It was almost like the days of their childhood, Anna was always up first. She didn’t think child Anna could float three swords before breakfast.
They sparred three times since Anna got here, even holding back, Anna trounced her.
“My last sparring partner constantly defeated me far more easily and he was still early Divine. There’s a lot of space for growth. Oddly, collecting swords that can handle the power level is part of my cultivation.”
In combat, Her style was defensive with the flowers of her element forming a shield, but she suspected greater powers in social settings.
Anna sparred with Tim too, moving down to using a single sword.
After breakfast, Lucille would go into the office to look after Senior cultivators support. And at night she was out at parties and social events. It had always refueled her cultivation to go socialize, since the blossom sect.
Anna was quieter, she interacted with some of the others at the Grandmaster center, the exclusive ring of buildings only available to the highest ranking cultivators. Opening cultivation was mostly the minimum standard.
Lucille was responsible for the center, and she checked in and noticed Anna there one morning.
Lisa was a mid-Opening Saber cultivator who frequented the center often.
Anna had been inconspicuous, drinking tea at a back table in the lounge.
“I’m just saying,” Lisa said to Devin, a brand new grandmaster, “you don’t have to genuflect at the altar of the emperor, he’s a kid. It’s not like he’s personally saved the day. There are many centuries old cultivators who put themselves on the line. We should have a group of elders running things.”
The two sat at a table next to Anna.
I was about to go check on another building but I waited, looking to my subordinate who ran the lounge. I went behind the bar.
“I don’t genuflect, I just respect that someone’s gotta run things at the top. I’m sure it’s not easy and I know there’s a whole family around him keeping him accountable.”
“Bunch of toadies. Look, um hey newcomer I’ve seen you for a few weeks. Do you think the Emperor has anyone on his staff with a spine, or are they all just twisted on his finger.”
Devin interrupted, “Lisa,”
Anna set her teacup down. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
When had Anna ever been angry?
After a pause, she said, “His instructors are quite hard-charging. He’s not a kid anymore.”
“Unmarried, under 50. That’s a kid to me. What kind of responsibility does he have.”
“Lisa stop,” Devin said.
Lucille felt Anna’s divine power almost expressed.
By an inhuman act of will, Anna simply said, “I agree with Devin. Im going to go to the sparring club.”
Devin looked at Lisa and rushed after Anna.
I discretely followed, as Lisa shrugged and headed for the sparring club. It wasn’t rated for Anna’s power level. That would require a lot more work and the suitable staff to do such things were unavailable.
LO: don’t go full out, the Club can’t handle that.
AO: I can’t think straight. Who is this Lisa.
LO: mouthy, more off-color than I expected. We will review back at the office our policies.
I returned to my duties. Anna wouldn’t do anything rash, it wasn’t her nature.
**
No one seemed to pay attention to the history of the sect that became Faithful Sword and Fan Guild.
She was discrete about it, but one of the founders was sitting right with them. It wasn’t exactly clear but she knew the co-founder worked for the Empire directly. When the sect had been given Silver seal status Anna left it.
Lisa’s odd outburst made him uncomfortable. The kind of tingly discomfort any cultivator dreads. For the first time since he’d been at the center, Anna went to the sparring club.
Making a sufficiently warded ring was expensive so there was only two rings and often a waiting list to spar.
Nice chairs were placed in a semi-circle around each ring, with its rare protective artifacts.
Anna was watching as two guys fought. Devin would say they were mid-tier for the grandmaster center crowd.
At this level it wasn’t clear what anyone’s full power level was. It wasn’t a sparring ring for all out Elemental spars. The two men were Fire vs Water but they only expressed their elements a little.
He sat down at a chair next to Anna. Nervous yes, but she seemed a bundle of nerves to.
“Hi I’m Devin.”
“Picked up on that. I’m Anna. Here as a visitor for a few months.”
“Oh good. I’m sure the guild likes to see more visiting experts coming through. I’m just an early Water Sword cultivator, I just brought through and passed the grandmaster cert last month.”
He heard Lisa talking in the back somewhere. Just saying hi to someone.
“I’m also water sword.”
The weapon she drew out was impressive. It was a longsword, but made to an impeccable standard. It had an engraving on the pommel but he couldn’t tell what.
“I—haven’t seen a sword spirit waken up yet.”
“You will. How does signing up for a spar here, work anyway?”
“Write your name on the list of challengers. Looks like there’s only one before you.”
He gulped when the woman’s sword wrote out her name like a pen.
“Just your first name.”
She stopped at the O in her last and shrugged. The sword lazily floated back to her.
That was cool, he had to admit.
“It’s good practice for fine sword control,” she said.
The two mid-listers were done. The one who stepped down looked at the list and called out, “Stier, you got next.”
The man was a very physical Sword cultivator, only lower-mid tier, he should have been a body cultivator, Devin thought.
In a few minutes the previous champions Fire based attacks showed him out. Brute strength was meaningless at this level.
“Just remember Devin, whether you are junior or senior depends on the setting. Don’t let it get to your head, and the group I often frequent, I’m heavily outclassed.”
“Anna O? Up to get overwhelmed?” Said the brute who had lost.
With the weird comment out of the way, Anna stepped into the ring with her sword.
With a clean consistent approach, Anna batted away her opponents Sword, water meeting fire with more than enough strength. She had seen an opening Devin didn’t even notice, and in an instant downed her opponent.
“Rematch later,” said the Fire sworder. “Whose next against this new girl?”
“They beat you,” Lisa asked, coming into view. “Not worth my time yet, Gina, show her woman power.”
“Whatever,” Gina, the super-fast Lightning sworder said.
Devin looked back at Anna. Again her Sword was floating, but when Gina approached it was held.
Gina’s speed and intent made her an upper mid presence in the group. The top dogs weren’t even here.
The Lead executive of all Sword cultivation at the guild was the undisputed #1, although they had the manager of the center Lucille, but she never sparred here.
Anna dealt with Gina’s speed, strikin hard with a sword blow that slammed Gina into the side of the ring six feet up.”
Lisa was the ringleader of challengers. “Mark.”
Earth sworder, don’t want to parry his blades. Anna took a strike, deflected and returned it and its wielder to the ground.
More people were trickling in. “You’ve got some skill, after Nico I’ll battle you myself.”
Anna hadn’t had a break, it was tough to keep going, one opponent after another, but Nico didn’t last long in the ring.
“Alright, I’m coming down!” Lisa said.
For once, Anna spoke more than a word. “Good. You probably don’t even realize you did it, but you dishonored my fiancée. You made awful accusations and —“
Lisa tried to interrupt Anna by attacking, but in a single moment water filled the ring, and the water of many tons pressed on Lisa, but did not drown her.
Devin was shocked by the control of water.
“I came here, on vacation, as my future husband and I separate for three months before coming together forever. Now let’s spar.”
She withdrew the intense water pressure and let Lisa get back up.
For a moment, the spar had begun, then a second sword appeared from nowhere, while the first continued its strike.
Lisa was down. She coughed out blood?? Had the ring’s defenses failed.
One of the many people around said. “She actually pulled back on her strike at the last moment. Why didn’t we hear about this Divine Sword in our midst.”
Anna made both swords disappear and in a trail of water flashed out of there.
Lisa stood up, shook it off, looking befuddled. “Who is her future husband.”
*
She flew high into the sky, leaving behind the guild grounds. She needed some ancient demon to thoroughly destroy, or something, and she missed Daimon.
She landed many miles away, her instinct leader her wandering.
*
Causing offense was impossible to avoid completely. Offending the powerful was foolish. There was no specific law against defaming the emperor, the will of the Emperor would respond.
Thinking about it. Anna was partly the Will of the Emperor.
Despite all this, they still held a conclave regarding Anna and Lisa’s dispute.
Anna returned having found and slain some awful demonic infestation. She was no longer Anna, the innocent person on vacation. She was Empress-in-waiting Anna and her dress matched that.
Lisa came as a pauper, dressed almost in rags, by comparison.
Vice President Laurie of tribunals lead the effort. The other executives were panel members.
“I’m recusing myself because of the conflict of interest.”
“Noted.”
“We will have Senior cultivator Gran present her story, and then Guest cultivator Ohnani, followed by questions from the panel. Prepare the artifact.”
Two assistants of tribunals brought the device in. Taking caution, they activated whatever powers it held.
“Gran?”
Lisa stood up, “Members of the panel, I was struck by an attack that overwhelmed the wards of the sparring ring. I was completely unaware that my sparring partner was a Divine Level cultivator. I was unaware that the Consort of our Emperor was at the guild or at the Grandmaster center. No announcements were made by the guild or by Consort Ohnani herself. She was not presenting herself as a powerful figure but as a humble one.
I took Consort Ohnani as a junior and I didn’t think about casually asking her questions. We talk about all kinds of things in a jokey uhh low danger way. I was not trying to make a serious thing of this. Just as sometimes we all have an important conversation about how a friend needs to get help, but we would never say anything if their spouse was present, I would never have said anything about the Emperor if I knew Consort Ohnani was present.
I committed a Faux Pas, but did I deserve to be attacked for that? I think it was inappropriate for Consort Ohnani to hide her identity and unethical for her to attack me. Charge her with assaulting a grandmaster of the Guild. As a non-guild member the penalty for that is significant. I don’t feel comfortable attending the grandmaster center, and remember actions speak louder than words.”
I looked at Anna, she was unperturbed.
“Ohnani?”
Lisa took her seat, as Anna stood up. “I would have the Guild panel remember that I was one of the cofounders of the Sect, which became this guild. During the Sect wars, I lead the Graceful Sword and Fan sect into battle in the Imperial city, defending the Emperors home. I did this with the support of Vice Executive Lucille my sister, as well as Vice Executive Tim. I was very close with his mother, and I consider him like a son.
The definition of the Sectarian movement that we fought against was a movement seeking the freedom of sects to operate however they wish, independent of Imperial authority. As members of a Guild, you swore to uphold the Empire. I made that oath to our Emperor when I became a Consort of His Imperial Highness.
I am in the three month period, between the promise and marriage. I will no longer be his consort but become his bride.
I didn’t want to make waves when I arrived here. The guild is growing, and I was not received as anyone of significance here, in fact I was ordered to leave the administration building by the receptionist.
I just wanted to rest and enjoy my last three months in quiet. I enjoyed the Grandmaster center’s hospitality which was extended as a privilege to me.
When Senior Cultivator Gran talked with, I’m not sure of his last name, Devin was his given name. I let it play out at first. Then Senior Cultivator Gran wanted to know my opinion on whether anyone on the Emperor’s staff had a spine, I know several very good people on the Emperor’s staff.
Gran spoke as to defame the Emperor himself, and the staff, questioning whether the Emperor had anyone who would stand up to Him and ask tough questions.
I was unable to say anything at first. But I defended the staff and told Gran that the Emperor was not a child. Gran said since he was under 50 and unmarried he was a child.
He bears a very heavy responsibility that he takes very seriously. Lastly, Gran said that he didn’t have any responsibility.
I was furious, I like to imagine that all of you would be furious if someone talked to your fiancée like that behind there back.
The Guild system was instituted by our Emperor to keep Guilds tied more closely to the Empire and it’s army.
I held my anger by going to the sparring club, where Gran showed up as well. I didn’t not go overboard with the other battles, but I felt that it was right to explain my side in the ring, that I was defending the empire and emperor.
Although I did withdraw the great majority of my strike’s power, I deflected Gran’s attack with one sword and used some of my divine power to strike her.
I used divine waters before that to prevent Gran from attacking until I could tell my story.
In addition to Consort, I am one of four sworn to protect and seek the enemies of the Emperor and Empire. If I struck Gran down dead it would have been my right, subject only to His approval or disapproval and not this panels.
If you sentence me to expulsion from the Guild, I will never set foot in the Guild’s territory again. If you sentence me according to the standard For non-guild member assaulting a grandmaster: Swift execution, I will resist and ask you to find what authority you can over the Emperor’s own.
I defended the respect and esteem of the Emperor. If everyone spoke of our Emperor with such disdain as Gran does, I don’t know if we would have an Empire.
Judge as you see fit, but I believe Senior Gran’s words are a violation of the Guild oaths in mere speaking. Thank you.”
The room was silent with the depth of stunned.
The Vice President of Tribunals spoke, “Regarding the matter of the session only, do any of our panel members have any questions?”
“Senior Cultivator Gran. On the question of the Guild oath, do you agree or disagree with the statement of duty to the Empire?”
“I completely agree of course. I will faithfully defend the Empire first, not placing sect or guild before my duty, but I regarding my time in the guild as a service to better defend our imperial land.”
The VP - Tribunals spoke, “Guest cultivator Ohnani. Did you know what level the Sparring ring’s systems would fail at?”
“I didn’t.”
No more questions were raised. “Senior Cultivator Gran, Guest Cultivator Ohnani, you are dismissed.”
**
Anna left Lucille’s house the next day. “It’s best if I’m not on guild property. I don’t know what this guild is, it doesn’t feel like what we founded anymore.”
“It’s a big organization now, it’s left our control , but still I see the signs of our influence Anna.”
Returning to the army barracks with her staff, she only had three weeks left, and she liked the Major’s attitude over the guild’s.
**
“Regarding the Judgment as it pertains to Guest Cultivator Ohnani. She is hereby barred from all guild property and enjoined against leading Guild forces as would normally be here right. She is asked to reimburse the Guild for damages to the sparring ring. She will be escorted out of the Guild after this hearing.”
“Regarding the Judgement as it pertains to Senior Cultivator Gran. She is stripped of the rank of Grandmaster, and unable to retry the exam for ten years.”
Anna didn’t let them escort her off Guild premises, she took flight instead.
*
LO: the guild is not as bad as you think. Just set in their administrative procedures.
AO: we always worried about growing too fast. I guess it was bound to happen. If you ever don’t want to follow their lead, I’m sure we use you.
*
Daimon reviewed his advisors notes, trying to understand the current situation. The shift away from defending against enemies internally to once more watching their own borders was ongoing.
His future wife’s emotions were more out of control than he was used to. She was usually somewhere between placid and determined. The link between the Divine Level cultivator, through the Gift of Divinity and back into him greatly enhanced his cultivation and strength, and usually buoyed his mood and stabilized him. She had felt offense, anger, disgust and weariness, followed by finally more subtle emotions.
The guilds were well established and able to handle the internal business of rooting out further Sect discontent. But they were large organizations, already hard to deal with, with their own momentum.
He made the decision to recruit cultivators more heavily directly into the army.
He would talk to Anna about this, after the wedding. So it was time to work on the final preparations.
**
Her inability to talk to Daimon about her experience at the guild was frustrating. She spent those last few weeks between meditation to calm herself, and preparations for the wedding. On her own guest list, there was only Anna and Tim. Daimon invited all the new guild presidents as well. Even with Daimon’s fairly long list, the wedding was considered subdued.
Since she was already consort, the wedding celebrations started at sundown at the Consort Quarters. Using poles, young ladies carried a sedan chair while others carried torches.
Carried high into the air on the sedan, the ladies lead a procession through the middle door, the Emperor door, into the palace.
There Daimon stood, with his closest family. She didn’t know either of Daimon’s aunts very well despite living near them for years.
The officiant stood between the two groups. Anna Ohnani, we have gone to great lengths to find something that belonged to your ancestors. This was, we believe, your father’s family heirloom. The sword that was denied to you before will be remade in marriage into a visible sign of the Ohnani family joining with the Imperial house. The grey owl will roost in the nests of the pelican. May this sword mark the promise of our house’s future offspring.
Sword Maiden, take up your father’s sword and begin to walk with His magnificent imperial highness.”
Anna took the sword, surprised that her father had wielded it. She never knew her parents, as far as her uncle said, they both ascended soon after the twins were born.
She carried the sword in her arms, as if she was constantly ready to present it to her Lord and Love.
“Your highness, you are lovely today.”
He was dressed in white, the purity of its color reflected her heart towards him. Gold in his cuff links, the crown resting gently on his head in silver with garnets and rubies upon it.
She, dressed in pure red silks, a necklace of gold chain, with an amulet of white gold with a sapphire of considerable size set in it. Hair adornments with a crafted metal in the shape of a pelican were in three places as her brownish hair was tied in a tight bun.
“You are glowing my love,” he said.
Into the hours of the night, the account of the imperial family was given. Daimon’s ancestors were spoken of, as a reminder of all that Anna should take into her heart, remember and defend.
Just before dawn they shared a private breakfast together while the rest of the staff and party ate separately.
“It’s not appropriate for this occasion but I will tell you later of some of my time away from here. It was a concerning experience.”
“I felt the anger personally. But today let’s just put all the weights away.”
After the quiet breakfast, guests began to arrive for the public ceremony. The Royal chapel was unsealed for the first time in hundreds of years.
Changing clothes into a gown of purple, Anna waited in the bride’s waiting room while her maids made little touch ups to her appearance,
Finally, to the playing of traditional instruments, Anna took the sword of her family, and Tim accompanied her up to the chapel’s altar. The emperors throne was moved in and he was seated.
Tim stepped back and Anna curtsied into a low bow, placing the sword on the most beautiful case that was at Daimon’s feet.
Taking the flower petals Lucille had given her, she scattered them over the throne.
“Come sit beside me, take your proper place as your family is joined to the throne.”
The new throne, covered in jewels and draped in fine clothes was moved alongside Daimon’s.
She daintily sat down at the throne.
“Hail Empress Anna, Sword of her People, defender of her husband’s realm.”
*
It was a great feast after the coronation, Lucille thought. She rarely drank but toasts and celebrations went long into the night. She had to get back to guild business however.
There was so much to do at the masters and grandmaster facilities.
The emperor announced the first Grand Challenge in just three years between the Seven guilds. The President would expect first place for the most faithful guild.
*
Anna watched as the Emperors best smiths refined her family sword to be worthy of her cultivation. She would always take the sword of her husband’s gift first, but the second and third swords would be her early one and this family heirloom.
*
In her new routine, Anna learned about the Empire’s resources and treasury system. How many payments came and went from various places. But she counted the days until a week had passed.
Daimon took her into his bedroom, and they made passionate love and kissing and the joys of afterwards as well, resting in his strong arms, in one moment swordswomen put away as she was fully his possession.
They took breakfast as usual but it was more intimate now, and from week to week, they spent what time they could in passion, serenity and bliss.
After a month, she finally told him about her experience at the guild, but she had moved on, enjoying her new place in his world.
There were only two of his defenders now, Arielle and herself. Anna was hopeful that the Divine power would manifest upon a new champion.
Aida remained her favorite spirit while her family’s sword did not yet produce any spirit yet she could still fight with 7 swords now.
She practiced sparring with Arielle but the difference in power between them was so vast. It would take time, decades and more of consistent practice and trial.
*
As the Empire lessened the budget given to the guilds, the Faithful sword and fan found ways to earn extra funds.
Tim managed the Sword artisans that satisfied the demand for so many swords. While access to the guild was free, the effective price was the price of a good sword.
Tim personally tried many swords and accepted or removed artisans from the official guild list based on their standard.
He also ran special events for the guild, with prizes of a particularly good sword for victory.
He watched as the executive in charge of fans made them into highly effective weapons, while the Fan social became its own sub universe. Everything a fan cultivator needed from fan to attire was sold by the guild.
At the Initiates level, guild members scrapped by to attract any training from even an apprentice. The flood of initiates was much larger than acolytes even.
Acolytes became an influential group as they showed off to initiates, but apprentices were tight-lipped working with their seniors in large groups as the ratio of apprentices to masters was so high.
With journeymen increasing, the guilds received acclaim for their people dealing with local crises in the region, but there was more helpers than help that needed doing and few made it back to the guild.
Journeyman status became graduation for most guild members, as they formed alumni associations.
The masters were overwhelmed with training dozens of apprentices, and somehow trying to develop their own skills still further.
Only the grandmasters, and those who went into the executive branch had any privilege.
Some spent a lot of time sparring, or time celebrating, but Tim was focused, between his official duties and training, he maintained an intense routine.
Lucille was increasingly consumed with the Organization’s work as well.
She took on the challenge of planning and preparations for the guild challenge in three years.
*
The new army cultivator program only had a few Senior cultivators to lead and inspire the troops. The generals of course could help but their focus was always on logistics and the questions of strategy and command.
Anna personally put in a lot of time to pass on some of her extensive battlefield experience and wisdom.
In the army, even the cultivators worked to maintain a culture of one unified army, and referred to each other by rank. Cultivators in the army began at the specialist rank and rose to specialist first class, staff special second grade, staff specialist first grade, brigade specialist, and general staff specialist.
Arielle became the first five star general staff specialist, while Anna was labeled as three star.
They didn’t have command authority except in emergencies but they had influence.
Daimon personally accompanied Anna to the army base on several occasions, and between discussions with the generals, he observed Anna training others, and directing scenarios that re-enacted certain battles,
Back at the Palace, Daimon returned to the balcony where Anna’s day of training might end.
It was a form of meditation, but she often ended the day by closing her eyes and leading the swords in great calligraphy. The sword spirit Aida would chatter comments.
In mid concentration, he could get lost in the spell of gently bubbling fresh waters, pools of water and rivers running down, he became a little gust of wind wishing across the waters, as his Qi merged with hers.
In an instant, he withdrew his staff from the cubby in the patio, and the winds multiplied, the waters tossed high into the suddenly imposing winds.
Forever the scent of fresh breezes was upon her.
But matters of the evening required they exit this would. Water and wind receded. Swords retreated into the hidden space.
Questions about children during the dinner with the Imperial family. The awkward question of whether a 250 year old cultivator was able to bear children at all.
And then, one evening, within the idyllic scene of water and wind came the smallest burst of lightning.
None of the imperial staff would know for weeks, but the two of them knew a third had entered their lives.
*
We walked, hand in hand down the length of the periphery.
His gentle hands were always there. I meditated each morning but otherwise left my sword practice behind.
I even went with him as he talked with the different offshoots and branches of the Imperial family, and dealt with their issues.
We had about half-Prefectures and half-Guilds as administrative units. Guilds had taken on more than just their core functions and also provided urban governance for their surrounding city.
While many farms were part of a prefecture , most processing was done in a guild town. Faithful sword and Fan had grown especially fast.
The question of how to deal with a traitorous guild and how to continue funding the most crucial operations of empire filled Daimon’s work day.
I didn’t know how much physical activity was safe for our baby so I took it easy for the first time.
I never imagined how a day could go by with nothing done, but these days were slowly going.
The Imperial physician and midwife both checked in on me weekly, though it was still very early on.
One evening, late after dinner I lay nestled in my love’s arms. And he said something important.
“Did you know Arielle had a child, after she became our Protector. I don’t know who she learned from but learn from her.
Our child may have a lot of responsibility placed on them even now, but you can’t carry that weight all the time. I have to talk with everyone on my staff, you can disagree with me. I hope that you’re pursuing the same goals and values, but I want your independent opinion.
I need your fiercely protective and vigilant spirit. If you let everyone know Arielle is advising you, they’ll know you’re being my safe with the Imperial child.
We’ll have to talk about how Princes and Princesses of the Imperial house are raised.”
()
“Guilds aren’t going to give up their potential Divine cultivators, and the army is still only a small organization of cultivators amid the mortal soldiers. I’m not sure where we will fill our third and fourth,” Arielle was saying.
When she was pregnant Arielle had a constant spiritual companionship with her child, she could figure out what needed to be done to keep her daughter safe.
“Intense combat was about the only thing that could harm the baby. I was able to still spar and even fight with low intensity. I was still in pain at the end.”
**
The first congress of Martial Guilds brought Guild leaders and their directors together.
Lucille was one of the senior cultivator directors, and so she gathered with others in charge of Senior cultivation.
They were - Sword and Fan, Saber, Archery and Nature, Staff, Spear and Shield, and Blade guilds.
As a proper representative, Lucille brought the Sword she had practiced with. She was not a Sword primary but she could draw on her sister’s vast sword expertise.
As directors of Senior cultivation, they shared the number of cultivators they had at Opening, and if possible Divine cultivation.
New laws were ratified, and all cultivators banned by one guild were banned congress wide and not allowed in any military call ups by the Emperor. Policy was set regarding acceptable excuses not to be called up, and logistical and administrative info sharing was established.
She was unable to protest then, three months later, when the Emperor asked for a small call up from the guilds to deal with a few still operating Sectist groups in neighboring small kingdoms, that the assembled representatives enacted the Congress agreement and refused to be lead by or even include her sister Anna in the army.
She told Anna that she would be way out voted on making an exception.
Everyone involved thought it was petty that Arielle refused to be involved at the point.
**
Daimon was stressed by the very Guild system he enacted immediately turning diffident and almost hostile.
All funding was cut to guilds, but they had their own systems. The Imperial army began to take on a bigger role in the coldness between emperors and guilds.
I reduced my stress by returning to regular combat practice. And staying out of the planning and awareness meetings. I just heard from Daimon at night.
Day by day he said things like: “Daggel road is filled with Guild exercises, they made no attempt to allow 3rd division to pass.”
Our baby was becoming a larger spiritual and physical presence, but nothing too bad as I carried them.
Taxes were being diverted to guilds, and logistics were harder as guilds hired away reliable people supplying the army.
I began to tour the imperials army as it became basically the 8th guild directly beholden the Emperor.
We had to arrange its own craftsmen, farmers, supplies of everything under the army banner.
The crest was redone under the two swords and saber of Emperor, Arielle ‘s saber and my family crest sword. Not the exact design but suggestive.
Arielle’s peak Divine power let her see the Guild’s movements.
*
It was the last days of my pregnancy, and the Guilds intended to capitalize on that to take one of the two of us out of commission.
But, Daimon had risen to Manifestation, and because of his family bloodline already starting to call on the powers of Emperor Divine. Emperors as a rule never had time to cultivate to such a level.
But it was grim. Those who could spend six months on vacation in a nearby minor kingdom were sent among the family and staff. Arielle prepared for confrontation.
The Guilds would ask, with their members assembled, for the right to establish a government run by The Guild Congress, with the Emperor as only an influential person.
The army openly established a cordon blocking access to the palace.
Daimon was called away to meet the gathered as for once the birth pains took me back to mortality.
Should it be this bad? How do mortal women deal with this?
The room was only one wet nurse and doctor when our little boy was born
The Palace shook. Arielle was fighting. Her husband was fighting.
Soon the palace shook again, and this time I acted, as debris fell, I created a Pearl of water condensed and empowered and rushed from the room, seeking only for our son to live.
Rising into the middle of a great maelstrom of wills I saw 20 existences on my power level or greater, and Daimon standing within their semi-circle,
Daimon was chanting something. Arielle was fading. Reality began to fracture.
A mother and father utter wish faith that their daughter survived. Another mother and father, higher beings. Her parents.
Light. Dark. Kaboom.
