Lucius's tail puffed, his carefree mood crushed in an instant at the mention of the name. "We need to go," he said. "Where's the secret exit?"

Coshi frowned as well. She took a seat at the end of the long table, rested her chin on her fists, and said, "Bring him in. Vivian, take a seat."

Vivi blinked. "Really? You want me to stay?"

"You're dressed better than I," Coshi said. "I'll introduce you as a dear friend. Sit still and listen."

Lucius was appalled by the thought. Vivi, however, was somewhat curious, despite her wariness. She'd heard a lot about these exalted knights. Meeting one under neutral terms could be beneficial. She took a seat near Coshi and waited.

As the double doors opened and suffocating ether began oozing in, Vivi forgot her curiosity in an instant. Lucius hid deep within her core, crawling into a corner, where he took a fortified position, as if something would try to pull him out of there.

The figure at the doors was amongst the tallest demons Vivi had seen. He wore a pristine white suit and a cloak, both of which appeared to warp in reality, blending in with the coating of ether around him as if he was some spirit. His presence in the ethereal realm was overwhelming even while idle, like a sapient boss monster's.

His scorched face wasn't very expressive. He wasn't smiling, not frowning either, though his eyes were sharp. His hair was clean but messily arranged. If he'd smiled, he would have probably been attractive.

He stood before the table, sparing a single glance at Vivi, which made Lucius's hair puff out, back arched in the corner of Vivi's core.

"Welcome, Exalted One, Iszul, the Fourth Knight," Coshi said.

Iszul turned to Coshi. "Dire straits, I see."

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Coshi grinned. It seemed to be an honest expression. Coshi could stay on even ground with this man.

"Your nobles are calculating the need for evacuation," Iszul said. "The Luminary, the supposed strongest warrior of the city, is again a weakling. Your runeswords are outshined by empyrean smiths. It appears that Shivenar will require assistance for another storm season."

Lucius frowned at the word empyrean. Vivi wanted to ask what exactly it meant in this context, but she was too focused on the conversation.

"If you're here hoping to steal our storms again, you're not invited," Coshi said.

Iszul snorted, unimpressed. "I am passing by. My convoy is on the way to the sixth level."

"The prisoners?" Coshi asked.

"The nimrods of Zand," Iszul said. "We will reside here for a week to rest, and to scan the mountains for storms. Are you aware that the fourth level will be destroyed this season?"

"A tsunami is apparently building," Coshi said.

"That is being tended to," Iszul said. "A tsunami will not break. The fourth level is still a ruin regardless, filled with endless storms. And similar storms are brewing here as well, many breaking early. Storm season is already starting."

Coshi merely shrugged. "Feel free to help us, but I am not paying you."

"I will collect what I kill," Iszul said. "Losing Shivenar would be too costly for trade routes. The King has instructed me to prevent your walls from falling."

"Yes, yes," Coshi said. "We're grateful to have you. Was there anything else, or have you requested an audience as an announcement of your arrival?"

The knight's brows twitched. "I expect accommodation for my men. There are thirty-seven of us."

"Will be handled," Coshi said.

Iszul stayed silent for a second, then said in a tone Vivi didn't like, "Additionally, I hear there is a fugitive I seek in this city. What do you know about a person named Vivian Runeblessed."

Vivi was about to flinch but caught herself. Coshi furrowed her brows ever so slightly. "Elaborate."

"Vivian is a Zand escapee responsible for the death of a Steward," Iszul said. "It is rumored she has escaped to Shivenar. By description, she is a young, hornless woman, a human, small by appearance, but nimble and mysterious. She has brown hair, sharp eyes, and she is commonly seen wearing a grey cloak."

He glanced at Vivi again, brows slightly furrowed.

"Uh-huh," Coshi said. "So this Vivian looks very similar to my friend, Elizabeth right there."

Iszul studied Vivi for a moment longer. His expression was difficult to read. Eventually, he turned to Coshi. "This is not the most pressing matter. Spread Ingfried's bounty of a hundred thousand ether, and that will be enough."

"Very well," Coshi said. "Accommodation, and a bounty on this Runeblessed idiot, and what else?"

Iszul looked like he wanted to push back against Coshi's informality. "That is all."

Coshi nodded. "Thank you, Iszul. We are honored to have you. I hope the city treats you well."

"Ether dwells, and storms threaten," Iszul said. "This city will not fall."

Coshi lowered her head.

The knight frowned for a second longer, then turned for the door. He exited calmly.

His aura could be felt long after he left. Vivi and Coshi stared at the door. When his aura was fully out of the building, Coshi let out a long sigh and collapsed on the table. "What a pleasant dirt sucker."

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

Vivi's heart was racing. "Um."

"Explain, Vivian," Coshi said. Her tone was stern. Not exactly angry, but she expected answers. "Why the hell does Ingfried himself want you, for only a hundred thousand ether?"

Vivi's eyes pointed down. She had a sick feeling in her stomach. Suddenly, she felt like an idiot for using her real identity to start her smithy.

"I'm not anyone bad…" Vivi said.

"Oh, don't worry," Coshi said. "I wouldn't let Ingfried have you if the country depended on it. I do, however, hope to learn what the hell is up with this bounty. If I understood correctly, you've been a prisoner of an ether facility?"

Vivi bit her lip. Then she began explaining her journey in Zand, starting from the point where she got caught fighting surge hounds. Coshi made her pause immediately , asking Vivi how she got to the fourth level and what she was doing there. So Vivi backtracked, starting from the examination day in Fellwater that led to all this, up to Vivi's battle against Uundref. She told it swiftly in ten minutes, mentioning only key details, and she left out mentions void ether.

"From there, after killing Uundref… I moved to the fifth level through the blight."

Coshi looked thoughtful. "Well. It's obvious you aren't actually a criminal, at least. Fighting back against unjust punishment can't exactly be called evil."

"I don't think Ingfried cares about that…" Vivi said.

Coshi took a deep breath, tapping her finger on the table. "This is a goddamn mess. Goddamned dirt licking empyrean assholes."

Vivi watched for a moment. "What will we do?"

"I'll handle this," Coshi said. "From now on, make sure you move safely and never alone in case Iszul tries something funny. I promise you that Ingfried and his goons won't kidnap you into some nonsense. Iszul seems ignorant right now, but if he stays for a week, he'll eventually learn of the Lost Raindrop. By then, I'll have some sort of legal defence prepared for your case."

Vivi nodded nervously. "Thank you."

"For now, I'd say you shouldn't worry about this," Coshi said. "The worst case situation is that Iszul will attempt to steal you into Ingfried's service once he learns of your runeswords. He might use force. If he's alone, however, he can't beat the Lights and I combined. You are safe in your smithy, for now."

Coshi sounded confident. Vivi trusted her. She nodded again, though her head pointed low.

"Did you have something else you wished to ask of me?" Coshi asked.

Vivi considered her words for a moment. I need to save Eem, she thought, but she was hesitant to bring the issue to Coshi. Eem, and everyone in the wagons, were prisoners. Another legal battle would be necessary to grab them out.

Unless Vivi sneaked Eem out by herself. She figured she'd do just that. Tonight, when the wagons would hopefully be less guarded.

Vivi put the issue aside for now. She had one more reason for coming here. Lifting her head, she said, "This might sound a bit odd… but I'd like to meet with your ether scientists. Specifically, someone who specializes in skill wisps, and someone who specializes in void ether."

Coshi's eyes turned curious. "Interesting. Why these specifically?"

"For void runes, I'm hoping to learn a void wisp's structure," Vivi said. "I don't know if a microscopic image exists, but if it does, I'd like to see one."

Coshi didn't look all that weirded out yet, so Vivi continued. "And for skills, I want to discuss the possibility of artificially creating skills."

Now Coshi really blinked. "Well. Interesting aspirations, I must say. As far as I know, both of these things are widely regarded as impossible. I am not certain about void ether. And artificially crafting skills…"

"I can see skill wisps," Vivi said.

Coshi tilted her head. "Elaborate."

"When I look at the skill slots in my core, I can see the skill's structure," Vivi said. "I can zoom in and examine them closely. I can see the runic patterns that makes out each wisp. So I was wondering if… if that's important or normal." Or if I'm just an idiot who thinks I'm the first person to have a voice talking in my head.

Coshi thought about it, tapping her finger on the table. "That," she said, "is most definitely not normal."

Vivi stood while Coshi continued thinking. "I'll relay you to my scientists," Coshi said. "Admittedly, as you can probably guess, I don't know the slightest of nothings about science. Civar can assess your claim more thoroughly. I'll make certain he is free tomorrow."

"Thank you," Vivi said. "You've been a huge help."

The Luminary let out a long sigh. "This is a bad time to start researching science. But if we make it through this storm season without falling into debt, it is single-handedly thanks to your runeswords. I am grateful." She placed a hand on Vivi's shoulder, her eyes scarily sharp. "And I'll make certain Ingfried's goons won't try to screw with you."

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