Abiodun folded his arms behind his back and clasped his hands in order to hide the tremors in his normally solid arms. Although he had managed to hold back two Nether Gatekeepers for several hours during the battle, it was not a feat that he could accomplish easily. As much as he hated to admit it, it would take quite a while for him to recover from the internal wounds he had sustained. Perhaps if he could ask Randidly to use his recovery abilities…

But no, he could not. Pressing his eyes closed, Abiodun took a steadying breath. One only had to glance downward toward the portion of the ramparts that had been allocated to Randidly Ghosthound in order to sense how feeble and strained the man’s images had become. The battle today had drained him dry.

Obviously what Randidly endured wasn’t comparable to what Abiodun or Lady Iellaya had been forced to deal with above, but none could deny that what Randidly managed the below in the absence of strong foes was admirable. He was a man who could hold the line even against overwhelming numbers.

“Abiodun, you need not hide your weakness from me,” Lady Iellaya said lightly. Then she dipped the washcloth back into the cold water of the basin and let it soak for several seconds. Abiodun did his best to keep his eyes away from the murky water. “We are connected; we are one. There is no meaning to deception.”

Although it went against his nature, Abiodun let his arms fall to his sides.His palms twitched. But his gaze on Lady Iellaya was sharp. “I could say the same to you, my Queen.”

With gentle motions, Lady Iellaya brought the cloth out of the water and wrung it dry. As the liquid ran down her fingers to her knuckles and wrists, she gently chided, “You know that it is still a bad idea to say such things openly.”

Abiodun stood silent for several seconds, nodding to acknowledge her point. Lady Iellaya gently brought the damp washcloth to her shoulder. She took a deep breath with her eyes closed. All the while, Abiodun watched.

It was only as Lady Iellaya began to wipe the dried blood from her feathers that Abiodun finally spoke. “You bit off more than you can handle today. To fight six Nether Gatekeepers… it is an almost impossible task. Until you receive this promised Class from Randidly-”

“Lord Miln handled ten,” Lady Iellaya said quietly. “And it was only because he was able to finally defeat several of his opponents that the balance was broken in the fight. Otherwise, we might still be struggling against them. With his assistance, we swept away the remaining Nether Gatekeepers and then annihilated the remaining forces on the ground. None can deny that his was the biggest contribution to this battle.”

“Bigger than Cail Tweocs?” Abiodun pointed out quietly.

If they had been in public, Lady Iellaya probably would have cracked open Abiodun’s stone armor for a comment like that. As it was, standing alone high on the command tower in the hastily assembled forward fortification, Lady Iellaya only gave Abiodun an acidic glare. Which, honestly, burned him much more truly than the strike would have.

Abiodun shook himself. Perhaps I am more exhausted from this battle than I thought. That comment was… unlike me. But to see Lady Iellaya wounded like this…

There was a hole the size of a fist in Lady Iellaya’s shoulder that she continued to slowly dab with the wet cloth. Black veins snaked outward from the wound and steam continued to waft up from the exposed and corrupted flesh. With almost clockwork precision, Lady Iellaya returned the cloth to water and let it soak. Tendrils of blood curled outward like vivid petals of a slowly blooming iris.

“You definitely are the individual among the normal Commanders that accomplished the most.” Abiodun started again with a low rumble. “The closest that the others could handle was three Nether Gatekeepers at once. It is not a close thing.”

“Yet I need more,” Lady Iellaya said. Wincing, she eased herself down into sitting on her wicker chair.

“A few months ago and you would have been glad of this opportunity,” Abiodun said stubbornly. “These accomplishments… they would have had you ecstatic. As long as you don’t die, the Nexus will hear of your exploits. Soon, you will get access to Tier 3 Citizenship.”

Smiling, Lady Iellaya shrugged with her good shoulder. “Of course you are correct, my eternal companion. Yet now things are different. I have learned that Lord Miln is playing a larger game than I can fathom. And also, to see how quickly that this boy can grow… It’s like glimpsing a Path I haven’t been blessed with. I am… envious.”

Obviously, Abiodun didn’t need to ask to whom Lady Iellaya was referring. Although Abiodun studiously controlled his thoughts, he had similar thoughts about Randidly. Especially a few hours ago, as the long battle finally ended. The Commander tier combatants had quite a surprise when they finished their own battles and discovered that their soldiers had managed to endure in their absence.

That was not the way of the frontlines. Soldiers died in droves, always. Then there would be a mass recruitment and those who survived would rise in the ranks. So it always was.

Yet today, almost all of the soldiers had survived. Wounded and weakened, yes, but they were still alive.

Likely due to the presence of the Nether Prince there, the left flank was the one that received the highest concentration from the Nether forces. And that was where Randidly Ghosthound had been, working tirelessly to weaken and subvert the Nether assault with his seemingly infinite roots. After being a meaningless image that was reduced to unconsciousness after every mission when he had arrived… he had become an integral part of the defense effort for their camp. It was an intimidating amount of growth, even considering the fact that the image recovered his body to leapfrog to this position.

Even as Abiodun opened his mouth to speak, Iellaya hissed in pain as she tentatively moved her injured arm. “...and I understand how far beyond where I once was that I currently am. Yet it is still not enough. If I am to repay all of you who have supported me up to this point… I need to be more.”

Bowing his head, Abiodun said quietly. “None of us regret coming into your service, my Queen. It is the greatest blessing we could have asked for to support you. And you cannot allow yourself to be driven by cravings. After you have accomplished so much… do not lightly dismiss everything you’ve done.”

“Such is the nature of craving,” Iellaya said tiredly as she slumped down into the wicker chair. “I know it is a hollow engine; as soon as I achieve what I desire I will want more. Yet we cannot help but crave… especially so long as those around us chase power so vehemently… I fear letting go of the craving will leave me entirely empty. Because sometimes I wonder what else I have remaining within me.”

For the first time in a long time, Abiodun held his silence not because his mistress didn’t know his thoughts on a matter, but precisely because she knew what he would say. And what he would say right now would not help her escape the fear that seized her heart. Instead, Abiodun turned and looked out and the warped and scorched battlements below them, the very same that had managed to survive through the Nether assault.

I would kill for you, my Queen, Abiodun thought fiercely, but she knew. She knew and it would only make her sad to hear that right now.

That’s why I cannot stop, she would reply. So Abiodun remained silent.

After a long time of allowing his mistress the time she wanted to simply dwell on the problems facing them, Abiodun opened his mouth. “In addition… there is news.”

“Tell me,” Came the whispered response, followed by a groan and the creaking of the wicker.

Abiodun didn’t turn away from the battlements. “As I’m sure you are aware, one of the difficulties for the Aether forces moving forward is the fact that so many of us at the Commander tier suffered various wounds while in today’s battle. Moreover… one of those individuals was Commander Terith.”

“Uptight prick lost his arm,” Lady Iellaya released a long sigh. “And he’s lucky that was all he lost to the Nether.”

“...unfortunately, the treatment of Commander Terith’s wound did not go well.” Abiodun rumbled. His hands tightened into fists. “While receiving attention at headquarters… it appears he has since gone unconscious. Word has been spread that a Nether weapon had been thrust into his body, thereby hiding the severity of his wounds until treatment began.”

For several seconds Lady Iellaya was silent. Then she snorted. “...is it desperation…? Lord Miln, you truly dare scheme against your own Commanders while the enemy is at the gates…? I assume that the Nether Prince is already being moved to the Headquarters… in order to protect the asset?”

“Of course. He did not wait long. Shall I… make some inquiries to the other Commanders?” Only now did Abiodun glance over his shoulder at his mistress.

Although her face was in shadow, her eyes were polished obsidian the gleamed wickedly. “Ha! No, no need. After this… well, my opinions on our glorious leader have always been well known. No… they will come to me. Still…” Lady Iellaya leveraged herself up out of the wicker chair. “...this does mean I cannot afford to take time to recover. The other Commanders will come calling soon, and if I am too week to be seen as a rallying point… You’ll have to call up the Ghosthound. Perhaps with his help… well, we will see.”

Bowing, Abiodun left immediately. He found Randidly exactly as he had seen the young man from the command tower: laying on the ground surrounded by his feeble swirling images. They were like shimmering sheets of gossamer, blown around in silent rotation around his body. Yet as Abiodun approached him, he could resist pausing right at the threshold of the area dominated by Randidly Ghosthound’s images.

It wasn’t that they were strong. But they were… solid. To be near them was to feel them completely, despite Abiodun’s own images that should mitigate any outside influence’s effect. They were solid. In a manner that Abiodun hadn’t seen before, they seemed absolutely present and vivid, despite their weakness. As he approached, they parted to reveal a thin corridor that allowed Abiodun to proceed to Randidly.

More than anything else, it was that glimmer of awareness that made Abiodun hesitate.

Gritting his teeth at the fact he felt even a tingle of fear from this man, Abiodun forced himself forward. Randidly Ghosthound’s images whispered soundlessly around him, silk dragged over tile. When Abiodun reached him, Randidly’s eyes flickered open to reveal a deep, forest green. “...more work, huh?”

“More work,” Abiodun confirmed. Then he favored the young man with a wicked smile that burned with bloodlust. “That’s the joy of promotions in the army. All that we reward you with is a broader stage to struggle.”

“Perfect,” Randidly Ghosthound muttered. Immediately vines cracked open the dirty stone ground around him and helped him to his feet.