There are great values that exist across all: the courage that serves as a foundation for heroism for example. The ambition that gives one strength to declare that there is not enough good in the world. The will that lets us claim we are made to do great things. We have temperance, and a rejection of narcissistic selfishness. We have intellect to become masters of erudition. There is a near endless list of characteristics that wish to be embodied.

  Yet it is a trap. For no amount of goodness can be achieved only when greatness’ motivation is present. Nor can something like bravery be scheduled to certain times These great facets of character, that we so typically strive for, are little more than decorations with which we adorn our characters. If strength was an article of clothing, it would be the shirt, or the tie.

  It is grim consistency, a slog in the moment, of which nothing good or enjoyable can be said. Yet it is that consistency which sets a standard and it is that consistency to which others gaze upon. unbreakable willpower. An individual grain of sand does not make a trail towards success, yet a trail is nothing more than a countless amount of grains of sand. There is no grand trick within the Empire, we have not discovered the truth to life nor a way to end all the evil on Arda. There is only one consistent factor within the Empire that makes others turn to it: Me.

  The Empire runs and will keep running because of my track record and my prestige. My consistency, which has been built up through thousands of years. Even my failures have been repurposed into being examples of unbreakable will. Every success is another brick in the fortress that shields those behind me. The stability and comfort which stem from my reign are nothing more than predictability. The predictability is never besmirched, because the track record proves there is no reason to besmirch it.

  That is why I say my greatest strength is predictability.

  - Excerpt from the private writings of God Arascus’, of Pride.

  The plans had been set, the meeting was over, Irinika’s phone number had been shared with everyone important although Arascus did not think she would be calling anyone soon. He floated through the air with a small wooden box in one hand, upwards past skyscrapers shining with lights, below, the streets where filled with traffic. The court of the Empire had meet in Ilan to receive its orders. What could be sent electronically was sent electronically. They didn’t need to overcrowd the city.

  Maybe it was just tradition? Just pure nostalgia for how things were when people met face to face? Arascus didn’t know, he simply preferred when the Empire met to organize rather than doing it through the camera. Some things simply could not be stopped, the people coming to the windows of their apartments to take pictures of him was one of them. He didn’t wave, he didn’t turn to look at them, he knew it was happening, but he simply kept his gaze forward and kept moving to where Irinika was staying.

  The Goddess of Darkness was on the balcony of the hotel she was staying at. Arascus had the room in the building over, Ilan was grand after all, although he needed to make a detour. Irinika was standing, leaning on her elbow on the glass barrier as her eyes ate up the environment of the city. Her hair spilled out down her back and shifted slowly to a cloak of darkness with less light than even the starless city sky above.

  “I have something for you.” Arascus said as he settled down to lean on the glass by her side. There were people taking pictures from other rooms. He would be getting recorded no doubt. Irinika would too. Tomorrow, this would be on the first page of every social media site in the Empire: The Goddess of Darkness has returned!

  “I think I know what it is.” Irinika said, not even turning from the skyline. Further north, the snow-capped mountains of northern Rilia were visible. Villages and homes lit them up in tight congregations of lights, and roads slithered up and down them like golden streams of light.

  “I think you do.” Arascus passed her the box. She looked down at it and shook her head.

  “You’re terrible, you know that.” She leaned over to put her head on Arascus’ shoulder. “Thank you.”

  “It’s good that you made it.” Arascus said. He rested his cheek on top of her head. “Sorry Irinika.” It had to be said, the feeling had been pushed away for long enough. It could be ignored when Irinika wasn’t about but now that she was back…

  “What for?” Irinika asked.

  “For not coming for you sooner.” Arascus admitted. There had simply never been a time, and her holding the watch the dwarves had given her had been a tactical necessity. Too large an army would have to be sent there to do what she alone could do, and with less a chance of success. But to explain all that would take it away.

  Irinika just laughed into the air. Below, the cars moved when the lights turned from red to green. “Oh please.” She said. “We are thousands of years old. I was there for eight hundred years. What was a few months of waiting for me?”

  “Mmh.” Arascus said.

  “Besides, I knew you would return.” Irinika said. “So there is nothing to worry about or apologize for. I asked Kass about it, I got caught up.”

  “I know.” Arascus let the subject go, whether Irinika was acting strong now or whether it was just a compulsion he had that he failed didn’t really matter. Irinika took the box and gave it a shake. He had stuffed enough paper in there that nothing moved.

  “This, I know what it’s going to be.” She declared. “It’s not going to be chocolates.”

  “I know you hate enjoying yourself.” Arascus said and Irinika burst out in laughter.

  “Don’t make me out like that!” She took a hand and opened it. Inside, hidden under the paper, was a smoking pipe Arascus had handmade especially for her. Just like in the past, she smiled and rolled her eyes. “Terrible, you know that? Terrible.” It was all faux-anger.

  “I think it’s good.” With expert hands, she pulled it out and gave it sniff.

  “What a bad example you set dad.” She said and put it into her mouth to test the airflow, then rolled her eyes when it was good. “Fer was happy I had quit.” She shook her head. Arascus somehow did not believe her, especially not after he confirmed with Kassandora that her sister was hankering still. “Honestly, just the worst.” She turned around and went to the seat. “A lady has to sit down for this.”

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  “It won’t knock you out.” Arascus said.

  Irinika moved the paper inside around and found some of the tobacco shreds Arascus had gotten. “I know.” She said as she finally brought out a handful and rubbed the dried tobacco between her fingers, smiling to herself. Arascus just watched in silence as the Goddess of Darkness was entirely concentrated on a motion she had done for thousand times in the past, and not once for a thousand year. Her eyes caught his and her cheeks went red. “Do you have to watch me?”

  Arascus crossed his arms and shrugged. “Can I not?”

  “Of course you can.” Irinika said as she started the tobacco in the pipe. “Do you have a match?”

  “We have lighters now.” Arascus brought one out of his pocket, it was solid silver, with her name engraved onto it. “It’s yours.” She caught it easily and stared at the little mechanism.

  “I saw the soldiers use these.” She said. Her thumb slowly turned the wheel.

  “You have to do it faster.” Arascus said. She clicked it this time and a brilliant orange flame sparked into life.

  “This is much better than matches.” Without lighting it, she sucked the air through the pipe, tasting the fragrance of the tobacco, and then leaned back onto her seat. The flame on the lighter was killed. “It’s been a thousand years.” She said. “I won’t if it annoys you.”

  “Should it?”

  “I don’t know.” Irinika replied. “It annoys Fer.” She shrugged. “And Kass doesn’t think Divines should smoke.” Arascus just stood there. She looked down at the pipe, prepared and turned it over in her hands, then pursed her lips. “She didn’t bring me any when she came to pick me up, not even on the way.”

  “That’s why I did.” Arascus said. “You know her.”

  “I do.” Irinika said slowly. “I do indeed. I wasn’t… You know, it’s just disappointing she didn’t.”

  “I know.” Arascus said. “But don’t hold it against her.”

  “Easier said than done.” Irinika chuckled as she felt the black lacquer on the wood of the pipe. “It’s a good colour.”

  “There’s more designers for them now.” Arascus said. “We have Iniri now.”

  “I know.”

  “I was thinking you could get along with her.”

  “Oh?”

  “You could start a plantation.” Irinika burst out in laughter.

  “Only you would say that!” She laughed and shook her head. “We’ll see. Thank you anyway.” She put the pipe back into her lips. “Where’s the tamper?” The little stick to crush the ash and clean the pipe after she was done.

  “In the box.” Arascus said. Irinika brought it out, silver again, with her name engraved. She shook her head, black hair waved from side to side, the darkness that covered her from foot to chest swayed with it. People in the other towers would no doubt be taking pictures, Arascus did not care. Irinika wouldn’t either.

  “You never change.” Irinika said. “I can’t believe it.”

  “No need to change what isn’t broken.” Arascus answered. Irinika took her lighter.

  “I heard Malam once talk about this.” She said. “How smoking has never failed her, how it’s the most reliable thing on Arda. How it’s never disappointing and always the same.” Arascus raised an eyebrow. What a grand comparison she was making. “It’s true though.” Irinika looked at Arascus. “It’s never failed me before, I smoke and I know exactly what it will do and it’s always the same.” The God of Pride didn’t say anything, that was the best thing anyone could say to him. She lit the tobacco with the lighter and took a deep breath, then breathed the smoke out.

  Irinika closed her eyes, slid back in her chair, her cheeks going rosy, and she simply sat there in silence for a while. “Never disappointing.” Irinika took another deep breath and chuckled. “I could get addicted to this.” She cooed again. Arascus saw the shift. She was back. The next meeting with her would be filled with smoke. And another. “I feel like I’ve been standing my entire life and I only just sat down.”

  Arascus burst out in laughter, she always said that. Irinika laughed along with him, then tapped the pouch. “You know I’ll smoke through that before the sun rises?”

  “Well then don’t!” Arascus said.

  “You can’t bring me champagne and expect me not to drink dad!” Irinika said. “What is this! I’m not going to pace myself!”

  “Go to a shop!”

  “I looked around for the herbalist already!” Irinika said. “I didn’t find one! I knew you’d bring me some so I didn’t bother searching but what is this supposed to be?”

  “You have a phone!” Arascus said. “Just ask it!”

  “I’m not Fer, it’s on the table. I got bored of it.” Arascus brought out his own and pushed the button on the side.

  “Where is the closest tobacconist?” He asked. The robotic voice replied immediately.

  “Closest tobacconist is twenty-six minutes away in the Vittorio Galleria Cigar Store. Would you to set a route?” Irinika stared, eyes wide, at the phone in his hand.

  “That box just spoke?” She asked. “I heard it I mean, but that just spoke?”

  “What a world you’ve come back to Irinika.” He showed her the map with the route. “It measures at the human pace, so that’s what? Five minutes flight time for you?”

  “Can you get me some?”

  “No it’s half an hour for me.” Arascus said. Irinika rolled her eyes and took another smoke.

  “Amazing.” She said. “What a world indeed.” She nodded to the skyscrapers. “What a view as well.” Arascus turned around to look. The city was sprawled out around him. To the west were more skyscrapers, the edges of the train station were visible. Supposedly trains should not run at night to not disturb the people sleeping, but the war had changed that. There was constant activity on the tracks. Below, cars were still stuck in jams on the streets, although that was natural with the travelling court of the Empire.

  “I should tell you.” Arascus said. “You know of Lubska.”

  “The country?”

  “The country, they have a Divine called Olonia, she’s started a Land of Gods project in her mountains. She’ll build you a home if you want.” Irinika laughed.

  “What a way to get favours.”

  “I know.” Arascus said. “But I can’t say it’s bad.”

  “Do you have one there?”

  “No.”

  “Do you plan on having one?”

  “Maybe.” Arascus said. “But there’s little time right now.”

  “Now don’t go speaking to me like Kass.” Irinika said. She took another deep breath of her pipe and burst out in laughter. “Do you know she’s fallen in love?!” Arascus chuckled to himself.

  “Fer told me you told everyone.”

  “Well I had to!” Irinika said. “You should see them! Even today, they were all over each other! I never thought she could be such a little harlot.” Arascus sighed and shook his head.

  “Well now.”

  “No it’s sweet.” Irinika said. “Who thought she had it in her?”

  “They’re good for each other.” Arascus said and turned around. Irinika was practically lounging at this point as she took deep breaths from the pipe, the smoke making a long trail. She was very obviously in utter bliss, the darkness had retreated somewhat off her. Enough for modesty, but her pale arms were on display, the dress had formed a skirt. One leg over the other, even the ends of her black locks where visible. “Kavaa is…” He didn’t exactly know how to say it without talking too badly about Of Health. “Well, similar character. She needs the rigidity and she doesn’t care much for how much Kassandora burns.”

  “They are shameless.” Irinika declared, eyes closed. Arascus went inside her room to get a blanket. Irinika waited for him to return and then kept on going. “You should have seen it! Like two princesses that have never held a hand. It’s such a cute romance I don’t even know what to say.” Arascus laid the blanket over her even as she smoked. “Kavaa is far worse, she’s a downright devil at this point. The behaviour I’d expect from Malam. And Kass just puts up with it.” Good to know that the advice Arascus had given her was working.

  He sat down and listened and talked. There was a war going on, tomorrow, they would separate again. He would go to Arcadia, Kassandora would go with him to check up on Elassa. Kavaa would be sent to Rancais. That would be good for them, too much time together always put a strain on a relationship. But for now… “I missed Fer, honestly. She gave me hug, how sweet is that?”

  Arascus chuckled. “That is sweet.” He agreed. He sat and listened and let the world go on. This world did not have enough moments like this.

  Irinika chainsmoked her pipe. He brought enough tobacco to last a human a week. Irinika burned through it in a matter of hours.