November, Two years ago

A child-like Sylia entered, followed by a group of younger children. She beamed, clutching the tray she carried. "Oh, Tasha, there you are. I brought the children so you could teach them their letters. You don't look too busy. Where's Grenar?"

Magali answered weakly. "Still recovering… after the Dark Wolf Spirits attacked him."

Sylia waved a hand. "He should be fine by now. We gave him a shot. What a lazy lout!"

Tasha managed a shaky smile. "Is that fish Gnome Sylia is cooking?"

Sylia nodded. "Yes. Grenar loves fish. We're making it to celebrate. Magali, get ready. I've got more children arriving soon—some from Yalanvar's family. We're doing a cooking class."

Magali smiled nervously. "What are you teaching them?"

Sylia grinned. "A recipe from the Dramakan Enclave. Leekius and Brewn Mushroom Soup with shredded Dankaei Bird meat. It's a variant of something Tasha used to eat as a girl. She used to beg men near the Gates for some Xaladu Bird meat. Officially, she started at fourteen but she'd been training in back rooms before that."

Tasha trembled. Yalanvar's eyes widened. He recognized the expression. He turned to Magali, who smiled vacantly, oblivious to its meaning.

It was an expression from darker days when the Sovereign Duke's sons and the Region Lord's children would give meat to women they used for pleasure. Noblemen emulated them. Even some corrupt priests joined in. Many of the women ended up mutilated beyond recognition.

Sylia smiled. "Unfortunately, Tasha lost several of her siblings that way and ended up adopted."

Tasha glared at her with barely contained fury.

Sylia continued, unfazed. "Perhaps that's why you despise Yalanvar's father. He and a few of his siblings brought you once a blanket to cover yourself, but they didn't come any closer."

Yalanvar's eyes widened. Magali was beginning to understand where this was going. So was one of the women standing near the children.

Sylia sighed. "The Glishmal had it even worse than the Bimal. And since you were born of both, luck was never on your side. Even when people tried to help, you spat in their faces—always preferring the abuse of those whose cruelty you mistook for strength. You should have shown less spite to me. I'm the one who stitched you back together and gave you a second chance."

Magali looked confused. "What are you talking about?"

Sylia turned toward her gently. "I was Saint Briana, then."

Yalanvar blinked. "My father mentioned her before… That was one of your Divisions. An Avatar, right? Since you hold several Avatar titles."

Sylia nodded. "Indeed. That one served a Goddess of Lord Chester. Not a very reputable one. She had just been remade, so I acted as her temporary Avatar until she settled in."

Magali frowned. "What do you mean, stitched?"

Sylia looked over at Tasha, then answered calmly. "Tasha's Soul had nearly unraveled. I prayed for her and several of her siblings to be brought together into a new life. But it wasn't enough. The Spiritus who answered used additional Soul fragments to stabilize them."

Magali stepped back, alarmed. "Wait… what?"

Sylia went on, her tone steady. "The Spiritus I summoned also reconstructed her body. Her primary self was once called Malyna. Tasha, in fact, was one of the girls she sold into prostitution. One of the rare Bimal-Glishmal mixed bloods who actually had a conscience. Malyna hated her for that."

Sylia's voice grew colder. "The one now known as Frieze used her viciously. Malyna sold her to win his favor, but he was not grateful. He turned on her. She was a witness, after all. That happened nineteen years ago. Frieze was a fallen Celestial of some kind—fragmented many times over. Gathering and destroying his pieces was… difficult."

Tasha bit her lip, eyes full of dread.

"Malyna, like many Glishmal, had bleached-blond hair especially when her Mana reacted. She was a strange woman." Sylia added, almost thoughtfully.

Yalanvar spoke up hesitantly. "Malyna was a witch. She burned at the stake. They said she killed many."

Sylia tilted her head. "Ah, that part. A God cut a piece of her—the worst part—and that was what burned. Not all the victims were hers. She was under Frieze's control. He did most of the killing himself and let her scavenge what was left. She needed Mana, so she took what she could from the corpses. Even ate some of the organs. She was close to becoming an Abominy before she was saved."

Tasha hugged herself tightly.

Sylia sighed. "Frieze has that effect on people. Maybe I'll send you back to him one day just for a few years. You've been acting out quite a bit lately. And those pacts you forced on Julend? Not very kind. Tell me, Tasha, were you and Grenar trying to sell the daughter I had with Grenek?"

Sylia's voice was casual, almost amused. "I know Grenar did more than just try. And you helped a little, as usual. He rarely manages anything on his own—there's not much of a brain in that one."

Tasha lowered her eyes. "We only wanted her placed in a Church. Somewhere she could learn discipline… and stay away from bad influences."

Sylia laughed, sharp and sudden. "Is that so? Then fear not. I sold them Gwen instead."

Tasha's head snapped up, her eyes wide. "What?"

Sylia's smile didn't fade. "There was just enough left to bring her back. She might last a year and a half—maybe less, if they wear her down. You know how those fine Church men are. Especially in the very institutions you held in such high regard."

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She leaned back. "I won't tell Grenek. He'd be devastated. After everything—the pacts he made with you, the loyalty he showed. No need to break his heart just yet."

Sylia settled at the table and said calmly, "Yalanvar, I know I made arrangements with your brother's maternal family to take in Magali's child but in truth, I don't believe the child is viable. The curse around me remains too strong. When Magali so eagerly endorsed sending my daughter to a Church known for child abuse, she forfeited her right to bear a child. At least, by Celestial standards."

Magali clutched her stomach, stunned. Her mother, by contrast, seemed almost pleased, which only deepened her fury.

Sylia continued. "I suppose Tasha never had much affection for the Kadrimo branch from the Kazerimes Region. She probably considers the line tied to your father, Yalanvar—though the original one—to be beneath notice. That's fine. I do recall that the main God of Griffondya and thus of its semi-independent Region, Kazimeres had a poor history with her Goddess."

Tasha's smile faded at once. Sylia's grew wider.

"Oh yes." she said sweetly. "He roasted parts of her and her Flock for supper. You'd do well not to look down on the original Kadrimo branch. It was created by one of Chipmuck's Mascots who are part of Lord Chester's Flock. Now that Lord Chester has returned, with Lord Schester lending him his full support, things may shift dramatically. One of those Mascots weighs more in the divine balance than a mighty God like Griffondyl. Their Magic flows straight from Lord Chester himself. Griffondyl, in fact, was made from a Mascot—one partly fashioned by Chester. That's how he came to take control of a Region never meant to fall under his domain. It was his Maker's will that made him take that decision. When you threaten their kin, the children of those Mascots band together."

Yalanvar's jaw dropped. Sylia spoke of divine politics like one might of pastries over tea. Tasha now looked thoroughly uneasy.

Sylia went on. "For all you know, Tasha, Lord Chester may have already pressed a button and granted the Half-Enclaved and Enclaved Kadrimores Kingdoms to a few of my children—those fathered by Yalanvar's father and some of his uncles."

Tasha's mother choked. "What?"

Sylia only shrugged, while Magali looked utterly stricken.

"It's true I used a Division made with Mana vaguely related to Lord Chester." Sylia said. "Several of my children are being made King Knights of the Kadrimores Kingdom. A few of them even possess each an Enclave made by Lord Chester's Spirits. Those Kingdoms, truthfully, serve more as a front to integrate their fathers and some of their relatives. That's why a Half-Enclave was created as well, so even those carrying greater corruption, like Yalanvar, can be accommodated there, at least for a time."

Yalanvar blinked. "What?"

"I'm sorry." Sylia said without remorse. "Your father and several of his relatives are being relocated. I don't particularly care for your half-brother, Unagi. He was sired as part of a family arrangement I never approved of. His maternal family's Kadrimo sub-branch doesn't mix well with the original Kadrimo bloodline though they took over the control of the family with other Branches when the main bloodline grew too weak. Griffondyl eventually intervened and forced them to stay quiet. Since then, they multiplied those arrangements just to have enough of the original bloodline's blood to keep their claim on the Original Branch's lands. However, that sub-branch was cast out since they lacked the necessary blood to make any real claim. Griffondyl's Guardians don't tolerate any deviation from the rules."

Yalanvar sat, stunned, his mouth slightly open, as though trying to process a lesson on Noble politics far beyond his understanding.

Sylia leaned back, a faint smirk dancing on her lips. "Ah, my mistake. I am boring you with another bout of Noble House politics. I shouldn't dwell on it. You'd find it dull anyway. Boys like you rarely bother with such things. Still, now that we've reached a compromise with one of the Princely Knights from Klamdor Province which is currently under Krakova's control, your father is regaining his rightful Noble title and some of his lands. After all, his family had been expelled from their last holdings in Klamdor when one of their Guardians was slain by rebellious Gods. Not that the land remained. Like all domains made through Chipmuck Magic, it fled before corruption could fully reach it. Some of the assets, such as the Kadrimo, were taken, but only those deemed pure blood. The rest, those of mixed blood, were not considered at all and were left behind."

Magali glanced up, brow furrowed. "What do you mean, Sylia?"

Sylia answered lightly. "Ericso is being granted lands in Neo-Klamdorsio, which is now emerging beside what remains of Klamdor. He's regaining his Viscount title which should have been his decades ago. He's also receiving compensation for the delay."

Yalanvar frowned. "What's left of Klamdor? And the Princely Knights?"

Sylia's tone grew more amused. "Lord Chester sent a negotiator. He butchered the Princely Knight without hesitation. He wasn't concerned with any ties the man had to the Empress of the Dark Empire. The same fate befell the remaining Knights who had refused to overturn their decision even after being given ample time. We sent them a request every year. They ignored each one. Now, they'll suffer one year of torment after death for every year they stalled. That's how Lord Chester handles these matters. He considers delay a form of defiance. They had their warnings."

She smiled faintly. "And those 'holy' lands of Klamdor? One of his Knights sank them by stomping his foot on the ground three times. It's a specialty of his Flock. You'd do well to watch their right foot. When they tap it in anger or irritation, some land is already sinking somewhere. It's rather adorable when Chester does it in his Chipmuck form while puffing up his chest. Usually, someone rushes in to catch his foot mid-air. He's too heavy and might create utter chaos if they let him do as he pleases."

Tasha visibly trembled.

Sylia's eyes twinkled. "Ah, memories returning? No, probably not. You should know though that before Lord Chester took on his current name and his cute Chipmuck form, he was known as one of the Dark Lord's Dark Lords and his main Dark King. He was so terrifying, no one wanted to befriend him. It made him melancholic, so he layered himself with cuteness and entered his 'Chipmuck Papa Mode.' He has a weakness for children and cute things… although his idea of 'cute' is rather eccentric. He once called a group of horrifying Grim Reapers 'cute kids.' They started blushing, served him tea, and carried his belongings around like loyal pets. An utter disaster."

Yalanvar blinked. He glanced around, uncertain whether any of this was real. Sylia coughed delicately and blushed.

"My mistake." she said with uncharacteristic modesty. "I projected a little too much into this body."

At that moment, a young woman stepped forward. She bore a strong resemblance to Magali, though she was strikingly more beautiful, and appeared to be more magical as well. Sylia gestured toward her.

"This is Megan." she said. "I made her a few years ago using Magali's blood and a blessed flower. That was before the corruption fully set in Magali. It would have been a shame to lose such a bloodline entirely. It just needed cleansing. We could arrange for your brother to sire a child with her, through a God's Blessing. I made his family a promise. This is quite a good deal. Megan is Magali's better twin."

(Megan)

Magali collapsed to the floor, dazed. Megan bowed politely and offered her greetings. Tasha glanced between the two young women, anxiety creeping into her eyes.

Sylia folded her hands. "Not bad, right? The Spirits did a fine job cleansing Magali's blood. Megan understood the lessons Magali failed to absorb such as brewing. She might offer you some of her concoctions. She makes very good wine and spirits. Even some effective Magical Potions and Soups. She has quite the gift."

Yalanvar now looked at Sylia with something very close to fear.

She only smiled. "You must not concern yourself over this. I am a True Avatar of several Gods and Goddesses. That wouldn't be possible if my Source weren't divine."

Yalanvar nodded slowly, visibly overwhelmed. Magali stared at him, her eyes wide, her thoughts unreadable.

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