— GREAT EDRYAN, YEAR 7294. SEASON: CENTRAL.

"It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves."

― William Shakespeare

*****

Kubrat Musa , oh, how she hadn't heard that name spoken aloud in such a long time. She closed her eyes, savored it, then reopened them.

Kubrat Musa.

Demigoddess of Illusion.

The Demigoddess of Illusion wore a plain lilac dress without any unusual flair. A hole the size of a cannonball was at the center of her chest. It held an inky darkness that barely allowed one to see through it.

Madria gave Lawruthian a soft smile while tilting her head forward. "Let's… at least sit down first. You haven't eaten yet, and I don't want you to get a Hunger debuff. I don't know how it'll treat us as dragons."

Lawruthian stayed silent for a moment before waving Kathrine and the rest in. His personal maid gave him an apologetic smile, but the young man didn't bother with it. What was done was done.

A few chairs and tables were brought to the lower section of his study, and soon the three were seated at the homey table with an assortment of items displayed around it. There was edible food, a selection of pancakes, fruits, chicki, and other assorted meats. What drew Lawruthian's attention was the assorted non-edible items—iron ores, precious wood, and even mana crystals were present. Lawruthian looked to the door. Marna stood near with a smile. Her purpose was to ensure nothing he ate would hurt him or Madria. They both weren't certain of what they could eat without hurting their reformatted bodies.

The table was square, with a disproportionate amount of food before him, while none was before the Demigoddess. Kubrat didn't want or need it. Demigods could eat, but it wasn't necessary for their survival like mortals.

"I hope we weren't interrupting anything," Madria said to break the budding silence. "After you didn't show for a while, I figured we'd bring the breakfast to you. Demigoddess Kubrat was waiting for you, hoping to catch a moment in your busy schedule."

Lawruthian sighed and responded. "I was just picking my new classes, but got distracted by the options. Its…"

His voice trailed off, and he waved a free hand while the other pulled food to his plate.

Madria's eyes lit up, and she spoke excitedly. "You too? I had to consult my mother and several others to decide, but ended up in a deadlock. My classes have nearly changed from what they once were. You're looking at a new Imperius Magi Saintess and Life Weaver!"

Lawruthian glanced at the mute Kubrat, then at Madria. The former sat directly across from him while Madria was on his left. His gaze seemed to probe a question: you're openly speaking about your class?

Madria noticed and spoke up. "I trust her. It was Demigoddess Kubrat who ultimately helped me break the deadlock. Maybe you should consult her and others, too," Madria suggested. She cocked her head as she stared at Lawruthian with a half smile. "Wasn't it you who began the initiative to be more open about classes. Isn't that one of the purposes of the Academy?"

Lawruthian took a bite of food, chewed silently, then spoke dryly he finished. "It is, but I didn't realize your relationship with the Demigoddess was so close. The last I remember of her, she was scheming against me and using me for her own purposes."

The Demigoddess of Illusion remained quiet, only silently watching, waiting .

"It wasn't her intention, Lawruthian. We," Madria gestured toward the demigoddess. "Had a chance to discuss things. Demigoddess Kubrat is only looking-"

"To live," Kubrat whispered, finishing Madria's words.

Aren't we all?

Lawruthian remained quiet. Silently, he ate, not responding yet. It was clear to him that this was going to be a long week. Demigoddess Kubrat likely spoke with Madria the night before to explain herself, but now she was employing the young woman's help to smooth things over with him. Even as a demigoddess, she couldn't brush off her behavior to him. He was Lawruthian Imperius Koltius Edryani, Chosen of Madris. The country revolved around him, and that was how he liked it.

Kubrat's situation was… complicated. At least, that's what Lawruthian thought. She was the first powerful being he met on the Mortal Realm that could manipulate an army of high-levelers and make them look like fools. Lawruthian could blame her for everything turning out the way it did from the events of Starglow Valley. Kubrat used him as a chess piece to get the attention of the Goddess.

She simulated an entire battle while draining them of their Life Points. It was a display of raw might and Law use that Lawruthian hadn't seen replicated until his mother.

It truly showcased the difference that step made and how it transformed you.

"What level are you?"

"387," Kubrat responded.

Level 387—she was at that level when something killed her.

"Why did you use me as a chess piece if it was only to get the attention of the Goddess?"

"Because," Kubrat whispered. "I fear death."

Lawruthian looked at her strangely, their eyes locking. The woman had a hole in her chest. She was already dead.

"You're already dead."

"Yes, but if I can achieve level 400 and plant my sprout into the Astral Above, I can return to life as I become a God. Or," Kubrat hesitated, then spoke anyway. "If I can gain enough faith energy and Law Points, I could reverse Reality and Illusion."

"Are you certain?"

Kubrat hesitated, looking away.

That hesitation was answer enough.

He made up his mind about Kubrat. He hadn't necessarily forgiven her, but he didn't have the time to hold onto a petty grudge. Lawruthian had to prepare for war. There were only seven years left before his divine quest would kill him for not going to war.

Kubrat was a Demigod .

A high level one at that.

His mother would be journeying to the Path of Apotheosis soon. Lawruthian didn't doubt she'd be fighting against the demigods and Prestiges of the world. The stronger and more allies who achieve that step beyond mortality, the better. Lawruthian had to ensure his mom could make it to the Astral Above safely.

He could hold a petty grudge against Kubrat, then what? Purposely isolate a high-level demigoddess who was already in the Pantheon of Imperius? What purpose would that serve outside of satisfying his pettiness over previous actions? She hadn't tried to kill him or even intended for him to get hurt. What happened with Thraag was just… an accident.

Suddenly, Lawruthian switched the topic, pushing away his clean plate and pulling a platter of assorted items toward himself.

"Between a class that would make you more powerful, a class that would make you an army of one, and a class that would empower you but also those around you… What would you choose?"

Kubrat returned her gaze. "The last one. It is not enough to have strength if those next to you aren't able to keep up. The Path… it's lonely. I wish my choices back then…," Kubrat sighed, not finishing her words.

Lawruthian took a bite of the ore first, and surprisingly, his teeth sank into it like it was soft bread. The muted sounds of crunching could be heard as he chewed the ore. This action drew the demigoddess's attention, and she stared in fascination.

"The magic that's transformed your body is beyond anything I've seen," Kubrat commented. "Your strength at your level is beyond anything I've ever seen."

Lawruthian glanced at the demigoddess, ignoring her comment. She was different than what she showed previously. The Kubrat he met had more life within her, while this woman seemed close to dissipating at any moment. Whatever her affliction was, it must have strengthened over the years they hadn't met.

The majesty the woman held seemed muted, drowned by her impending doom.

"What happened to you," Lawruthian stood and questioned. "What caused you to lose your…," he waved his hand, looking for a word. "Light?"

That was it. That's what was before him. The Demigoddess of Illusion, Kubrat Seeker of Truth , lost her light. Three years ago, when they first met, the demigoddess still had light, still had hope . Now that hope was dead, diminished by whatever answer she received.

Kubrat sighed. She shook her head, a smile without light on her face. "I spoke with the Goddess, and not even Her power can reverse Life and Death. All she can do is provide the opportunity for ascension, and she told me to look to you for methods."

Ahh, so that was it. Lawruthian understood now. This was a woman who exhausted all her means. All her plans led to one failure after another. Her greatest hope, Goddess Madris, could not grant her wish, only referring Kubrat to her Chosen of Madris. It was weird that Goddess Madris sent Kubrat his way; he had no clue how to reverse life and death.

A strange thought entered Lawruthian's mind.

What the Goddess cannot do, I can do!

It was an illogical thought, but Lawruthian was an illogical person. He consistently fought against the Goddess's control and hold over his body, even with such an overwhelming gap in power.

What the Goddess cannot do, I can do!

There was that thought again—kept only to him, for not even the Goddess could spy on it. The power radiating from his body kept that thought present. The Goddess Madris couldn't do it, but that didn't mean it was impossible. It just meant it was outside of her skill set.

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"What does your Law do?"

Kubrat looked at him strangely. She hesitated, seemingly pausing on the decision to tell him or not. Eventually, she closed her eyes and spoke.

"Illusions. I obtained the Law of Illusions, which allows me to conjure illusions so realistic that it's nearly impossible to distinguish them from reality."

"And what breaks it?"

Kubrat smiled, opening her eyes. She looked toward the standing Lawruthian, who was now leaning over the table, staring at her. This was her secret, the method to break her power and nearly make her defenseless to any who pursued her. Now, this young man she'd only used as a means to an end was her hope, and he asked for the keys to the palace.

Kubrat raised her hand and conjured a bouquet of flowers. "Lilacs and lilies. That smell will constantly permeate the area. If you realize it, you can quickly deconstruct the illusions."

"Do you still level."

Kubrat looked at him strangely. She then very obviously looked down at the hole in her chest, then back at him.

"I've heard powerful undead can level," Lawruthian clarified. "I'm just wondering if you are the same."

"No, I cannot level, but I can gain Law Points and Law Understanding from diverse usage of my skills and those who put their faith in me. I cannot gain Life Points; thus, to cast, I usually use the mortals around to construct my illusions."

Lawruthian's eyes brightened. So that was the key to her power back then, that's why we all woke up drained.

A series of rapid-fire questions was exchanged between the pair. Madria smiled, quietly nibbling at the assortment of items on the table. Currently, she was munching on a dried piece of a branch like it was a carrot. The wood tasted sweet and seemed similar to a sun-dried snack, like a date or raisin.

"Do you have any Priestess, any direct worshipers currently?"

"I can barely support myself, let alone any Faithful."

"How have you kept yourself alive?"

"Small tricks, mainly illusions that release a burst of faith energy from those within the palace—not all of it is directed at the Goddess, and I snatch what I can. Creations like your Edryani Honey are among my greatest works—illusion into reality."

Interesting, Lawruthian mused. "You mentioned Law Points, what are they?"

"They're points one gains when using their law, generated by acts that affect the mortals of the realm. They allow you to cast your most powerful divine abilities, changing reality and those within your domain."

"And Law Understanding?"

"Law Understanding, Law Comprehension," Kubrat waved her hand, dismissing the bouquet. "They're the level of understanding you have for your Law. The greater the understanding, the closer you are to becoming a demigod and the greater control you have over the Law in reality."

"How do you use your powers? What method do you best use your illusions?"

Kubrat was a bit taken aback by the rapid questions, but continued to answer faithfully. "For the battlefield, of course. When I possessed Faithful, they would be powerful spell casters that would ensnare the minds of enemies, leaving their bodies defenseless. If they couldn't break out of the illusion in time…"

She left the rest unsaid.

Lawruthian frowned. "What else?"

Kubrat's eyebrows scrunched inwards. "When I was mortal, I weaved powerful illusions that many never woke from. I continued this process as a demigoddess."

"Have you ever tried to use your powers in a different format?"

Kubrat's expression remained the same. If anything, it was only becoming more confused by Lawruthian's direction of questions. "No, the greatest skill I possess is turning reality into illusion and illusion into reality. Such powerful skills can convince the weaker Prestiges or Demigods that they never truly existed. If they cannot break it, then they become an illusion."

Lawruthian sighed. "Just to confirm, you gain Law Points, and, I'm certain, levels, from doing these actions?"

"Yes."

"Using your power in diverse manners allows you to gain faith energy and more—in essence, it helps preserve your state?"

"Yes. If I'm able to collect a great amount, I and at the sacrifice of many, I may have the chance of reversing Life and Death."

"How did you die?"

Lawruthian suddenly switched the topic; he began to pace back and forth. He reached up with his left hand and gently kneaded his eyebrows.

"I…," Kubrat hesitated. "I don't exactly know."

Lawruthian paused for a step, then continued. "Tell me everything you can."

"I died in 5455 at the World's End Battlefield—before the Temple of the Sun. I'm not sure what happened, but the sun's brightness increased for a single moment. In the next… many were dead, including me. With my last breath, I cast my greatest killing skill: Reality into Illusion. Then the world changed."

Lawruthian paused for a step again before he continued. "World changed?"

Kubrat shook her head. "I don't know. When I next came to, I was already in the Edryan lands, and millennia had passed."

"How many Law Points does it take to cast Reality into Illusion?"

"A thousand."

"Do you possess a skill that does the opposite, or perhaps a secondary property of the skill allows the opposite?"

A loud nibble interrupted the back and forth for a moment.

Kubrat showed a soft smile directed at Madria. The young woman covered her mouth in embarrassment and attempted to chew quietly. She'd just consumed some sort of stone.

"Illusion into Reality is my second greatest skill. Its cost varies, but it can reach a thousand Law Points at its height."

"What methods did you use to collect Law Points previously?"

"My Faithful would cast divine imbued skills that would do anything from turning old wounds into illusions, show tales of my rise, and my specialty was illusions that were realistic enough to grant levels."

"Anything else?"

"Yes, but a majority were minor and did not allocate me as much faith energy or Law Points. Those I mentioned were the greatest."

"If I have the stocked Edryani Honey all used congruently, what would that do?"

"It would give me a significant amount of faith energy and a minor amount of Law Points."

"What do you think is necessary to bring you back to life?"

"I would need to cast Reality into Illusion at least twice. The first to remove," Kubrat gestured at her chest. "The second would be to turn my illusory body into reality."

Lawruthian paused his steps and turned to face the dead demigoddess.

"Who was your Chosen?"

Kubrat gave a self-deprecating smile. It seemed to have an air of hopelessness and more negatives. "That's the thing… I don't know. I've lost so much since…," she gestured toward herself. "I am certain of one thing… it was not Carno Edryani ."

Lawruthian's head quickly tilted forward in confusion. "Hmm?"

"I have no recollection of someone… so… unpleasant as my Chosen."

A tense silence entered the air as all parties present, including Marna, looked over at Kubrat. The silence lasted for several moments until Lawruthian broke it.

"…interesting. Then, in your book, why did you mention him?"

"Because there was no one else. In the second wing on the right side of the palace, there is a hidden library containing books and knowledge lost to the general public and even those here. It has been sealed with tight restrictive wards, causing all who pass the walls to sense nothing. I used it and what knowledge I knew to give you a hint."

"Hmm. You will show me later."

"Yes."

"So, if I understand correctly," Lawruthian began to theorize. "You need faith energy and Law Points to reverse Life and Death—an action, the Goddess cannot do."

Kubrat nodded, then hesitated and spoke after a cough from Marna. The woman seemed to be clearing her throat, preparing to speak, but Kubrat quickly answered. "It's not that She cannot do it..."

Lawruthian frowned, about to speak.

"It's just I would lose my chance at Godhood and become a Messenger."

"Ahh." He understood now. The Goddess did have a method to return Kubrat to life. It was only Kubrat who was unwilling, still believing in her chance at ascension.

Godhood.

Such a concept was something only those who stepped on the path and reached toward it knew. It was the sweetest nectar, the juiciest fruit. It was an achievement that would truly sublimate their existence into something more .

What the Goddess cannot do, I can do!

That thought reignited itself in Lawruthian's mind. He'd thought of several methods from the information Kubrat provided. Not of revival, although his shifting did move toward his new classes. Perhaps he could build her a golem body to inhabit and have a sense of life…

So long as he took the time to study Master Jaahgar's notes, Lawruthian was confident he, too, could give his golems Intent and bring them to life.

That method could be a last resort; instead, it seemed Kubrat possessed the skillset to attempt it herself. Only, she lacked the resources to make it happen. It's not that the Goddess couldn't issue a directive to have Edryan help the woman with all its might. It was that she was giving the task to Lawruthian, giving him a powerful chess piece in the upcoming days. Although Goddess Madris didn't have direct access to his innermost thoughts anymore. She'd occupied his body and sol for nearly eighteen years. It was more than enough to gain an understanding of him and what his actions would be.

WHAT THE GODDESS CANNOT DO, I CAN DO!

The thought once again surged. This time with more might than the previous three combined. Lawruthian clenched his fist, a decision made.

"I can help you," Lawruthian began. "With gaining a tremendous amount of faith energy and likely Law Points. I do not know fully how the system works, but so long as what you said is true, then there is a chance. Are you willing to try?"

Kubrat smiled, sitting up. A hint of her old majesty and playfulness from when Lawruthian first met her seemed to return.

"Do I have a choice?"

They both knew the answer to that question. Just as Lawruthian didn't have a choice in being her chess piece, the same could now be said of her for a chance at survival.

"Good. It will not be now, as I have too many matters to attend to, but after the palace settles down and my guests leave."

Kubrat nodded, but the spark that was lost in her eyes returned.

Lawruthian turned to Madria. "Do you want to come with me while I consult my mother about my classes?"

Madria smiled, lightly dabbing at her mouth with a handkerchief. "Gladly."

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