sent here and devoured by Graffnights and her allies in an attempt to acquire greater power. That is how the fake Goddess rose to dominance and took over this Sub-Realm's Night Church. That evil act cursed her and all those who had followed her since."

Tamren shuddered, but she ignored him and pressed on. "One of the Divine Guardian Crows decided to spare the evil fake Goddess and make use of her instead. Part of the devoured Celestial overwhelmed her, even stabilizing that corrupt entity for a time. A fragment of her essence was later used to fashion the current Dark Empress, which explains why that one is far more stable than anything they had produced before. Her Divisions have never been stable, however. She sheds the corrupted parts first, and they follow her example by shedding even worse parts."

Grenek's confusion deepened. "What?"

"This is the Goddess with whom you and Jezelius are so enthralled," Sylia said. "At least you are consistent with your ideals. You married a woman whose family devours their own kin, and you worship a Goddess who ascended to Godhood by feeding upon a Celestial weakened by the corruption of this Realm. The former Queen of the Night's will was still strong enough to resist the one who had consumed her and she managed to influence her. Even dead, she continues to protect her followers. At least, those she deems worthy. She curses the others, on the other hand, with such force…you might be shocked."

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Grenek stared at his own hand in horror.

"You truly have no idea where Masha and some of her siblings came from," Sylia continued, her tone cold and deliberate. "Masha was fashioned from a fragment of a higher being they called the Queen of Evils, also known at times as the Evil Queen, and made infamous because of her cruel Division. Frieze himself might be ashamed of how tame he would appear beside her. The Dark Element drives the corrupt into even greater depravity, so they would be suitable candidates for the Dark Lord's torture sessions. Masha was reincarnated to fight Frieze and his allies. However, despite her Goddesses' wish, it became evident to the Dark Lord's Crow that Masha and her sister were too much for even Frieze. Masha would have worsened the reputation of those with the Dark Element, when Frieze and his allies already promote the narrative that the Dark Followers are inherently evil. Those Goddesses would have in effect aided him, instead of fighting him. Perhaps that was their true intent. To become the greatest at something, even if that meant being evil. Perhaps they thought this world deserved no better. Perhaps they were correct. It is not for me to decide, however."

Grenek's voice rose, shaken with desperation. "Who is this sister you speak of?"

Sylia laughed softly. "Another fragment of the Queen of Evils. One who was mingled with her rotten children. She is far worse than your beloved, who was diluted with fragments of more decent origin. The evil sister has started merging back with Masha or at least a part of her has. I will let you guess which part has mixed with Masha. No, in fact, do not trouble yourself—it is pretty obvious. The Queen of Evils' fragments are striving to reform into a new Queen of Evils. This is why Masha is getting worse. More corrupted. She is no longer merely the heir of the Evil Queen. She is evolving into something darker, something closer to their Source, the Queen of Evils."

Grenek cried out in anguish. "Then you must free her!"

"It is far too late," Sylia replied coldly. "Now she will never be free. She was given many chances—too many, truly—but such was the decision of her Goddesses. They risked pieces of themselves in order to win their wager."

Tamren's expression faltered. "What? Pieces?"

Sylia nodded, smiling. "Oh! When you defy the advice of the Dark Lord's Crow, you must pay with more than excuses. In truth, some of them retain little of themselves now. We cannot even call them Goddesses any longer, nor Celestials. They are nothing but wandering Pieces. Now, enough. Begone. I tolerated feeding you today only because I am in an excellent mood."

Tamren raised his hand, unwilling to let go of the matter. "Sylia, one moment, please. Earlier you mentioned the Empress of the Dark Empire…"

Sylia turned her gaze upon him, her expression unreadable. "Yes. What of it?"

"What are your plans regarding her?" Tamren asked gravely.

A sly smile curved Sylia's lips. "Oh, are you concerned for her? How fitting. I would have been surprised if you were not. You displayed the same reaction when Sasha was concerned."

Tamren frowned, baffled by the mention of his wife, yet pressed his question once more.

"She will improve once she sheds some of the corruption that has started clinging to her," Sylia finally answered. "It may hurt, but it will be for her own good."

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