Debauchery of a Soul-Eating Wraith

"The Golden what?" Evan asked, not because Daria had been unclear but because he wished to hear her say it again. Just to be sure someone indeed went by that title.

"The Golden Child. It's a nickname for the genius of the Martial Temple. A Lady said to be the only known functioning hybrid of man and spiritfolk and so attuned with Nature and possessing innate magical spell-casting abilities and aptitude that she can easily pass off as an Arcanist.

A Lady so good with a sword, she's quickly on her way to becoming the greatest Sword Saint the Verlice Kingdom has ever seen in the last Five Centuries.

Astrid Renan- There's no one belonging to the Martial Temple or the Arcane Church that doesn't know her name," Daria explained with every word tinged with just a bit of awe and then her expression became a confused one,

"But, there's no way someone that impressive could be from here, can there?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Carleine asked.

"Yeah," Gryon piped, "Are you trying to say Verdelen City is not worthy? Or even worse that Lordess Frida isn't?"

Everyone was staring at Daria with a bit of annoyance. Including Ember who pushed aside her anger towards her Father to instead focus on someone dismissing the incredible potential her City possessed.

Daria looked from the upset bunch to Evian but he just shrugged at her to indicate that he understood their sentiment.

On the social Hierarchy of the Verlice Kingdom, Verdelen City was not even low... At all. Only the Royal family and their officials as well as the top-ranking members of the Arcane Church or Martial Temple were above Verderlen City's Territorial Lords in authority.

To claim they did not have the potential to produce Martial geniuses was just wrong.

"You don't understand," Daria said looking away from a complicit Evian at the accusing eyes at the table,

"Astrid Renan is not just a genius. She's an asset even the Arcane Church wants. I just felt it was too much of a coincidence that she came from here."

Erik cleared his throat,

"Well, she is. I've met little Astrid myself... Before she went off to live at the Martial Temple full-time of course and trust me, if you've seen her and her Mother, you wouldn't doubt the relation."

Evian raised a hand, chuckling to himself at such a 'formal' way of signifying himself before asking his question,

"Why exactly is seducing a Spiritfolk an impressive feat?

I mean if Frida Renan is as hot- I mean, as beautiful as you claim, surely any man would want to have her."

"Hahahaha..."

Everyone at the Table laughed at him. Including Daria whose volume was up just a few notches as though some kind of payback for him not having her back earlier.

"Evian," the Witch explained, "Spiritfolks are 80% nature spirits and 20% mortal.

The part of them that's mortal is only so they can have a physical form and sometimes they shed those forms to 'ascend'. They have next to no sexual drive. Their reproduction is usually asexual. Their gender usually ambiguous.

The greater a Spiritfolk's purity, the stronger their attunement to nature and the more powerful they are. To seduce one to sacrifice even a sliver of its purity and 'lay' with you as a human is an incredibly difficult feat.

Especially since the relation must be sexual by all meanings of the word- if you want a human-Spiritfolk hybrid."

"Why someone will dedicate time and resources to making it happen is beyond me," Ember said in a show of disinterest in the Renan Lordess. A disinterest that no doubt stemmed from her Father's insistence on getting with the Lordess.

Speaking of her Father;

Erik let out a self-deprecating chuckle,

"Apparently, after she took over as Lordess of the Renan Territory, Frida claimed not just any man was worthy of being her 'mate'. Clearly, her stance has not yet changed."

Evian eyed him and couldn't help but feel a smidge of pity for the man.

'Damn, he's really so down bad."

Daria sighed.

"Well, her sacrifice and dedication to her goal paid off... It gave her a Child that stands out even among geniuses. Valued more than even the young generational talents of the Verlice Royal Family."

*Bam*

Ember slammed her palm onto the table for the second time that night.

"I think we're straying too far off-topic-"

Erik let out a sigh deep enough to interrupt his daughter,

"Dear, I'm telling you I've done all I can. Besides, what's the point anymore?"

"What do you mean?" Ember asked.

Erik looked from her to Gillert and then back,

"W-Well, the Resistance is over, is it not?"

"What? Why would you even think that?" Ember asked in outrage.

"Oh come on, dear. You've all been caught. My Mansion-"

"Viyeen Complex," Ember interrupted him to say through gritted teeth, "It's no longer your Mansion, remember? It's now Complex dedicated to getting that tyrant off his seat as Lord."

Erik sighed,

"Fine. The Complex has been ransacked. None of you can show your faces at the Territory anymore. I thought that meant it was all over."

"What? No, it does not. Herbert Larnak is still Territorial Lord!" Ember insisted.

"Are you sure it's not over?" Erik asked but his eyes were on Gillert who had his eyes closed.

Ember looked at him too.

"Gillert?"

"Your father might be right, Ember."

"You- You can't be serious." Ember said, "You're giving up?"

Gillert's eyes flew open.

"No, no of course not. I just think it might be wise we all take a step back... Maybe see how things play out."

"I- I don't understand-" Ember stammered.

"It's as Erik said. We can't show our faces at the Larnak Territory anymore... If we thought our tactics would be expected before, can you imagine how they'd be now?"

"We have Evian!" Ember pointed at the Grey-eyed Wraith who just silently observed.

"He's only one man. You're talking about either having him taxi us in and out of the Larnak Territory or putting all the responsibility of surveillance on him alone."

"But-"

"Ember," Carleine said gently, "The Stygian Territory has taken up arms against the Larnak Territory. Maybe us taking a step back is the right move after all."

Ember looked at all of them, realizing this was something they must have discussed. Even Gryon had his head lowered in agreement.

"Fuck, you're all just being lazy. I thought we were going to see this through." Ember said in annoyance.

"Gryon was almost killed!" Gillert said causing total silence to descend over the dining hall,

"He almost died and I could do nothing about it. I'm the Strongest in the Crew and I couldn't help any of you!

Look, the basis of our little successes has always been anonymity- Our hideout, our identities, and how we picked our targets. We've always known we couldn't win a war against the Larnak Estate. The plan has always been to either help the public or somehow pull support from a force strong enough to contend against Larnak's forces and we have now done both.

This is as good a time as any to just observe."

Ember opened her mouth and shut it over and over before folding her arms beneath her breasts and leaning back in her seat.

Erik looked at his daughter sympathetically but there was a hint of relief in his eyes.

'He never wanted her to fight,' Evian noted, 'I guess I can understand that. A Father's drive to want their child to be safe or whatnot.'

"So," Evian said breaking the silence, "Does the Resistance all fall on me now?"

"That's-" Gillert tried to say and then let out a sigh, "That's not exactly what I mean."

"No, it's fine," Evian said and waved him off, "I already have a plan."

Everyone at the table got attentive. Even Daria.

Although the Witch had no interest in the Resistance whatsoever, she did know of a certain illicit relation Evian currently had that could spur him to be against Herbert Larnak.

"Oh? What is it?" Ember asked excitedly.

Evian held up a finger,

"First, I want the Larnak Family Spear. It's been on my mind ever since I saw that recording of it. I want it."

"What do you need it for?" Carleine asked.

"What does anyone need a Spear for?" Evian asked her with a charming smirk, "To Wield it of course."

"That Spear is our only bargaining chip," Gillert said with a light frown.

Again, Evian waved him off,

"You only need a bargaining chip if you plan to make a bargain, a compromise, or a threat.

My plan involves none of that."

"And what IS your plan?" Ember asked.

"Well, simple really.

Attack from both sides... Trap the Larnak Territory in the middle and squash every bit of fighting spirit they have." Evian said.

"And how do you trap from both sides?" Gillert asked. Curious.

Evian flashed them all a smile.

"Easy. I meet with Lordess Renan and convince her to play ball."

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