Elzio refrained from asking further questions as the pair reached Carlin, but Syrene’s rumors had definitely sparked his interest. In his twenty five years, he’d never met a commoner that was leveled, even to level 1. Some council members, maybe, teachers, the odd guard, but never just the average citizen. Arguably, it could completely revolutionize how a city was run.

Why hadn’t any other nation done this?

“Found us a good place to settle.” Carlin’s voice interrupted Elzio’s thoughts. “Just over this hump. It’s better than anything we’ve seen.”

As their weary mounts tripped over the last few stones, Elzio saw what Carlin meant.. At the top of the hill, the rocky crevices opened up into a small opening, mostly occupied by a large pool, though with just enough space at the entrance for a tent.

“Oh it’s lovely. Well picked.” Syrene smiled before dismounting and taking the reigns of her horse and the packmule. She motioned for the two men to follow suit. “I’ll take the horses to get refreshed and start unpacking what we need for the evening. Once we’re set up, you may tackle your studies, and not before.”

Elzio grinned as his teacher gave him a knowing nod, before taking their horses to the pool.

I cannot say I always understand her priorities, Echo said. Nor his. When I first met you, I was pleasantly surprised at how ordinary humans seemed. Now I am, again, confused.

If it means anything, and I can’t imagine it does, I’m just as confused as you by Carlin. Sometimes it struck Elzio how much better he understood Echo than anyone else. The thing he found most interesting about her was how human she was, but the thing he liked best about her was how clinical and detached she was from humanity. It made him question things he’d always taken for granted.

Such as loyalty and duty to a nexus. Something Echo had early on predicted he would come to shed. At the time, he hadn’t considered it possible, yet now he seriously considered the value nexi brought to their people.

In an ideal world, the situation on the continent ended with Genyl and Echo working together to take out Deluuth. From there, though, would Genyl be content with letting the newly freed states live out their lives on the continent? Would Pyrthet and Ythrel be allowed to continue on? Would Deluuth and Argeny, now free of Irona, Ishe, and Iverna, be allowed to govern themselves as they saw fit? Or would the Genyl heroes take advantage of the victory buff to install Genylian rule over Deluuth, establishing themselves as owners of over half the continent? Would they use that power to force the free states to bend to their will?

They said Genyl was honorable, noble, but how long would that good will last once they found themselves the most powerful nation on Altethia?

—

Despite traveling with a nexus, the party managed to make it into the capital of Genyl with relatively little notice. Elzio had never realized a nexus could tone down their aura until Echo suggested it less than a mile out from the city.

I would suggest we attempt to avoid immediate detection upon arrival, she said, as the city came into view before them.

You’re willing to stay outside while we conduct our research? Elzio knew Echo had been rather discontent waiting outside of Ythrel, anxious arena crafting while Elzio investigated.

I am able to dim my visual glow so as to draw less spectacle, she said. Should I turn off any nexus auras, my presence will be almost indetectable. She paused for a moment, before adding, almost too quiet for Elzio to hear, I should also not like to wait outside for you again.

Elzio laughed. If I’d known you could dim your light, I’d have let you come with me last time.

Echo actually seemed to disagree with this. No, I think our course was wise at the last city. We lacked the time to prepare, given the speed at which we were challenged, so it was essential for us to divide our time. Besides. Her light fluctuated, a subtle shift Elzio had come to associate with a shrug. It is unclear, in hindsight, whether your conversation with Councilor Tylin would have gone so well were I there. Perhaps it would have, but perhaps not.

Why do you suppose it would have gone differently? he asked. Ahead of them the city loomed bigger, towering silver spires covered in massive cloaks of ivy. They certainly cared to maintain their reputation of civilized, a developed nation that prided itself in its modern and progressive values. Even with his ear to the ground, Elzio had found relatively little fault with the kingdom, which he found suspect. He was looking forward to really tearing it open.

Beside him, Echo’s light dimmed significantly until her presence was only detectable to the trained eye. I think you would have asked my opinion on the matter too many times, she said. I think you would have leaned on my counsel, and I would have all too readily supplied it.

And that would have gone poorly?

It would have made your responses stilted. Unnatural. It would have turned him off from the conversation. Tylin was, you said, very anxious that he would be found out. She sounded troubled. As well he should have been. I think, had he known the fate that would befall him, he would have not responded as forthright as he did.

This both surprised Elzio and angered him more than he expected. You think he’d have hidden if he knew they’d kill him? I’m certain he knew the potential for death when he spoke with me. Have you so little faith?

Echo seemed both surprised and chagrined by his unexpectedly harsh rebuke. Nexi cannot experience physical pain. I know it is a… convincing motivator to mortals. I saw his body, how you found him. From my research, I can determine it was a level of unpleasantness most humans would rather die before experiencing. Naturally he knew that his life may be on the line, but had he known what level of torture he was to face, I think he would have shyed away from providing aid. Why are you so upset that I should point this out?

Anyone would be upset. But Elzio let his briefly flared temper cool as he processed her question. Most people consider Tylin’s sacrifice to be a combination of bravery and duty to his people. It was honorable, to face an agonizing death, something that, as you’ve noticed, most people would avoid at all costs. To imply that he’d have balked at the suggestion of pain makes him out to be stupid—not fully considering the outcome of his actions—and cowardly—prioritizing his own comfort and safety over the lives of his people. They like to think he spoke out knowing what might come and faced it anyway, rather than thinking he spoke out ignorant of what it would cost him.

Interesting. I would have normally asked why it matters so much what the living think of the dead now, but more and more I am seeing how much it impacts you. She sounded sour at this. To an unhealthy level I think. Clinging to memories of the dead only begets the same attachment to the departed that has allowed the nexi to grow so important in people’s minds.

By now, they’d reached the city gates and had to handle the somewhat extreme processing measures that Genyl took to protect their inhabitants. Elzio and Syrene both having points in Illusions and Carlin being a talented Armorsmith allowed the party to easily forge fake identifications. The processing flew by unexpectedly quick, as the guards simply scanned magical artifacts over each identification, instead of holding them up to the manual process Pyrthet always used. Elzio barely had time to contemplate Echo’s statement before they were on the other side.

I think, he said, slowly, as they finally passed by the guards at the gate, that it’s the knowledge of the pain of grief and death that keeps us so invested in the survival of those we care about. And I think that it’s better for people to be content with the fondness of memory and honor than it is to try to resurrect departed loved ones.

“All right.” Syrene motioned for the three to step off to the side upon their entry. “Genyl’s security has been heightened from what I’ve researched, so they’re definitely expecting something. Too many upheavals, too much in flux, too many rumors. That said, I have no reason to believe they know our identities, so we do have some free time. The Arcane Library is near the center of the town, which I will be visiting presently.”

“Don’t get distracted.”

“Carlin, you’re still—”

“Yeah.” He flashed a grin, one that looked convincing even with the heavy droop to his eyelids. “Hall of heroes. I know this place has one that makes Ythrel’s look pale and shoddy. I’m gonna see what I can figure out about their heroes. Also gonna keep an ear to the ground, hear what the people think.”

Elzio nodded. “Echo and I will investigate whatever political intrigue we can find. Figure out if there have been any scandals or suspicious changes over the past few months.”

I know a little about the Genyl Nexus. Echo’s voice was barely loud enough for the other two to hear, and they leaned in close to make out her words. Ashlight Evenspale. She was once a great mystic who provided wisdom and advice for three generations of kings. Many considered her wisdom to be prophetic in nature. She died over a century ago and has ruled the nation ever since.

“Let’s hope her prophecy doesn’t see us coming.” Syrene’s lips pressed together tightly. “Or, if it has, that she is well inclined towards us.”

Nexi cannot prophesy. Echo’s voice left nothing to question. If there remains a prophet in this city, it is not her.

“Good.” Carlin let out a breath, before smiling again. “I’ve never been sure if that kinda fortune telling stuff is legitimate, but I never liked the idea.”

Elzio wasn’t sure where he sat on the idea of predestination. Part of his mind itched at the idea of learning about a new form of magic, but another stung at the idea that, no matter how much he learned, strategized, and planned, someone else could simply just know better than him because of magic.

“Then let’s agree to hope for no seers.” He nodded. “We’ll meet up at the inn sometime after sunset. Time is limited and we’re not here to sight see. Focus on what you can learn and don’t return empty handed.”

Carlin saluted and Syrene smiled, and the three made their separate ways.

~~~

Genyl was frustratingly close to their carefully cultivated public image. Honorable in deeds, advanced in their technology, and progressive in their social policies. Even Syrene’s rumors proved to be at least somewhat true. The average citizen was certainly not leveled, but Elzio had lost track of how many individuals were. He’d counted over a hundred before giving up, and looking for something else, some reason to explain the city.

To this end, Elzio sought out the most destitute places of the city to try to find sources of unrest, only to find some of the poorest neighborhoods to be quite cheerful and content.

I wonder if this place is simply a thoughtful kingdom that looks after its people. Echo sounded as bored by the prospect as Elzio felt.

It’s a good thing if they are. He sighed. And honestly, it does help us. We can abuse their good nature, if it really does exist, to get them to work with us.

Hmm. I suppose.

It wasn’t that either wanted Genyl to have a dark underbelly, a sinister streak, but the fact that this country was so well run unsettled him. Not because he didn’t trust it—he found the theory that they were hiding something to be intriguing, but not entirely compelling—but because it showed a prospective way of ruling that benefitted the actual people living there. That alone didn’t disturb him, but the fact that such benevolent rule was possible, yet not replicated anywhere else, stymied him.

Why do more countries not operate in this way? Echo asked, finally voicing the question Elzio had been brewing mentally all day. At the very least, it seems as though more citizens of other nations should want to leave their comparably unfavorable lives to migrate here.

In an instant, it clicked. That was it. They can’t leave, he said. That would be showing disloyalty. They don’t want better. They want to worship their nexi. Echo’s question, and Elzio’s subsequent response, had answered what he had been wondering since first researching Genyl. Not necessarily why Genyl was such a well tended kingdom, nor why people didn’t move to Genyl. The real question Elzio had been asking, without realizing it, was: Why weren’t more nations so advanced? Between magic and leveling and policies and diplomacy, why didn’t other nations strive to be Genyl?

But his answer to Echo also answered his question.

They don’t want better.

Echo always maintained that the nexi system promoted stagnation, but until Elzio walked through the clean streets of Genyl, he had never realized just how advanced the world was. How advanced every nation could be. If technology, magic, happy citizens could give a nation an edge, make them more appealing or alluring, other nations would strive to catch up. If a nation was run by its people, it would vye for advancements that made those people happy. Even a nation run by a power hungry king had to, in some way, keep his people happy enough to ensure they didn’t riot. Even he had to keep himself happy. Comfortable. Stimulated.

Nexi didn’t need that.

Nexi didn’t care about their citizens because those citizens worshiped them. Why should they care?

Nexi didn’t care about their comfort because they had already lived their lives. As nexi, they didn’t feel sensation, they craved familiarity. Why should they care?

Nexi didn’t care about advancement because there was no tactical or strategic gain to be made. When all conflicts were handled by the microbattles of a few powerful individuals, there was no need to advance technology. Why should they care?

Elzio?

As he opened his mouth to share his revelation, it dawned on him how stupid it would sound. Not because the theory wasn’t sound, but because Echo already knew it. If he were to tell her that he was, only now, realizing that the rule of the nexi wasn’t just causing power stagnation, but rather overall stagnation of the entire world, she would roll her eyes at him.

Echo had always hated the nexi. It just took seeing what the world could really be for him to understand it.

The one question he had left to answer was ‘why Genyl?’ Why did Genyl continue to advance while the rest languished?

“Elzio Shilon? Echo, uh, Nexus?”

Elzio turned fast on his heel to see a woman had approached the two. Somehow he’d gotten so wrapped up in his musings, he didn’t even notice her approach. She was tall, taller than he was, and had a dark, well sculpted pile of greying hair that towered another several inches above her head. Everything about her outfit, the dark blue fabrics and black jewelry screamed severe, but her eyes were soft and her voice hesitant.

With her heavy outfit and boots, it almost surprised Elzio she’d been able to sneak up on him. The only reason he wasn’t more surprised was because she clearly knew who he was, and that was far more surprising. Surprising and concerning.

“Yes?” he said. There was no point in hiding their identity. “Who do I have the pleasure of addressing?”

Her lips pressed into a relieved smile. “My name is Fathina Evenspale. I knew I’d find you here. We need to speak.”