12:00 IST, Seventh Day, Eighth Month, 3079 PV | Planet City Stelarum / Royal Quarters

  The flurry of activity after the election quiz show was.. Intense to say the least.

  Okin Stone, the new governor of Planet City Stelarum quickly got to work however. Within twenty five IST hours he and his administration had fully moved into the capitol complex. Of course, not the Royal Palace (or more like a box, we haven't actually moved out of the original command structure yet), we still reside in that while most of the government has moved to a fancy new compound.

  Turns out you need a lot of infrastructure to manage a city, let alone a planet, let alone lay the groundwork for a galactic empire. Like, we are talking ministers for all sorts of things, public relation offices, embassies (of which we have one from each of the sovereign species, and one from the Quartet is being worked on). Each of these ministers and departments needs office space, computers, communication, logistics services, security, and of course energy.

  Thankfully, with the current state of the intergalactic economy, and especially with the IEC’s systems in place, it's not that hard to turn a profit, if you are at least a bit competent.

  Like, you've got an entire planet or more’s resources. Plus it's not like information about management and stuff is hard to find. Barring exigent circumstances like natural disasters or pirates taking a liking to you, it's hard to fail at setting up a colony if you know what you're doing.

  “Hey Ko. Don't you find it crazy how we are like, rulers of a city-state-empire of nearly ten million people?” Ray says, as she lies in bed, nuzzled up next to me as is normal.

  “You know, so much absolute bullshit, pardon my archaic language, has happened lately. I'm not sure I'd be surprised if a giant space worm appeared out of the interplanar void and wanted to eat the planet whole.”

  “Tell me about it. Like, you got your head together. Now you're finally my boyfriend!” She says as she takes my hand. By the way, she is super duper cute. I don't know if I have mentioned that at all. “Though, you're still a jerk with a side of worthless NEET every now and then.”

  “Hmm, does this mean you require more headrubs?”

  “Dontcha know by now? There can never be too many headrubs.”

  16:00 IST, Seventh Day, Eighth Month, 3079 PV | Planet City Stelarum / Governor’s Office

  “My my, if not Lord Kovon and Lady Rayleigh. It's quite an honor to receive a visit from ones as esteemed as yourself.”

  “Oh, come on, Orkin. We are basically family at this point. After all, we've left you with this planet cause we are too busy to deal with it. If that's not family, then I don't know what is.” Ray then proceeds to walk over to Orkin and give him a nice slap on the back. I'm not sure that's very professional, given both of their stations. But, I don't think anyone else really cares too heavily about formalities.

  “It's a pleasure to meet you as well, pardon her rude remarks. You know how famous people get sometimes.”

  Naturally, this earns me a very-not-friendly flick to the forehead from Ray. But, it gets a small laugh out of some of those gathered. Though they immediately regret it when she gives them the death glare.

  “So, I hear you two don't have much time. So let's make this quick.”

  Over the next half an hour, Ray and I have some pretty intense discussions with Okin. It's not as if we can't continue guiding the colony from afar, but it's good that he understands the general direction and such. Even though most of the actual stuff and decisions are for him and the ministers to make.

  After all, we don't want a governor that just completely goes against what we desire. That'd defeat the point. But at the same time, he should still do what is best for everyone, just trying to follow our plans for the future.

  With Okin informed and briefed we are quickly hurried out of the office and through the city.

  After all, we have to hop on our flight to go visit the Quartet. It's the last long time for our visit to their colony. I can't wait to see what they have cooked up.

  Somewhere along the way, Emil and Rigar join up with us. They still have been doing things, it's just been mostly in the background so I haven't mentioned it much. For instance, Emil has been helping out a lot of the ministers, especially in the city planning department. It appears he had a thing for that back when he was a prince.

  Rigar, as you already know, has been assisting in setting up our military and training some fresh recruits. I hear they have developed quite a strict reputation as drill sergeants. But all of the cadets that come out of Rigar’s program score in the top percentiles in every category. So, with intense training comes great results, or so they say.

  We board the space elevator together. Initae is already awaiting us on our ship. She has been mostly standing back from the government. Only getting involved when stuff comes to universe-wide politics. As with the human-inae discovery or me nearly dying parts.

  Speaking of humanity’s forays into inae. About thirty percent of our population has been tested so far. It's a quite time and labor intensive process, typically it wouldn't be done this way. The Itokin all get tested after a certain age. But of course, we have to test all of humanity for any latent potential that could be trained.

  The first classes at the Institutes of Magitech as they are being called are underway. It appears that the new branch of humanity has devised two course paths for those with potential.

  The first option is basically a crash course. You know, the absolute basics so that people can; A. Not killing themselves accidentally, B. use gesir talents to channel raw inae (Skier and Shifter powers aren't really useful at weak levels, thus gesir is the main focus) and C. gain a general understanding of inae.

  The advanced course is the more typical path. The whole Acolyte/Knight system thing. It even has an option for eventually earning a veil key, granting access into the sanctum. Though the course is apparently very difficult in comparison to the basic one. It is estimated only about 30% of all humans with potential will be able to pass it and gain full knighthood.

  We arrive at the top of the space elevator. Now that I think about it, this is the first time Ray and I have left the planet since we have arrived.

  “Hey Ray. I guess it's time to make our grand return to the stars. We've been planetbound for what feels like so long.”

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  “Sure ‘av darling. It's gonna be great to sail the sea of stars once more. I can't wait to see what crazy things are in store for us in the future.”

  We proceed through the deliverer, which has been almost entirely converted to a station at this point. We arrive at the starport and are led to our vessel of choice- a mid-class frigate. Perfect for our current travel itinerary.

  We board the frigate and are greeted by Initae. Who appears to be greatly shocked by us actually arriving on time for once.

  Honestly, I'm surprised Ray didn't drag me down a back alley and cause us to be late myself. Not that I would've minded being late under such circumstances.

  We settle down in the frigate and we leave for our first destination. Now, what might this destination be, you might wonder?

  Well, it's the capital of our new allies, the New Elvan Empire. They have taken up residence on one of the other planets in our system, and have thus named it New Liiinas. It's a pretty jungly and untamed planet, though it's apparently similar to the original Liinas, pre planetary engineering of course.

  After a few hours of transit – this frigate thing isn't the fastest thing in the universe, that's for sure – we arrive in orbit of the planet. Unfortunately, the surface conditions are.. Rough.. To say the least. We can only assist them so much. The IEC has been preparing assistance packages, but it's not easy to just find funding for a previously unheard of species.

  Though, I hear most of the newly-defrosted citizens are loving it. They are all in harmony with nature and whatnot, so it's not nearly as bad as if humans tried something similar.

  We land in one of the IEC-provided battleships that is basically serving as a temporary space station for the Elvan. When we step out of the frigate, we are greeted with a pretty small Elvan delegation.

  Though, it's headed by none other than High Saintess Lina Skla.

  “Greetings, esteemed benefactors. It is a great honor for myself to welcome you to this ship that is serving as our command hub. Hopefully not for much longer though! The colonization is coming along quite quickly, all things considered.”

  “Thats great to hear. I do hope that our friends have been assisting you well. I apologize for our inability to provide more personal support to your efforts.” Ray nods in agreement with my assertion. Ever the supportive girlfriend whenever I try to take initiative. By the way, have I mentioned that Ray is super cute? She is definitely super duper cute.

  “Thank you for your very kind words. We understand you are a busy people and are grateful for any assistance you deign to give to us. Make no worries, we are perfectly capable of building ourselves up, even if the universe should choose to abandon us.”

  “Well, you've got nothing to worry about on that front, Miss. At the very least, Ko and I shall support your pointy-eared people.”

  “Oh, why thank you once again for your kind words. On a similar note, I have something personal I'd like to discuss with the two of you.”

  “Why of course, High Saintess. Whatever could you wish to discuss. We've got a bit of time before we must depart.” I say, hoping to get this over with quickly, contrary to my words. After all, I've got some plans later with a certain cute girlfriend. Plans of the lazing about variety.

  “Well, first off. Please stop calling me high saintess if you could. Linda is quite fine. Ms. Skla if you feel you must. The whole title thing is the worst part of this blasted appointment. The order is gone anyways, so it doesn't really hold any weight.

  Secondly, this may be a big ask. But, I wish to accompany you two on your journeys, to the stars and beyond as they say. I feel it is important that one of the Elvan learn more about this universe. After all, it seems we will be living in it too.”

  Ray seems to explode with excitement at such a proposition. “Ohmygoshohmygosh. Of course you can come with us! This will be so fun! Finally, another girl. It was starting to feel too masculine around our command room. Initae like, barely counts as a girl after all.”

  “Oi, watch what you say kiddo. Don't forget I can increase your amount of push ups. I'm a perfect icon of femininity as you can see.” Ininitae says, as she leans against the side of the frigate peering into the engine while eating an apple-like fruit. As she said, the perfect icon of femininity.

  “Not that I seem to have been given much of a say, but I think it'd be lovely to have you join us on our grand journey, Linda. It's a pleasure to welcome you into the fold.

  With that, Linda does her introductions to Rigar and Emil and we set off from the planet of New Liiinas. Our next destination, the freshly constructed voidlith structure, not far from the star of the system.

  Naturally, during the transit, Ray and I find a quiet corner in one of the bedrooms to engage in some intense headrub-base activities.

  About four hours later

  A knock at the door resounds through the room. I peek up from my current position of nuzzling into Ray’s side. Unfortunately, it seems my well-desired headrubs shall be interrupted. By the way, Ray’s side is super duper comfy, in case you were wondering. It's a great place to nuzzle after a long day of hitting bars. There's this great spot where if you tickle it- wait, that's perhaps a bit too much detail, lets not get carried away here. I'd like this journal to be mostly appropriate for young ones. It's important that kids understand where they came from, just not quite in that way.

  “Oi, kiddo, you better get out here and practice your shifting or ima drop you into a black hole.”

  This threat by Initae is very terrifying. I can see her actually dropping me into a black hole and then somehow retrieving me from it. Probably teaching me some lesson about inae wielding in the process.

  But, I don't feel like taking a journey into a singularity to be honest. So Ray and I quickly get ready and head into the bridge room. Of course, Ray heavily protests at the end of headrubs and tries to drag me back into bed. Twice.

  I quote from her directly, ‘hmm, a trip into a singularity sounds like a fair price to pay for headrubs.’ Honestly, I'm close to agreeing with her. But I realize that Initae could find much worse punishments than I could ever fathom in a trillion years. Who knows, she could probably turn me into spaghetti on the fifth dimensional plane and have me do ten thousand pushups while reciting the entirety of Kek’s diary backwards.

  I've learned a few things about Initae over my time spent with her. Firstly, if she threatens you, she is serious and you better klacking to do what your told. Secondly, she is very lonely and will tell you tales of bygone eras that if you didn't know contrary, you believe were just made up. Thirdly, she knows all the best bars.

  Short to say, my aunt is like a middle aged divorced wine mom whose kids have gone off to college and left her behind with nothing but childhood memories.

  Oh, she is also like a godlike entity that can bend reality to literally any whim she has. Like, she could probably just vaporize a solar system with a few thoughts if she wanted to.

  Anyways, Ray and I enter the bridge to it being surprisingly empty. It's just Intiae and Lina. I guess Emil and Rigar are busy doing who knows what and figure I can handle it by now.

  I mean, its been a while since I've shifted anything. But I can (with medium difficulty) shift an entire battleship. So a small frigate should be easy in comparison.

  I part the veilprojector and we get the first glimpse of the newly/under construction voidlith. Located in our very own star system. It's pretty tiny compared to the battleship-class ones. But this one has been sized to barely fit smaller frigates through. Barely able to fit our current ship as it is.

  “Alright dear Ko. you know the drill by now, I trust? Do be a little bit more careful, there isn't much margin for error, since the size is a bit close for what is normally used.”

  Taking her words of caution into mind, we approach the voidlith and it begins to accelerate us towards the void. I expand my bubble of shifter inae around the entire ship, which is actually quite easy, given I'm used to shifting something that's like 10-20x the length.

  Pretty smoothly, I casually bend reality in such a way that we pierce right through the interplanar barrier and into the void. Also known as the space between realities. A truly bizarre place where time kinda breaks down. Oh, and you can just travel between different planes of existence like they are bus stops.

  However, I only set my sight on one of these planes - the sanctum. Also home to the order, yadda yadda, you don't need another explanation. Check the codex if you're confused.

  I focus on the image of the sanctum and within what feels like a minute, boom, we are entering the sanctum and out we appear.

  “Welp Ko, I guess this means we are back at it once again, huh?”

  “I guess so, darling Ray. This time we've even got an extra friend in tow. So, to the stars we shall go.”

  “Dont forget the beyond part, darling. After all, luce lunae per aspera ad astra et ultra.”

  “How could I forget, together we can overcome anything. So, I say, bring it on.”

  End of Chapter 76

  Next: Chapter 77 | Steamy Water