Beneath the Dragoneye Moons

Night and Arachne traded amused looks.

“I do believe a full debrief and discussion is warranted under the circumstances and conditions.” Night said. “However, I am not the person to make the decision, in any respect. That falls upon Arachne, and the greater command.”

There was barely a pause before Arachne spoke.

“I’m in agreement with Night. This is a strong opportunity to level for all involved, and I’ve just sent out the signal to meet in approximately two hours. Now, if that’s enough business, I do believe the [Chef] has a new subtlety he would like to present for dessert.”

Auri perked up at that, and a few minutes later dessert was presented. A fully rigged ship made out of fruits and chocolate was ‘sailing’ on a sea of blood, blown by an invisible wind created by a skill. A dozen germanodactyluses made out of spun sugar were harassing the ship, and little sailors made out of glazed pastry were running across the deck, tossing lines, spinning wheels, and waving tiny swords and spears at the birds.

Auri’s eyes were almost as big as her head as she took the whole thing in.

“BrrrRRRRpppt!!” She trilled in impressed appreciation.

We couldn’t just eat it, oh no. We ooohed and ahhhed at the dramatic fight. Iona shouted encouragement to the sailors, while Fenrir gave her a Look and started to growl commands at the birds.

To our amazement, the little figurines somewhat obeyed the orders. Fenrir was very grumpy that his side ‘lost,’ and Auri was devastated that they’d almost all uniformly fallen into the blood sea and dissolved.

Then we all dug in with gusto. The blood ‘solidified’ as Night and Arachne served themselves, turning into a jello-like substance for a brief moment on their plate, before going down the hatch. The Eventide Eclipse split the boat and the sailors, a few of them defiantly waving spears at us before meeting their end.

I found it a little grisly, but Fenrir had an utter blast, staring them down and snapping them in half before chewing and swallowing.

Good boy. He’d never get stabbed from the inside-out like that.

“By the way, Night, I just wanted to say - thank you for the advice to wait on my third class. Got three black-quality options as a result!”

Night gave me one of his slow, toothy grins.

“Most excellent. I trust that you selected the class that was best-suited for you, and not simply the one with the most power?”

I nodded.

“Oh yeah.”

“Elaine, Auri, Iona, Fenrir. I can’t believe how quickly time has passed. It’s been a pleasure, we must do this again sometime just for fun. Oh! Fenrir, you might want to visit the Crooked Crown inn. Tell the bartender there you’d like to do the Saurian Shuffle.” Arachne said.

Iona and I traded bemused looks, as Fenrir looked thoughtful, pulling out his prized pipe from somewhere. Hilariously, it hadn’t gotten shrunk along with everything else, and instead of being too small it was now comically large on him.

I figured whatever Arachne was suggesting to Fenrir was… well, if not harmless from a place called the Crooked Crown in a country who made national sport out of demolishing crowns, at least not horribly outmatched.

Iona recentered herself and beamed at Susan.

“Oh no, the pleasure’s all ours! This evening has been such a treat. I would’ve never found this place on my own. Let’s plan another get together soon.”

Arachne looked pleased with herself.

“I feel like we have hours of conversation more, but alas, duty calls. Elaine, I need to do some work on my end briefly before the meeting and report-in. Can I leave Night with you, and we’ll meet at the gates of Stormwatch Castle in a few?”

That didn’t feel like a question, and I nodded.

“Sure!”

Susan and Night made some more polite noises with Iona and the rest, then left.

Iona waited a few moments for them to properly be out of earshot - I noticed even Arachne’s omnipresent threads had left the room - before she burst out and crushed me in a hug.

“Elaine! Goddesses, I was so worried. When Auri came screaming I just didn’t know what to do, how…” Words failed my normally eloquent girlfriend, and she just hugged me tighter, saying everything that needed to be said. All her fears, her worries, her joy at seeing me again and everything being alright, at Black Crow having failed to claim my soul yet again. That we were together again, safe and healthy.

She patted me again, and separated, holding me at arm’s length. She grinned at me.

“Well, hey, you found Night! How are you feeling? Everything alright?”

I mirrored Iona’s grin back.

“It’s all still a bit of a whirlwind. I’ll tell you later. For now, I think Night wants to have a quiet word with me before the big meeting.”

Iona hugged me again.

“Well, come back soon! I’ll be at the inn, practicing with Fenrir.”

We left the restaurant and split up, Auri sticking with me. Night loomed out of a darker shadow, and fell into step beside me. Auri flapped over to the shoulder further from Night and shrunk down, doing her level best to hide from the ancient vampire.

“Dawn.” He spoke in Creation, and I felt a shiver at the weight of his words, the weight of the title. “Forgive me for imposing upon you at this time, but there is a minor matter in which I would like to clear up. The favor I owe you.”

He paused his speech as we continued to walk, and I was suddenly tens of thousands of miles and years away, on a small island on the Nostrum sea, taking yet another evening walk with Night as we discussed yet another matter. Where Night spoke in slow, careful sentences, giving me the time to digest and understand.

The more things changed, the more they stayed the same. The more I lived, the more I experienced, the more I appreciated his style.

“Yes. The one you gave as a birthday present. Just before I went to the fae.”

Night crisply nodded.

“Indeed. Since I have been made aware of your return and brought forth the memories involved, it has weighed heavily upon my mind. I no longer offer favors, not even to my most beloved Susan. The weight and meaning of them is too great, and my top regrets all involve fulfilling a favor owed to another. Now, my reputation is paramount. The circles I travel in, the other Immortals who know of me, who can claim a fraction of my age, is small. I will fill your favor, no matter what you ask or when. Nor will I pressure you to make a request now, and know, whatever your decision, that I will vigorously assist you in your return and integration. With all that said. It would make my heart most pleased, would be a great weight off my mind, if you were to request a favor sooner rather than later, and in the spirit in which it was given.”

Night had casually given me a favor as a birthday present when I’d first brought back news and notice of how Immortals did things. A little gift, one that now weighed on his mind, one that was causing him no small measure of distress.

I could barely imagine. A few casual words, spoken centuries upon centuries ago, now threatened to upend his entire life if I asked for the wrong thing. The brief flash of power was heady, but no. I couldn’t do that to Night, to my friend, my mentor, my one-time leader.

I started to open my mouth, and had a better idea. A minor adjustment, a few added words.

Was it too much? It might be, but it could also be something Night would do anyway, as per his earlier words. I didn’t want Night to resent me, for me to ask for too much, but I didn’t want to miss the opportunity.

I wasn’t great at social stuff, but I was learning. I could put myself in someone else’s shoes and ask ‘how would I feel’?

I put myself in his shoes, asked myself that, and came up with ‘not great.’

It was too much. Night’s good grace and friendship was worth more than… I wasn’t going to say anything. I loved Iona too much. Auri was too important to me. If it was Night or my [Oath], I knew which one I’d pick. I wouldn’t risk asking for every time, simply for this once.

But I would make sure to include the rest of the Eventide Eclipse.

“Just help us settle in this one time. Help us find our feet, smooth our path. If that’s not too much to ask for?”

I’d almost been greedy and asked for help every time we needed to settle again near Night. I was trying to think long term, to think about the future. About the inevitable upheavals I’d need to deal with, the tales of civilizations upending and collapsing, and needing to rebuild from scratch. To have to invent stone tools again, just for the chance at solving bronze and iron. To rebuild the bricks of civilization one at a time.

Having an old hand at the task around to help would be nice, but it might be too much to ask for. To have him be required to help each time?

No. I couldn’t imagine Night turning the Eventide Eclipse away, refusing to help. The obligation to help might sour things though.

I didn’t know if I was making the best choice. Heck, I didn’t even know if I was making a good choice! I should talk it over with Iona, see what she thought… but that was the cold, calculating side of me. The moral side of me was screaming to relieve Night now, to lift the burden he was clearly feeling. That it was just the right thing to do.

Yeah, maybe I was missing out on my chance to become [Empress of Pallos]. But I never wanted that job in the first place.

Night slowly smiled at my request.

“Naturally, nothing would give me greater joy. If you or your friends or lover should find yourself requiring assistance of any sort, please let me know.”

My mind immediately jumped to a problem I didn’t know how to solve.

“Like a minor issue with the Three Dragon Triad?” I asked.

Night chuckled. Given the context, and the dim lighting, it was extremely sinister.

“Yes, like a minor issue with the Triad. Now, if you would like to request my assistance with them, I would be delighted to help. With that being said, you know my methods. The streets would run red with blood, and the crucifixes would need to be extended another mile. I would also gain no experience, no levels from such a conflict, and the fundamental issues that caused the rise of the Triad in our august city would lay unaddressed. Instead, if you would like the Triad to cease their harassment of your establishment, I propose that I request Arachne to arm you, but more significantly, people who would benefit and level from such a conflict, with the necessary tools and information to best tackle the issue.”

I was fairly flexible with my [Oath] at times, but I still couldn’t - wouldn’t - give kill orders. ‘Please solve the Triad for me’ was asking for a lot of murdering done on my behalf, and from what I’d been thinking and what Night implied, just murdering the entire gang wouldn’t fix the issue. A new one would rise to fill the void.

Actually. That was a really good question, and Night was probably the second best person to ask.

“Why are there gangs in the city? Couldn’t you and Arachne just, you know…” Find and murder them all, the same way she’d almost killed me?

Night didn’t answer for a long time, almost so long I thought he wasn’t going to answer, that he was going to run out the clock on our short little meeting strolling through the streets of Sanguino.

“People are sadly imperfect.” Night finally said. “As you may have noticed, Arachne could exercise total dominion over the city. I could too, and on occasion, have found myself forced to resort to reigns of utter terror to control multiple cities or small countries. I implore you to look around at the world though, and ask yourself - is there any place that is currently doing this? Can you name a single significant faction utterly ruled by a single Immortal who knows and controls all?”

I… huh. No, there wasn’t. Not even in mortal lands, with a level gap large enough that an Immortal could, in theory, try to take over and control, was there a single Immortal ruling in that way.

I mentally reviewed all the places I knew, just to double check.

“Unless there’s one in secret, in hiding… closest I can come up with is Urwa, unless there’s a secret ruler in Kalea hiding in the depths.”

Night nodded.

“Exactly. Fundamentally, it does not work. I have seen many try. Most die. No matter how the System empowers us, there is always a crack. A weakness. Poison in a cup, a knife in the dark.”

Night would know all about poison in cups and knives in the dark.

“Now picture this city of ours, and imagine. Arachne is watching. The moment you violate a law, she knows. You are instantly punished by an omniscient, unfeeling arbiter, the single Immortal judge, jury, and executioner all. What do you believe would happen?”

That sounded miserable.

“I’d leave the city.” I said. I wasn’t going to fool myself by thinking I could fight across so many levels.

“Exactly. The city would die, one way or another. Hence Arachne and the other powerful Immortals not exerting themselves like that. That, and the matter of levels. Say, by some miracle, people found the city peaceful and enjoyable. Arachne restrained herself. What guard would level? What experience could a soldier get? Where would the next generation come from, when all the potential is stifled?”

I digested that thought for some time as we walked.

“Root causes?” I asked, knowing Night would understand. Night used so many words to say anything that one of us had to be conservative with our words.

“Yes. As I have mentioned, none of us exercise total control. Instead, it is left to systems. Systems of governance, of rule, of leadership. I have briefly found myself in command at times, when all has collapsed, and each time I have attempted to lay strong foundations for what comes next. For proper leadership, for systems and rules that I believe have worked, for those that I have consulted with the most learned scholars throughout history to build. I am aware it is not my strength, so I attempt to find those who have it as a strength, and empower them to build and create. This current iteration is one of our more successful ones, and yet we can not simply demand that jobs appear.”

Night gave one of his customary pauses as we walked down the road, the ancient vampire still willingly giving way to carts and other people who had the right of way.

“That people have the means to ply their trade, that success will be found. We have found that some vices are better left banned than grudgingly tolerated, that the void and demand for certain indulgences create crime that has a lesser impact on society than openly permitting, or harshly taxing said debauchery. With that said, I have no control over the members of the Senate, nor the House of Blood. Those who find themselves in the hallowed halls of governance are often those with powerful convictions, who believe they are right. Who wish to reshape the world into a better place. On occasion, they are correct, and find ways to improve the lot of all citizens and denizens of Exterreri. On others, they are simply repeating the mistakes of the past, cycling history through an unpleasant era once again. If the mistake is not too large, too catastrophic, if it does not threaten the very fiber of our nation or give the gods cause to smite us down, it is allowed. Permitted. For we are not dictators, no matter what our enemies may portray us as. And it is impossible to tell when an idea has merit, when it will properly work out for once. I always remember shields.”

Night’s comments on shields was a good reminder that I didn’t have a monopoly on non-sequiturs. People were allowed to be stupid, in other words. I couldn’t imagine trying to keep more than one or two people alive from their own bad ideas - mostly Auri as a hatchling, for example - let alone an entire city or country.

“Hence the Three Dragon Triad. They fill the niche, the demand. They create friction, opportunities for all involved to level. I do not like it. I wish people were more perfect, that darker natures wouldn’t develop tastes of the sort that the Triad can fill. Our ears are always open. If you can find a permanent solution, I suggest you take it. If you would like me to relieve the pressure without killing them all, I can. Simply speak the words, but again. I would suggest moving, if such an action is feasible in your mind. I can easily get you in the good graces of those who would pay handsomely for your services, who are of the kind and understanding sort. If you would prefer to be working at scale, I can recommend a dozen locations where you would be able to do great justice, where you would thrive and level. A portion of your current issue is location, although I shall admit to admiring the spirit in which you attempt to serve the least fortunate members of society. As for the Triad. It is worth letting those better suited, who would benefit, tackle the case. Yes, the Triad themselves will level in the process, but at the end of the day, when calamity comes to visit, as it always has, the levels and experience shall be useful. Even if not in their lifetime, then their successors. Why, you recall Sentinel Acquisition? He came from similar stock in Ariminum.”

Ugh. I didn’t like it at all, but it sounded like Night and Arachne had given it a lot of thought. Time to change direction.

“What about, I dunno, setting Auri up with a bakery or a job burning Ash?” This sounded a lot simpler than the fundamentals of gang activity… which I suppose if Night had a solution to, he would’ve executed already.

Glad I wasn’t keeping tabs on the entirety of an empire. Sounded painful. I’d stick to my corner, and do what I could for people.

Night smiled.

“Ah. That is far easier to arrange, if that is her wish.”

“Brpt.” The tiniest little squeak came from Auri, still perched on my shoulder.

“She’d like that quite a lot, yes.” I translated for Night, just in case he wasn’t fluent in brrrpt.

Frankly, I’d be shocked if he wasn’t.

“Most excellent. Iona had mentioned your goal of territorial conquest, I can subtly assist with that if you wish. Once again, I will point to the fantastic leveling opportunity presented to all of you if you should decline, along with properly engaging in the spirit and letter of the law.”

Yeah, Iona had mentioned something about that. Let’s not ask Night to start committing crimes on our behalf… no matter how exempt he may be from them. Felt like bad juju.

“On an easier note, I have a connection with the architect Vitruvius, and I could bypass his normal 7-year queue if you would like him to design your new home after your success. I have another with Linus, a top [Accountant], who’ll be invaluable in managing your finances if you so choose. I can recommend a round dozen other professionals, [Builders] and the like, and assist with your connection to them. Simply ask.” Night said.

I nodded.

“Thank you. For your favor, but most of all, for still being alive. For being here. For telling me about my family, and what happened. It… I just don’t have the proper words.” I was tearing up again.

Night smiled.

“The same to you. What a joyous day it is, that one of my own has returned from the grave. Now. I believe we are here. Never fear, keep in mind that during the meeting I am on your side.”

With those ominous words, we entered Stormwatch Castle.

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