My Servant System



Jahi PoV

Mom was the one to step forwards and begin speaking, recounting our experiences throughout the entirety of the Crusade to the Empress and her wives, telling them of the easy conquering of Sylak - while Lady Sker added that Romagi fell just as easily - before moving on to the more pressing matters.

"When we reached the city of Huran, something wasn't right. The air was thick with the scent of rot, the corpses scattered about the city, and the mages were skittish. Upon entering the palace, we made our way to the throne room, where we encountered a Necrotic Lord."

Some of the Empress' wives narrowed their eyes at just the initial description, with Lady Theresa being the one to curl her lip in disgust, likely understanding where this was going.

"We exchanged blows for a few minutes, before the Necrotic Lord revealed itself to be a catalyst, and that it had been risen by Nua'Morte, Arch Fiend of Deathly Pestilence."

"So they are back... Tza'Yul wasn't lying..."

Mom nodded to Lady Theresa, who was sneering, the usual warm, gentle expression on her wooden face long gone.

"It used itself to summon a Fenghuang construct, one imbued with the power of an Arch Fiend. The battle was long and arduous, but we overcame that obstacle with Jahi's Light Magic. However, I caught no sight of Nua'Morte at all during or after that battle... Likely already gone and pursuing its interests out in the world..."

She let out a low chuckle as the women assembled all frowned, contemplating what she had said.

"Nua'Morte was no where near the worst thing we dealt with on the Crusade though, Empress. We... managed to encounter the things that are - at the very least - using those Gates, perhaps even creating them. We encountered them..."

Trailing off, Mom took a deep breath before saying "And almost perished. They have access to ancient magics, some of which Kolia managed to procure. There were two of them. A silver creature-"

As Mom began to describe the two creatures to the room, I - and the rest of those that had been present - shuddered slightly as we recalled the helplessness we had felt in the presence of the silver and gold creatures.

Kolia handed the vials she had managed to collect to the Empress, who studied the archaic runes for a moment before handing it to Lady Theresa, who frowned.

"Two creatures, one made for offense, the other for defense. Capable of using magics far beyond what I've ever seen, and even capable of sapping the very mana from the air and from our Cores. A Gate that leads somewhere into the Labyrinth, which is these creatures home... Nearly uncaring of any damage we had dealt to them..."

The Empress nodded as she leaned into her throne, her fingers steepled against her chin as she thought on Mom's words.

"When you say uncaring of damage, you mean they were capable of being damaged, but they just... ignored it? Even if it was fatal?"

"The silver creature got to experience your daughter's magic firsthand, all while she was being assisted by Kolia. Melted a hole clean through its skull, and yet... it simply regenerated from the attack. Even when we bound it down with magic, it didn't seem to care, only reacting when the Gate was being attacked."

Lady Lorelei nodded, before she looked towards Lady Fenryas who snorted, her single silver eye filled with derision.

"Do I sense fear inside you, Chordeva? Presented with an enemy so formidable, so worthy to be your stepping stone, and you feel... fear? Pathetic for a Knight."

Mom let out a sigh as she shook her head, her ruby eyes hard as she said "Of course I feel fear. Something wielding magics far beyond my understanding, living inside a place entirely outside normalcy, and so... Yes, I feel fear. However I am not shackled down by that fear, Lady Fenryas."

The black skinned Wolfkin woman grinned, her hand reaching for her scythe as she replied "Good. At the very least, you seem to still retain some backbone. I imagine that you'll be at my training grounds soon? Alongside your whelp and her mate? Oh, and Nirinia too, I would assume?"

Lady Fenryas raked her single eye over each of us, making us shudder as her battlelust flared.

"Fenryas, rein it in. Chordeva, we shall discuss this further. For now, Theresa and I will be taking a far closer look at this mana you've brought back. Rest up. Arc, Yusa, Igna, call all our children back. I don't want anyone outside of the Palace for now... Lorelei, I think it'd be best if you talk to Leone and begin tutoring her some more. Everyone else... rest. Begin preparing for the future to come..."

The Empress rose from her throne and helped Lady Theresa up, the two looking down at the small vial in her hand as they exited the room.

Lady D'Arcon, Yuga, and Igna all made their way out towards the front of the Palace, muttering quietly to each other as they prepared to recall their children to the Palace.

Leone approached her Mother, nodding to me before following her deeper into the Palace, walking behind the Empress.

That left just Lady Fenryas, who had retrieved her scythe and stood up, grinning still.

"Chordeva, I hope your whelp is as teachable as you were. Otherwise, I do believe this upcoming  world will be a tad more annoying than it should be... The loss of a good weapon like her would sting."

Smirking at Mom, the hybrid Wolfkin sauntered out of the room, not even glancing at the rest of us as she went.

Sighing quietly, Mom shot me a tired grin as she said "Well, I hope that you don't have too big of an ego, Jahi, otherwise... well, Lady Fenryas will relish picking you apart if that's the case. Come, let's enjoy our peace whilst we have it. I'm feeling rather hungry."