We have narrowed them down to the city of Anghazi.

  Two lesser Divines have been confirmed.

  An appropriate force has been sent. Prince Asmodeus will be there within the week.

  - Internal communications between lower ranking Tartarian staff.

  The whiskey glass cracked as Fortia made her decision. “Of Empire is alive.” She collapsed onto the table. “I… We tried to search for her to buy our way in. I’m sorry.” Arascus took a deep breath. So far, this had gone terribly, which was about as well as he could hope for it to actually go. Gold-bronze Fortia, who had finally cracked and was wiping her eyes on one side, Maisara, staring into her glass as if she wanted to be anywhere but in this room on the other. “Sorry for this.” Fortia said, pivoting to the glass before her.

  It was a good move. That was easier to handle than what had just been said. “Throw it away.” Arascus said offhandedly. He leaned down to pull out another glass from the table. He poured the whiskey. Fortia looked around. “The bin is behind you.” In one step, she crossed the distance to the sink to pour it out. In another, she was at the bin. And then she had returned. Arascus silently slid the new drink to her. This time, her hands did not wrap around the table. “How long did you know?”

  Now that she had said it, it was as if he had been walking through a forest and ignoring the trees. Of course Empire would have been here by now. She would have come around during the Great War, that was of no question. “Not long.” Fortia said quietly.

  Arascus turned to Maisara and she just inclined her head to Fortia again. Well, they had given him a hand, he would return the gesture. “You are already Imperial in my eyes.” Arascus said. Maybe they knew already and aimed to always come in like this. Maybe they had been trying to get a bargain after that. To get some station equivalent to Daughter-Goddess without actually submitting. Arascus did not care. They were past that now. “I am not asking to bargain or threaten, I want to know.”

  “Fortia worked it out after the Surface War began.” Maisara said quietly and leaned over to her friend, eyes apologetic. “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be.” Fortia said. “But what she says is true, we did not know.”

  Arascus took a deep breath. That suddenly put a lot more context on their little nostalgia trip throughout Epa. He had considered them utterly lost and defeated, making one last journey for old times. The Empire was to show itself off as the grand and just, and hopefully recruit them not through words but actions instead. He took another breath again. Was it anger? Jealousy. That was something he had felt in a long time. A righteous claim to something that was his and was being threatened by another.

  Were they to die? His eyes passed over Fortia and Maisara again. A Goddess of Peace left behind by the world and on the verge of tears and a Goddess of Order who looked as if she did not care if she woke up tomorrow. No. They had come, maybe dishonestly, maybe with a plot in mind, maybe the plot was so grand that it could even tear the Empire apart, but they had come. And they had spoke. And now they sat awaiting judgement.

  What a miserable sight. To think that Fortia and Maisara could be reduced to something like this. To think it was themselves that did it. “Leona knew I assume.” Arascus said. “She would have someone working with her.”

  “We tried Theosius.” Fortia said. “He confirmed a Godstone cube somewhere but Leona did not tell him where or what for.” And once again she fell silent.

  Of Empire… His mind once again trailed away from the two before him to the other Divine. “What do you know of her?”

  “Nothing.” Maisara said. “We don’t even know where she is.” Another deep breath. He felt his lips turn upwards in a smile. A family would be completed. A Goddess would be found who could stand at his side…

  And if she could not?

  What then?

  Arascus sat there. Whoever it was, they had nothing. Of Empire could have gone insane already. Of Empire could be a terrible monster, that was most likely true. One could hope for the best but they had to prepare for the worst. Of Empire would probably not be able to read or write, Divines did not have that knowledge born into them. And the powers? And what if it decided to kill everyone involved.

  Arascus made the decision before his mind shut down with doubt. That was the way to deal with these things. Not for himself but for the world that looked up to him. For his daughters. For project they had long abandoned, thinking it would never come into fruition. “Helenna and Malam will be told.” They would be told because they needed to know, because if anyone would be able to find Of Empire, it would be them two. “How are you two feeling?” It was just an attempt to buy time as dark clouds once again besmirched his mind. No. It could not be done. He had to get them talking again. This could be handled later, it would be handled alone. Not in front of them. The foundation that supported the house did not get to lean. “I cannot help if you say nothing.”

  “How am I supposed to answer Arascus?” Fortia asked. “What am I even supposed to say. I…” Tears once again filled her eyes. One broke containment and finally left a trail down her cheek. In any other time, Arascus would have stood up and put his arms around her. Now, his legs simply did not want to move with the knowledge that had been thrust upon him. “For everything I have stood for. I…” Fortia mumbled and trailed off. “It’s just…” She kept on repeating in circles. Arascus let her pain run its course, his eyes just turned to Maisara.

  “Do not look at me.” Maisara said. “I stand with Fortia.” That was wrong thing to say. The dam within Fortia finally cracked and whatever forces she was mustering up were washed away.

  “MAI!!” She wailed, turned to her friend and hugged her. “Please…”

  Arascus let the silence go on for a few moments. This problem was before him. He could fix that. He could solve it. It was easier than dealing with the fallout of Of Empire’s reveal. They could not be chased off, nor could he excuse himself. Showing he took it personally would drive Fortia deeper into her pit. It was all for the Goddess of Peace now. Maisara put one arm around her friend, then the other. And she said nothing. Nothing surprising about that, she had managed to throw even Neneria off with her apathy. “It is all right.”

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  Nothing was all right. Arascus’ foot begged to start tapping. He wanted to smash these glasses over their heads right now for knowing and not revealing it sooner. But it had to be alright, they would be alright because they saw him. It was dignity for his daughters, they had come to accept a man who broke down as their father.

  And for Of Empire.

  Whoever they were. Because that Divine had been forged out of his idea and his dream and that Divine was the proof of a dream brought into existence. Because just as a man could create something and name themselves the creator, it was him who had made Divine after Divine bow. It was him who had lost the Great War. It was him who had gone through of all this for his own idea and not the thoughts of another. Irinika, the first, or Kassandora, the last, or any of the ones in-between would exist no matter what he did. Of Empire only came about thanks to him.

  And what if Of Empire came into this world and was disgusted?

  Arascus pushed the thought away. The bridge would be crossed when it would be crossed. Once again, he brought himself to reality. Fortia was mumbling wordless sounds into Maisara’s chest. “So now we have work to do Fortia, Maisara.” Arascus said. He looked at the whiskey and motioned towards their glasses. Maisara patted Fortia’s back.

  “You have a reputation for being fast.” Maisara said dryly.

  “No.” Fortia mumbled. “No, it’s alright Mai.” Fortia said. Same pattern as Kassandora, exact same pattern. Work was a grand gift given to humanity, those who thought too much made bound themselves in chains harder than steel. “I…” She took a deep breath.

  “I do not plan on separating you.” Arascus started to unwind the coils that his mind had wrapped around his heart. The chain of jealousy burned as it fell away. He wanted to kill them again for not saying anything earlier. For thinking that they could negotiate with Of Empire. It would be like holding any of his daughter’s hostage. Whatever words needed to be said would be said to fix the issue, and then the lesson would be taught: extermination. Too slow.

  Maisara shivered as she stared at him. “What are you thinking about?” She asked slowly, her voice unsure.

  There was a way to hide it. Arascus did not bother. “I am relieving myself of the urge to kill you.” Arascus said flatly. “But I will not, it will not do.”

  Fortia burst out in laughter. She said nothing, she just laughed and cried and slowly rose from Maisara’s chest. “I would half expected you would.”

  “We both know I would not.” Arascus said calmly. “Of Empire will be found.” He was going around in a circle once again. But it would be like handing off his crown to someone. It simply would not do. Maybe others would do it but Allasaria had not either. It was not the power, it was the righteousness of it. He did it because none did it better than him. The results spoke for themselves. An Empire that chose its own will would eventually crumble, it only lasted because he was here. “That is all I have to say on this matter.”

  “Did you really not think about her?” Maisara asked.

  “I only deal in the concrete.” Arascus said. “Leona and Allasaria did a good job even if you did not have a hint of her.”

  “We...” Fortia finally calmed down. “I want to say we do that too.” They did not. The fact she was breaking down now proved it. Arascus let the comment stand.

  “There would be nowhere to even start and I am not going to sabotage everything I’ve built on suspicion. We expected of Empire to reveal themselves eventually.” That wasn’t true. The lack of Of Empire’s existence had made Arascus think that the Empire was inevitably tied to him. He was its creator, its representative Divine. It was his after all…

  And now it had a mascot.

  Should it die? He sat there and took another breath. No. The problem would be solved when it was solved. They had to find this creature first. They had to survive against Tartarus. That was the immediate threat. There was no point searching for Of Empire if the Empire was one of nothing but ash. “The storm will pass.” Arascus said to Fortia, he knew his own would not until they managed to find the incarnation of his dreams. Until some conclusion was brought about. “Fer will be taken off your case, she will be happy at that.” The explanation wasn’t needed. His own mind felt as if it was trying to claw its way out of quicksand. “You will stay here for now. If you want, your rooms can be moved. Alice is Leona’s maid, isn’t she?”

  “She is.” Fortia said.

  “I just wanted to hear it from you.” Arascus said slowly. He needed to move and he could not. The foundation did not get to lean. These two, whether they knew or not, were the walls which gave a purpose for the control to exist. “I will inform Iliyal, a Strategic Council meeting will be called. You will attend and jobs will be given.” Now, he was just explaining for the sake of explaining. “We are working on breaching the Ashfront. Callaghan’s fleet is going to breach it tomorrow morning. If the ash cannot be brought down, we will fight in it.”

  “You have a way already?” Maisara was actually baffled. That was good. That was something to work with and towards.

  “Elassa is the lead on a project to dispel them.” Arascus said. “A facility in Arika is working on jets to fly through, the fleet has been enchanted with fortress shields to weather it. It is just a test but if it works, then Arcadia will work on equipping a transport fleet with it.” He looked at them. “Most likely, you will fight in Arika under the Imperial Banner.”

  Fortia finally pushed off Maisara. There it was. A job was given and the tears had stopped. The greatest gift of humanity was the ability to move and run away from one’s thoughts. To outpace them forever, until they stopped mattering and became little more than idle nuisances. She would probably cry today again, in private, or maybe not. “In the meeting, do not fear to argue with Iliyal but do not be argumentative for the sake of it. This is not the White Pantheon, he is under no jurisdiction to take your guidance into account.” Fortia wiped her eyes again.

  “You don’t know what the Pantheon was like.” Arascus had heard enough from Helenna and Kavaa and Elassa to know why he was wrong. He didn’t particularly care. The words weren’t for her.

  “It is Iliyal though, he has proven himself with managing Kavaa, he won’t send you to your death because of disagreement.” They wouldn’t rebel or plot at this point. They would have to be cretinous to do that. Maybe it was a fault, maybe it was because they had worked together in the past. Arascus respected their intelligence far too to even consider that doubt. Maybe he would. There were greater doubts to be done. “Otherwise, ingratiate yourselves. Fer will handle your papers.”

  “Papers?” Fortia asked. Arascus just answered with a flat look at her. There was no point even entertaining such a question.

  “And with this Of Empire matter.” Arascus stopped for a moment. “I will tell Malam and Helenna, you will be there when it happens, do not speak of it again. Not to anyone, not even between yourselves.” Another pause. “That will be all. If you have questions, ask them now or save them until we meet again, I have a schedule.” A moment passed.

  A moment that felt so heavy it was as if all the oceans were crashing down on him. As if all the ash in Arika had made a mountain on his shoulders. Rarely did he feel the burden of the Empire on his back. Today though, it was crushing. Another moment. He gave them a full minute, counting the seconds off in his head and focusing solely on the numbers. The other leg wanted to tap now too. Fortia finally called it. “Arascus…” To think she was actually smiling with relief.

  “What?”

  “Thank you.”

  Arascus inclined his head. “Good. Iliyal will report on how it is working with you. Fer may be there, she may not.” He got two shocked expressions at that. A pair of bronze-gold wide open, a pair of silver eyes narrowing in suspicion.

  Maisara needed to “You won’t be there?”

  “No.”

  This was no state to make decisions in.