Depthless Hunger

Elven healers eventually reached Ceryyn and tried to help her, but she was absolutely adamant that she wouldn't rest until she'd spoken with them. Eventually the Bludshard elves managed to get her to lie down and tended to her mangled arm, which soothed her enough to explain in calmer terms. Kai stood with the other two, anxiety building during the wait.

"They hit our school," Ceryyn said sorrowfully. "I don't even... how did they learn about it? Who would betray us?"

"Who attacked?" Kai asked. Even though their relationship had never advanced, he still knelt down beside her protectively. "Demons from the Commonwealth?"

"The Commonwealth, yes. Demons, no." She winced as the healers adjusted her arm, then sighed heavily. "I don't know why, but I think they're doing the same thing we are. They sent in proxies who aren't technically affiliated with them, pretending it was a feud. But the destruction..."

"How many died?" Omilaena asked.

"A few students. One of our elders sacrificed his life to protect others, and I almost lost my arm. The damage isn't as serious as the blow to our plans. They know what we're trying to do and they're willing to hit back. Who will ally with the elves now?"

"But you came here asking for our help. What do you think we can do?"

Ceryyn winced and pushed the healers away so she could sit up and appeal to them, her eyes shining mournfully. "I may be responsible for this. Perhaps I trusted too easily, recruited too carelessly. But you three helped, before any of this. Can I beg your help again?"

"That entirely depends on what you need us to do," Zae Zin Nim said. "We can't fight all the demons in the Commonwealth."

"No, nothing like that. We need non-elves to infiltrate the Commonwealth and find out what they're doing... or at least why. Everyone thought the demons were happy there and just got greedy. This... this is something much worse. I know the risk is great, but if you can help our nation this way, you'll earn a boon not just from me, but from the entire Council of Elders."

They immediately glanced at one another, most of the thoughts passing between them wordlessly. When they'd first arrived in Rosemount, they'd abandoned the idea of going to the Commonwealth even as private citizens. Even assuming that no word had leaked about their attack, they might be targets for the demons just due to their strength.

Then again, they'd changed since their arrival. Kai was stronger across the board, Omilaena had improved her primary abilities, and Zae Zin Nim had gone from a weak link to their linchpin. Going in was a huge risk, but they needed to take risks to advance. Since a lesser boon from the elves had benefited them so much, how much could a greater boon change things?

"We haven't agreed to anything yet," Kai said carefully, "but what exactly would we need to do?"

"It would have to be discussed with the Council," Ceryyn said weakly. "You don't need to decide now, but please, just give us a little hope..."

They agreed to at least hear out the elves, so Ceryyn finally let the healers take care of her. Whatever had torn up her arm had also severely drained her chakra, though probably a demonic art instead of a true demon. It looked like it would take weeks for her to recover her full strength, but she insisted that she and the others would make final decisions soon.

On their own, the three of them discussed how they should approach the problem. Aside from the risks and benefits he'd considered, the others were concerned about how the political imbalance might impact the whole continent. There wasn't even much sniping between the two of them, though Zae Zin Nim looked increasingly suspicious until she finally spoke up.

"You're not telling us something," she said. "Don't withhold now, Omilaena, not when you almost look trustworthy from the right angle. What's your real reason for wanting to go the Commonwealth?"

"It's just personal gain, I swear it." Omilaena raised one hand as if making a formal statement. "Admittedly, if times were better I would probably push harder. But what I want most of all is access to the Great Library of Traebor."

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

"Isn't that just scholarly texts? I've heard of it, but it doesn't have any techniques or martial art manuals. That's how it maintains neutrality."

"It doesn't need them. I'm convinced, utterly convinced, that it contains information on the fundamental workings of the world. Previously I wasn't strong enough to access much of the library, and what I found was ambiguous. But it nudged me in the right direction with Krysal, and it matches everything I know about greater powers. I think, if I have the time, pure knowledge will benefit us more than just gathering energy."

"What would it take?" Kai asked. "Aside from being in the middle of dangerous territory, the library denies access somehow?"

"The keepers of the library are very particular about who they allow access." Omilaena sighed and slumped back. "And given the chaotic history of the Commonwealth, can you blame them? But that's honestly my primary objective on the entire continent. All the theoretical questions we've been asking might have answers, either found in ancient texts or developed from the information there."

"And is that all?" Zae Zin Nim asked.

"I mean, the Commonwealth is huge, of course there are other benefits. For example, their capital city is supposedly entirely powered by a single tiny artifact."

"One of the Insanities. The First Crest."

"That's right." Omilaena smiled a little again. "I have no idea how something that small can apparently generate infinite energy, but I want to take a look at it. From what I've heard it's impervious to sabotage, so they let anyone go look, as a show of strength. Even if we can't figure out how it works, I think that's still worth seeing."

"What about chakra arts?" Kai asked. "Zae Zin Nim and I have been building up chakra, but haven't found a way to really use it yet."

"The Commonwealth is the crossroads of all Rosemount, so of course there's a good chance there. All I have is possibilities, just like all the previous ideas I've offered you. If you've trusted me this far, can't you trust me when I say I think this is in our best interest?"

Zae Zin Nim glanced at Kai and he wasn't sure he fully understood the uncertainty he saw in her eyes. The relationship between the two women had certainly advanced since the times they hated one another, but he wasn't sure what had changed - maybe Zae Zin Nim wasn't sure either. In the end they both nodded and she spoke.

"I believe it could benefit us. The question is whether the risk is worth the reward."

Soon enough, when they met with Council representatives, they found out more about their potential mission. The elves would teleport them far to the south, into the Coiled Empire, and then they would travel normally into the Commonwealth. Apparently there was a treaty with the Empire that was keeping things stable, so they could cross the border without difficulty.

For a moment it looked like Zae Zin Nim would refuse, because there had been reports that the Brightwind sect was searching for her in the Coiled Empire. But it was an entire nation spread across a massive peninsula, and she had advanced invisibly while adding chakra. In the end she was convinced that she could slip through without being found, since the cultivators were mostly focusing on the coasts.

Things got trickier when it came to their exact tasks. The elves originally wanted them to carry totems that would allow elves to teleport forces into the Commonwealth, but Omilaena had flatly refused on the grounds that it would betray them if they were ever searched or scanned. For the same reason she refused to carry direct communication methods.

That meant they were essentially being thrown into the Commonwealth on their own, which might have helped the negotiations. For the Council of Elders, sending in some random allies was a low risk, medium reward gamble. Kai judged their own risks far higher, but at least this would give them new opportunities.

It took them a few days to prepare, including some time to rest so they went in at full strength. During that time Kai repeatedly wondered if this was the opportunity to discuss everything with Zae Zin Nim. She had wanted him to wait for her, and he'd thought that meant... surely she wouldn't have said she cared about him if she didn't mean something more? They definitely seemed so comfortable together, it was hard to believe there was something broken between them.

Then again, perhaps it simply wasn't the time. Tensions were rising across the continent and they were about to go into grave danger. He knew that if an incursion was about to start he wouldn't want to talk about relationships. Just being with the two of them was an improvement, perhaps even enough for now.

In the end the elves added an additional wrinkle: Heruul and the entire Cryswind faction disavowed Kai and insisted that he leave. He didn't think that they'd be stupid enough to tell them about the plan, so it must just be manipulations to give them a cover story. Since he'd never had a formal relationship with the Bludshards, and Sandflower City declared itself neutral, technically he had no more right to be in the Elven Wilds. If anyone looked into his previous activities, he wouldn't look like a likely spy.

If anyone researched more than a little... well, in that case something was probably very wrong.

When they all gathered together to teleport across the continent, both his allies seemed positive about the development. In their mind, this was the perfect compromise: they were getting to explore the Commonwealth while also potentially putting the elves in their debt. Most of their time was spent discussing the potential power to be found within the great nation.

Kai wasn't sure he agreed it was such a perfect compromise. They were heading directly into a tense situation that could easily turn into a war, and unlike in Krysal, they weren't even close to the top.

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