Of course, Elder Zal had a few more updates for me that didn't relate to Multiversal politics. The Infernal contingent I was essentially loaned for a bit, for example.

They lost some folks too. As the group who was basically my vanguard in that last battle, they were first in line for danger and losing their lives.

I already knew of Jarken's fate, as he was next to me when he died, but Elder Zal filled me in on all the others. Scalera managed to survive though, so that piece of news was good—but apparently I wouldn't get to say goodbye to her and a few others of the surviving group.

She and everyone else who was part of the Matriarch's Clan left when she did not too long ago.

Although it doesn't bother me all that much, I would have thought it to be proper etiquette for them to let me know they were leaving considering my position, but it makes sense that they didn't.

While they would respect me in all situations and defer to me in most others, when their actual Clan Matriarch was in the picture, she would supersede everything else. Plus, I spoke to her beforehand, so that will have to count as their goodbye.

The rest of them though—after taking count of the number of lives lost, and those who already departed with the Matriarch, whose name I just realized I don't know—there were still a few thousand Infernals on the Planet.

Oh wait, it just came back to me, I do know her name. Arainian.

Anyway.

They remained for one simple reason.

A chance at joining my current three-member Clan. It would be nice to have a few thousand individuals under me, but that doesn't mean just accepting them willy-nilly just to bolster my ranks. I honestly don't know how I'll decide what to do with them, but I'm sure I'll figure something out.

It does make me wonder about their families and lives back wherever they called home.

Is joining a Clan such a valuable proposition that you're able to forsake being with your families just for a chance at something that may or may not happen?

At least the boys had Elder Zal to vouch for them.

Anyway, there were a few more details I would need to gather from members of my City, but the last couple of things Elder Zal informed me of—and perhaps the biggest things—were the events immediately after I fell unconscious.

I managed to kill the Vamp with that last-ditch attack of mine. I nearly died myself, but it was successful nonetheless.

And the only reason I was alive was because Elder Zal had arrived just in time to gather my body and provide aid.

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The one thing I didn't manage to do was stop the Core sacrifice. The runes I saw on the Core had essentially reached a point where they didn't need to be manually managed, and if left alone they would've completed the task all on their own.

Again, it was Elder Zal who managed to take care of that as well. With no one there to combat her efforts in earnest, it was quite simple for her to get rid of the runes and stop the process.

I'm glad it all worked out, but honestly, it left a bad taste in my mouth.

Not going to throw a pity party for myself, but I need to get stronger. Don't want to have to depend on others for safety the next time shit hits the fan.

My shoulders should be the only ones I need to hold up whatever struggle I'm facing.

The last thing that Elder Zal informed me of was the fact I should visit the Core once more as soon as I was able to. She didn't explain why though, saying I'd understand when I got there.

That was all the updates she had for me, and once I digested them I asked her a question of my own.

One that earned an extremely rare smile from Elder Zal. Of course, the smile barely lasted a second, but I saw it.

The question had to do with the boys, and it was about how to impart the flame to them.

Elder Zal had a very simple answer. One of the only answers she had regarding anything to do with the Eternal Flame.

'Let the Eternal Flame guide you.'

That was all she had for me, and she departed soon after with a final message to pick me up in a couple of days to return to the Core.

After she left, I sat in silence for a bit behind my desk.

Let the Eternal Flame guide me, huh.

I then spent the 30 minutes or so to wash up and get dressed before heading downstairs, where I was met with Carlos of the Ash Guard and old man Mr. Wright.

"Good morning."

Carlos immediately snapped off a tidy salute, and Mr. Wright just looked at me with an even expression before responding.

"It's the evening."

Oh.

"Well, good evening. Is it too late to get a meal?"

"Nope, you're just in time, Mr. Raizen. I was just taking orders for the boys out there. Great Rabbit stew sounds alright?"

"It sounds great. Thank you, Mr. Wright."

"Of course, Mr. Raizen."

After placing my order, I looked at Carlos and motioned for him to walk with me. He quickly fell in step to the left side just behind me.

"What's the status of the City?"

"Sir, the City is secure, and Richard has been running things in your absence."

I'm sure there's other things, but if he isn't reporting it then it likely isn't critical.

"And the Ash Guard?"

"All personnel accounted for. We've been guarding the City Lord Mansion around the clock since we returned to the City."

"Noted. And how did everyone return to the City anyway?"

"We managed to find a working enemy ship and took it all the way back. An Elder of yours also assisted us with transport."

Elder Zal did a lot for us, it seems. I'll have to thank her again when I see her.

"Where are the boys?"

"Around this time, they are usually sparring with the other... Infernals, I believe they are called. I apologize if I pronounced it wrong."

"No worries, Carlos. And thank you for the report. After the men eat, stand down and rest for a few days. We will be very busy for a very long time afterwards. Prepare yourselves."

"Understood, Sir."

And with that, Carlos exited the building to deliver the news to the rest of the Ash Guard.

I hope he understands that I'm serious about being busy for a very long time though. I think it's high time we explore the rest of this Planet. Even though the Mavelia folks are leaving, and with them their MT Stations, we might be running and traveling very long distances for quite a while.

I hope we can buy a few of them, and more communication devices and even space rings before they leave though.

Before I do any of that, I need a new spear, and to spend a few months in the library. My knowledge about the world is too meager, and I was a bit too busy to pay attention to the massive library in the City—but that will change now.

New spear, library time, and then Planet-wide travels.

Oh, and visiting the Core.

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