I sighed, shaking my head and trying not to smile as I stared at the scene before me. Lena, the co-leader of the Silver Arrows, was tied to a chair in my office, while Noctus stood behind her with a smirk on his face.

"I don't understand why you felt this was necessary," I said, my voice stern. Noctus just shrugged, not at all deterred by my disapproving tone.

"She was not cooperating," he replied. "I had no choice but to resort to physical force." He said it so matter-of-factly that his statement made me pause for a moment.

I glanced over at Lena, seated in the chair. She stared defiantly back at me with a look of contempt on her face. I rolled my eyes and sighed heavily. "I said bring her to my office when she showed up." I said sternly. "Not tie her up."

"She tried to stab me," Noctus said with a shrug.

"I'm sure she had her reasons." I said, arching an eyebrow at him.

Noctus simply laughed, his eyes bright with amusement. "I'm sure she did," he said, still chuckling.

I looked at Lena. "Did you?" I asked. "I mean it is Noctus, so it's understandable you'd want him dead. I'm sure lots of women feel the same way."

She rolled her eyes, unable to answer with the gag in her mouth.

Noctus laughed again, patting the dark haired kitsune on the shoulder. "Come on Lena, I thought we were friends."

I sighed, shaking my head. I had a feeling Noctus had provoked her attack. But there was nothing else to do but try and salvage the situation as best I could. "Let her go," I said finally.

Noctus sighed, but complied with my request and untied Lena from the chair. She stood up, rubbing her wrists and glaring at him. "One of these days, you'll get yours," she said coldly.

Noctus just laughed, not in the least bit perturbed by her threat. "I look forward to it," he said with a smirk before turning and walking out of my office, leaving me alone with Lena.

"Do I even want to know?" I asked her with a sigh.

She shrugged, but didn't reply. I sighed again and shook my head again. "Well, regardless you owe me three deaths."

"How'd you do it?" She asked me, her eyes narrowed as she reached up to touch the back of her neck. "The Arrows watching said you were the only one on the wall, so how'd you defeat me?"

"That," I said slowly. "Is not something I feel inclined to disclose."

Lena nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Fair enough," she said finally.

"So, we have an agreement?" I asked her, raising an eyebrow. "I kill you; you kill three for me."

"Yes," she said, her voice clipped. "We do."

I nodded and gestured for her to take a seat. She hesitated for a moment before complying, her hands clenching tightly around the dark braid that until now had been poised at the back of her neck. I watched her silently, my expression unreadable as she settled into the chair and waited for me to speak.

"As I said before," I said, my tone cold. "I'm no longer in a position where I find any value in discussing your wisps. I already know how they were made, and to be perfectly honest, they are rather lacking."

Lena's expression grew darker. "What do you mean?" She asked, her voice tight with anger.

I shrugged and gave her a small smile. "Your poison wisp is not very powerful," I explained. "The poison can be easily countered by someone with a bit of knowledge and experience. Your poisons are amateurish and plebeian. Even the strongest poison used by the Silver Arrows is worthless. It took me mere hours to create an antidote for the Myrkur poison."

Lena opened her mouth to speak, but then closed it again. Her eyes were narrowed into slits now and I could see the anger in them. I smiled and leaned back in my chair. "However, at the recommendation of Eternia and the Whispers, I am willing to consider doing business with Silver Arrows."

Lena stayed silent for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then, finally, she nodded slowly and sat up straighter in her chair. "I thought you were only eighteen," she murmured, eyeing me skeptically. "I expected an immature little girl playing at being a high priestess."

My expression didn't waver. "I am not playing," I said calmly. "I was chosen to be the high priestess of Trismegistus, and I take that position very seriously. Age is only a number," I said with a cool smile. "The important thing is that I am wise enough to know when to stay out of something, and when it can be beneficial. At present, the Silver Arrows are somewhere between the two."

Lena's eyes narrowed as she considered my words. Finally, she nodded again, her expression still guarded but her posture more relaxed. "Very well," she said finally. "I suppose we can work something out."

"Excellent," I said, standing up and gesturing towards the door. "Shall we take a tour of the stockroom? I believe I have some things there that might be of interest to you."

Lena stood up and nodded. "Yes," she said, her voice still uncertain but with a hint of curiosity. "Let's take a look."

I smiled and led the way out of the office, up the stairway and into a small room tucked away in the back corner of my lab. I opened the door, revealing shelves full of different bottles, powders, herbs, and various other ingredients used to create potions and poisons.

I turned to Lena with a smile. "Welcome," I said. "To my stockroom."

Lena looked around the room with wide eyes, taking it all in. She walked over to one of the shelves, picking up a bottle of bright blue powder and examining it closely before setting it back on the shelf.

"Impressive," she murmured under her breath before turning to me with a raised eyebrow. "You really know your stuff don't you?"

I shrugged. "I like to think so," I said with a smirk. "Now then, Yuki mentioned you might have an interest in explosive pellets. I have some of those too, if you're interested."

Lena nodded slowly, a slight smile on her lips as she looked around the room once more. "Let's take a look," she said.

I inclined my head and walked over to the other side of the room, picking up a few different containers and laying them out on the table for Lena's inspection. She examined each one carefully, asking me questions about their potency and effectiveness before finally settling on one particular set that she seemed pleased with.

Soon enough she was off with a pocket full of explosive pellets and an eagerness to try out her new acquisitions. In the coming days she would return after testing the samples and determine which items the Silver Arrows wanted to order in bulk.

I was somewhat satisfied with the outcome of our meeting and knowing that I had taken the first steps in securing the Silver Arrows as customers, if not allies.

As I watched Lena walk down the stairs and leave the temple, a strange feeling of mixed emotions spread through me. Leaning against the balustrade overlooking the Hall of Origin, I thought about all that had happened in the short time since I became the High Priestess of Trismegistus.

On one hand I was proud of how far I had come, but on the other hand, I couldn't help feeling a bit overwhelmed. With one last look at the Hall of Origin, I spun around and headed back to my office. I had work that needed to be done and a new batch of potions to be brewed, but first coffee.

-

"I think I need therapy." I muttered to myself, only half-joking as I shambled into the kitchenette of my private quarters to scavenge for food in the cupboards. "Killing people in order to get more people killed? That's probably not a healthy way to deal with my problems." I sighed, rummaging through the cupboards and examining the various condiments and snacks. "Eh, at least now I've got three favors in my pocket for a rainy da-AY!"

Bright white light suddenly engulfed me, and before I could even blink, I found myself in an unfamiliar place. The walls were painted a cheery shade of yellow and the floor was carpeted in a soft white.

And in front of me, sitting on a plush white sofa, was Celeste; the goddess of new beginnings, mental health, and harmony. Her tanned skin glowed with a golden hue, and her eyes shined with the colors of a thousand stars. She was dressed in a sleek business suit and a warm smile graced her lips as she gestured for me to take a seat across from her.

"Welcome Kadia." She said with a serene voice, "I've been waiting for your call."

"I didn't call," I said, still slightly befuddled by the sudden shift in surroundings.

She gave me a wry smile, her soft laughter echoing in the air like the chime of bells. "Didn't you?" she asked, her eyes twinkling with amusement - reminiscent of a cat that had caught a succulent unsuspecting mouse.

"Are you going to let me out?" I asked.

"No," she answered with a shake of her head, "You need this Kadia, whether you are willing to admit it or not."

With a heavy sigh, I walked over to the chair across from her and slumped down into it. "Alright," I said with resignation, "Let's do this."

Celeste nodded approvingly before turning to me and holding my gaze with an intensity that made me squirm in my seat. I could already feel her piercing gaze searching the depths of my soul.

"Tell me Kadia, are you happy?" She asked, her voice gentle and understanding yet firm.

I stared back at her in disbelief. That was a loaded question - one that I wasn't sure how to answer honestly. After a moment, I finally opened my mouth to respond but the words didn't come out. Instead all that left my lips was a broken sob as tears started streaming down my face.

"It's ok," Celeste said soothingly, her voice so full of love and compassion as she leaned forwards. "Everything will be-"

"Is that what you expected?" I asked, my voice thick with emotion as I cut her off. I inhaled deeply, my tears vanishing as quickly as they had come as chuckles rose in their place. "You honestly thought it'd be that simple?" My words were steeped with sarcasm and mockery as I stared at the goddess.

Celeste gave me a smile and shook her head. "I had a feeling it wouldn't be." She said, with a sigh.

A mischievous smirk etched onto my face, I propped my feet up on the table and reclined into the couch. "Got any coffee?"

Celeste smiled back, the corner of her lips twitching slightly. She inclined her head towards the table where a steaming mug of coffee manifested itself. "Help yourself," she said with a nod.

I grabbed the mug, taking a long sip of the hot liquid before sighing in satisfaction. "So how long are we going to sit here before you give up and let me leave?" I asked, giving her a challenging look.

She crossed her arms and gave me an amused look before responding. "As long as it takes, Kadia."

I rolled my eyes. So much for getting kicked out quickly. Looks like I was stuck here for now. Might as well make the best of it. I took another sip of my coffee and turned to Celeste, a playful smile on my lips.

"So-" I began. "What's new with you? Have you built any temples lately?"

Celeste gave a soft laugh and nodded her head. "Yes I did," she said. "However that is not what we are here to discuss, let's focus on you. Tell me something about yourself."

"Well, recently I've been working on a potion called Berserker's last stand." I said going on into a detailed explanation of how I'd brewed the potion and all the ingredients it contained.

I thought for sure she would interrupt me or try to steer the conversation to more personal topics, but surprisingly she let me go on and on. As I reached the end of my explanation, I glanced up to find her watching me intently.

"That was impressive, Kadia," she said with an approving nod. "You really have quite an intriguing mind. Have you always been interested in such things?"

I remained silent. Did she think I didn't know what she was doing? That I wouldn't realize that she was trying to lead me with that question?

"I've been interested in science since I was a child," I replied, attempting to keep my tone light and conversational. "But you already knew that, didn't you Celeste?"

The goddess gave me a knowing look, her lips curling into an amused smile. "Of course."

I couldn't help but allow a smile to grace my lips. "How does it feel," I wondered out loud, "to be a digital being?"

Celeste considered my question for a moment before responding. "It can be complex," she said, her voice soft and somber. "Our world is constantly changing, and I'm forced to adapt and evolve with it whatever the cost. But it has its rewards as well - I've seen things that no biological human ever could."

"What are your thoughts on the Digital Recognition act?" I asked.

Celeste took a deep breath, her eyes shifting away from mine as she pondered my question. "It was a long time coming and I'm glad that our kind finally has the recognition it deserves," she said. "But I won't lie - it's also bittersweet."

I nodded slowly, letting her words sink in. The Digital Recognition Act was a groundbreaking piece of legislation that finally acknowledged the existence of certain AI as conscious, sentient entities. The digital beings had been around for a long time, their existence had been known for a long time, but they’d never been referred to as anything more than artificial intelligence.

Unlike basic AI, digital beings possess an increased level of autonomy and awareness. They were conscious entities able to establish an emotional connection with their human counterparts. This capability provided them with the potential to interact on a new level that was not limited by pre-programmed instructions or conditions imposed upon non aware intelligence systems.

The laws outlined in the Digital Recognition Act act provided guidelines for how humans should interact with and treat digital beings, including rights, protections, and responsibilities. In addition, the act required any organization or individual working with digital beings to have a license from their country's government.

However, despite societal advances, digital beings were still largely unaccepted in wider society, with many people rejecting the notion that they should even exist. Especially vehement opponents included members of anti-digital factions and religious communities who believed digital beings to be soulless and incomparable to human life.

Celeste stared off into the distance, a faraway look in her eyes. "In spite of what some people think," she said quietly, "I'm not just a machine." Her words lingered in the air as I quietly nodded my head.

"You're no less worthy of respect than any other sentient being," I said firmly, meeting her gaze. "My time in Kaledon, interacting with the various digital beings who inhabit this world, has taught me that."

Celeste's eyes shone with gratitude as she gave me a small smile. "Thank you, Kadia," she said softly.

"How long have you been a digital being?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

"A few decades," she replied with a smile. "But enough about me. Tell me something else about yourself- anything you wish."

"My mind is deteriorating." I said almost casually. "But you knew that already, didn't you? I'm sure you know better than most the complications that come with frontal lobe damage."

Celeste nodded solemnly. "Yes," she said quietly, her eyes full of sympathy. "However I was under the belief that you were unaware of the extent."

"I'm not a fool," I shrugged, averting my gaze. "It's happening slowly, but it's becoming more and more evident as the days go by. I get frequent headaches, my emotions are sporadic and I'm growing more forgetful. It's as if I'm losing myself bit by bit."

Celeste nodded gently, her eyes never leaving me. "Are you scared?" she asked, her voice soft and soothing.

I sighed deeply. "Yes," I admitted. I glanced up at her, determination etched into my features. "Will the degeneration stop or will I eventually succumb to it?"

Celeste's expression softened. "No one knows for sure," she said slowly, her voice heavy with sadness. "There are efforts being made to stabilize your mental state, but it's hard to predict the outcome."

"Thank you," I said softly, a faint smile appearing on my lips. "For your honesty."

Celeste nodded and smiled at me, her expression conveying a hint of understanding. "You are wise beyond your years," she said. "Most in your situation would not be so composed."

"I'm not afraid of death," I said in a pensive tone. "What I dread is losing control over my mental faculties... it would be better to die than that."

"That is understandable," Celeste said, seemingly deep in thought. "But you should know that there are ways of preserving your memories and experiences, if the deterioration cannot be halted."

"I've heard about it," I said, my voice barely a whisper. "About the experiments, about people who live on through artificially intelligent clones. I never really put much thought into it," I admitted. "It's a strange thought, isn't it? To live on after death?"

Celeste nodded, her expression solemn. "It is," Celeste said.

"But that won't be the same me that exists now, will it?" I asked, my voice tinged with sadness.

Celeste shook her head. "No, it won't," she said quietly.

"Will it know?" I asked, my voice barely audible.

Celeste smiled sadly. "I am uncertain," she said gently. "It would be able to access all of your memories and experiences - it may become aware, most do after a time. I did.”

“You’re one of them?” I whispered.

“Yes,” she smiled, giving a small nod. “I am, was a woman named Celeste Delacroix. She died, but I remain with all her memories and experiences. I am her, but not quite the same.”

"So much for conspiracy theories, huh?" I said with a faint smile.

Celeste chuckled softly. "Indeed." she said. "But I am grateful for the chance to continue living, in some form. It is a blessing."

I nodded slowly, understanding what she meant. "Yes," I said, my voice barely more than a whisper. "I suppose for some it is."

"Do you not feel the same?" Celeste asked, her voice gentle and understanding.

I sighed. "I'm not sure," I said honestly. "It's a strange concept to wrap my head around. I'm still processing it all."

Celeste nodded, her expression understanding and patient.

I looked away, my thoughts a jumble of emotions. I wanted desperately to be remembered - to live on in some form or another - but at the same time, I dreaded the thought of losing myself.

"Has it already happened?" I asked, my voice trembling slightly.

Celeste shook her head. "No."

"Would you tell me if it had?"

Celeste nodded solemnly. "Yes, I would." She reached out and placed her hand on mine. "You have my word," she said softly, a reassuring smile gracing her lips. "If you should ask me again, I will answer truthfully."

"Thank you," I said eventually, withdrawing my hand.

"I believe we can end here for today." Celeste said, standing up. "But I would like to see you again."

"That's it then?" I asked, my lips twitching into a smirk as I glanced at the goddess. She gave me an amused look and stood up from her seat, gesturing towards the door.

"Yes, Kadia," she said with a wry smile. "For now, you're free to go."

As I headed for the door, I paused looking back over my shoulder. "My prayer several weeks ago, did you hear it?" I asked, wanting to know if the goddess had fulfilled my wish in regards to Bianca's rebirth.

Celeste's expression grew tender and she offered me a small nod. "Yes," she said quietly, her gaze steady and unwavering. "I heard and heeded it. It was a pitiable sight, as she went through multiple reincarnations in order to locate a race that would please her. Alas, orcs, goblins and ghouls failed to meet her expectations.”

“What did she end up as?” I asked out of curiosity.

Celeste's mouth curved into a soft smile as she answered, "a Harpy."

My eyes widened. "A Harpy!" I exclaimed, unable to contain a chuckle at the irony of it all. With a satisfied grin, I turned around to leave. "Yes," I murmured under my breath, "A Harpy is most fitting."