As it turned out, Fire Sultana Alexandrite was literally mercurial.

Victoire and the rest of Verglane's delegation were guided into the depths of the royal palace and its inner chambers dug into the very heart of Mount Sunfire. It was there, on a sculpted platform of black basalt polished with an obsidian floor rising above a lake of churning magma, that the Fire Sultan Onyx once welcomed petitioners. Victoire knew she and her allies would have already been burned to cinders or choked to death on the fumes without the potent magical wards making the room liveable for non-magmorians. Princess Topaz had told her on the way to Salamandra that her father often stripped disrespectful visitors of those protections when angry, which always resulted in their violent demise.

While the obsidian dais and throne of the Fire Sultan were quite impressive to look upon, the most noteworthy element of the room was the colossal, fifty-foot tall or so smokeless blue flame rising behind it. That was the Sacred Flame from which the first magmorians arose centuries in the past… or so they said.

Most importantly, it was the spot that Lady Pele's Idol used to occupy until her banishment from Elphion. Victoire could still feel the raw mana in the air even now.

Fire Sultana Alexandrite slouched on the throne while her sister, Topaz, and Jasper stood at her left, and General Peridot on the right. While the gemstone that gave her her name formed a womanly mask serving as her face, most of her body was made of ever-shifting quicksilver. She retained a humanoid shape, but her greyish metal skin reminded Victoire of a rippling mirror.

"You stand in the presence of Lady Alexandrite, the uncrowned Fire Sultana," Jasper announced to them. "Kneel!"

Victoire, Renarde, Kale, and Filou all followed through with the order, their knees hitting hard, warm obsidian floor. The Fire Sultana paid no mind to her visitors, though. Her gemstone eyes instead observed a piece of blackstone she held in her fingers.

"Do you think movement exists?" she finally asked in Verglanian, her voice echoing with the sound of rippling metal. Her gemstone lips didn't move while she spoke.

Victoire blinked, as did most of her comrades. "Excuse me, Your Majesty?"

"Suppose I want to throw this stone into the lava," the Fire Sultana replied. "Before it gets there, it must fly halfway across the room; and before it reaches that spot, it must advance a quarter of the room's length, and so on. Since that number can be divided infinitely, then it would take an infinite amount of tasks in a finite space, which is a logical impossibility. How would you solve that paradox and prove the existence of movement?"

A short silence followed, with Victoire exchanging a glance with her comrades. General Peridot had warned them earlier on her way to the room that Lady Alexandrite prized honesty in all things.

So Victoire just stood up.

"There," Victoire said simply. "I just did."

A short and awkward silence followed after that. Victoire held her breath as she suddenly wondered if her blunt answer had somehow offended the Fire Sultana, but her metallic laughter soon began to echo across the room.

"That's a new one, I like it!" the Fire Sultana said as she absentmindedly tossed the piece of blackstone into the surrounding lava. "You know, all my previous visitors either went on with deep philosophical tirades, praised my intellect, or tried to figure out what I wanted to hear."

"You are too silly, sister," Princess Topaz said with a light chuckle. "I did like the naga who told us that advancing required time and that time couldn't be divided forever because of imper… Imper…"

"The impermanence of all things, my beloved," Jasper finished for her.

"That one was fun too," the Fire Sultana said as she slouched on her throne. "You strike me as a woman of action, Lady Victoire. I expected no less from Verglane's most famed warrior and Lord Wepwawet's strongest Champion."

"I am neither," Victoire replied politely. Or at least, she didn't think she was.

"She's too modest to boast," Renarde said lightly, which drew some chuckles from the magmorians. The werefox always had a gift for knowing exactly what to say at the exact right moment.

"And this is my first time seeing werefoxes and wererabbits in the flesh," Lady Alexandrite said before turning her full attention upon Filou. "Your kind is even more adorable in person than the tales suggested."

"I-I'm not adorable!" Filou protested. "I'm fierce!"

"Aww…" His answer only amused the Fire Sultana further. "A pity my father never saw you, or I am sure he would never have marched against Verglane. His heart would have melted away."

Victoire clenched her jaw at her words. Although Princess Topaz had brokered a ceasefire after the Titan Incursion, an official peace treaty had yet to be signed. Something about the way the Sultana so casually spoke of her late father bothered her, too.

Princess Topaz showed more sorrow than her sister. "I miss Father and Bloodstone," she muttered to herself, with Jasper gently rubbing her arm. "If only our scouts could find their ashes…"

"I'm sure our new friends in the north will help with that," Lady Alexandrite said upon eying Victoire. "It would please us if our family's ashes could be returned to the Sacred Flame."

"We will bring back any magmorian remains that we find," Victoire replied, choosing her words carefully. "I assume you have no intention of continuing your father's policies?"

"Why?" Lady Alexandrite sounded almost confused by the question, as if that particular issue had already been solved. "An invasion was Father's foolish solution to our overpopulation issue, and the disastrous loss of most of our army has put an end to that. If anything, I need all magmorians left in Lavaland to secure our borders and fulfill our mutual defense obligations to our other neighbors." She casually waved a thumb at Peridot. "Hence why I refused this one's resignation, no matter how often he asks."

This one. The Sultana's casual tone surprised Victoire. The Fire Sultana acted way more casual than she would have expected, and she didn't sound all that saddened about her family's demise. Unless she's bottling up her feelings in front of others? Our nations were at war not too many moons ago, so I can't blame her for keeping us at arm's length…

General Peridot lowered his head. "I simply feel that I did not serve Her Majesty's father and sister as I should have and do not deserve my current post."

"Too bad, I have nobody else who can take it," the Sultana quipped.

"You sell yourself short, General," Jasper insisted. "Our nation needs you more than ever."

"Anyway, you're already well aware of our manpower issues," Alexandrite said, changing the subject. "As much as this new poisonous swamp provides a secure natural border between our realms, I would like to ensure that bygones be bygones between us and Verglane."

"The people of Verglane have agreed to settle on taking Citadel Sapphire as war reparations," Victoire replied. The fortress was a ruin, but once their soldiers finished rebuilding it, no one would be able to invade them from Lavaland again. "Lord Wepwawet also proposed a symbolic way to consecrate peace between our people."

"My sister already agreed to it," Princess Topaz said with delight. "One of your priests will marry my dear Jasper and me, and we shall convert to Lord Wepwawet's faith in front of the people."

Jasper steamed along the edges. "I have waited all of my life for this, and yet every second that separates me from this beautiful moment is unbearable!"

The irony that Jasper—the first magmorian to ever attack Narc—would end up converting to Lord Wepwawet for the sake of peace wasn't lost on Victoire; nor Lavaland's leadership. There would be no stronger symbol of reconciliation between their people.

"This act should indeed mend the wounds between our nations," Lady Alexandrite said with a sharp nod. "However, Lavaland's faith remains an open question."

Here it was, the crux of the matter behind Victoire's mission. She had to ensure that either Lord Wepwawet would take over the Altars of Lavaland, or that the god who did so would be a friend of his.

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"Lady Pele entrusted Lord Wepwawet with protecting Lavaland in her stead, and she shared state secrets with him to prove it," Victoire said upon eying the smokeless mana flame behind the throne. "Including the fact that this 'Sacred Flame' is a decoy."

Her words did not fall on deaf ears. The magmorians all grew quiet, with Jasper freezing in place while his fiancé covered her mouth and General Peridot glancing at the Fire Sultana.

"Your true Sacred Flame is not a fire at all," Victoire said. "It is the heart of a star that fell long ago and shattered the earth's crust on its way down, thus creating Mount Sunfire. It boiled over eons and continues to burn deep within the mountain so hotly that only Fire Sultan Onyx could touch it."

That was also something Lord Wepwawet had asked her to investigate, since that so-called 'meteor' was apparently made of blackstone according to Lady Pele; and thus linked to the lunarian threat.

"Interesting," the Fire Sultana finally said.

"Is this true?" Jasper asked in shock.

"Yes," Princess Topaz whispered back. "It is a royal secret that our father forbade us to speak of."

Lady Alexandrite nodded sharply. "Perhaps Lady Pele indeed entrusted you with these secrets… or your god used his magic to find it. His kind does possess powers we mortals do not understand."

"Lord Wepwawet understands your misgivings, especially considering our recent history," Renarde said diplomatically. "The people of Lavaland alone must choose whom to believe in, and he will support whichever they pick."

"Will he?" The Fire Sultana didn't sound all that convinced. "Although Kathay's and Stalheim's ambassadors have confirmed their neutrality and that Megaloria's god supports your own, almost all of our other neighbors voiced interest in claiming Lady Pele's former Altars. While I've excluded distant gods—since I would rather foster bonds closer to home—some of these entities watch over longtime allies. I cannot ignore them, and I fear it is inevitable that our nation will either find a protector or face a conqueror."

"Lord Wepwawet's assistance would let you maintain your neutrality," Victoire said, having been briefed on the political situation between the Zoramesh Empire and the Republic of Valentine to the south. "We can provide you with military support to compensate for the losses you took during the Incursion, and thus let you continue to act as a peacekeeper for your southern neighbors."

"That would be true under normal circumstances… but in this age of chaos and miracles, alliances weigh much less in comparison to the divine powers at play." Lady Alexandrite joined her fingers, her quicksilver nails melting together. "It is not the strongest nation that Lavaland should listen to, but the strongest god."

"The strongest god?" Renarde chuckled. "With all due respect, Your Majesty, your soldiers and sister watched our own wrestle a mountain-sized lizard into the dirt. I would say you will find no stronger protector."

"He speaks true, my sister," Princess Topaz said. "I have seen Lord Wepwawet in action myself, and his power was… breathtaking."

"I do not doubt your word, my dear Topaz… but I am a woman of logic," the Fire Sultana replied. "And tales must be put to the test before they can become the truth."

Victoire frowned. "What kind of test, Your Majesty?"

"A miracle test. The truth is that I have yet to undergo the crowning ceremony and officially succeed my father; which would be the occasion to officially recognize Lavaland's new faith."

Although Lady Alexandrite's mask remained unchanging, her quicksilver body appeared to shudder in anticipation.

"The god that impresses me the most before that day," she said, "shall crown me in front of our entire nation."

A miracle contest?

"I don't like it in the slightest," Wepwawet informed Victoire through their telepathic bond once their audience with Alexandrite concluded. "Is the Fire Sultana set on this?"

"Seems so. Renarde argued that Lavaland could greatly benefit from our Terraformers and Verglane's magma chambers to host other magmorians which Topaz supported, but the Fire Sultana wouldn't hear it." Victoire sighed on her end of the telepathic line. "I've sent Kale to organize a meeting with the other gods' ambassadors so you can all link up."

"Good call." Wepwawet couldn't blame Alexandrite for asking for tangible proof of the gods' power after the whole fiasco with Pele, but this didn't play into his plans at all. He hoped the meeting with his classmates would cause the candidates to back out and sidestep the issue entirely.

"You think you can't win?" Victoire asked upon sensing his worry.

"Even victory would come with a cost," Wepwawet replied. He had a few excellent Miracles like The Divine Avatar or now Neigebleue Castle to impress people with, though his classmates might have obtained equally powerful ones as well. "My issue is that a good general never reveals his tricks to potential enemies, and I'll likely need to show a trump card in front of people who might become our foes in the future."

"I understand… but on the other hand, this will let us gather information on the competition."

"Or create an opportunity for deceit." The likes of Ishtar had quite a history on that front. "Play along for now, I need to think about it."

"Sure," Victoire replied before changing the subject. "How are things going with the others? Are they holding up?"

"Quite well." Wepwawet thought now was not the time to break the dragon news to Victoire, considering everything she had on her plate for the moment. "Quite well indeed."

In fact, Wepwawet was holding two conversations at once. Part of his attention remained focused on the Neigebleue Castle's Altar where Bernard introduced him to his latest creation: a sounding horn crafted from the late giant wendigos' antlers. Wepwawet only had to check the stats for his spirit to grin in triumph.

Wendighorn of Plenty

Type: Accessory (Instrument)

Quality: B

Weight: 3

Heroes Feast (three spots): Once per day, whoever blows the horn can cause it to overflow with succulent fruits, nuts, and vegetables capable of curing the Poison, Disease, Starvation, and Fatigue ailments. The amount of food produced depends on the user's Rank.

A catering mainstay which has sent many cooks down to the unemployment office and saved many minions from starvation.

Bernard gathered his breath and blew into the horn. The noise that came out of it was chillingly terrible—a mix of an elk's cry and a wendigo's howl—but a stream of succulent fruits and lettuce flowed out of the instrument in a waterfall of juicy food. By the time Bernard had to stop to catch his breath, over two hundred pounds of food had been piled up on the floor.

"Amazing work!" Wepwawet congratulated his Champion in spirit-form. "You've outdone yourself!"

"Thank you, Your Godliness," the yeti replied with modesty. "I'm so glad my tribesmen will never have to experience a minion famine again."

"None in Verglane shall suffer one either, thanks to you," Wepwawet replied upon confirming that he could indeed claim the artifact as a relic of his faith according to the System. He guessed that the wendigos' myth about being a punishment from Grand-Loup himself worked in his favor. "I do have a question though."

"Yes, Your Godliness?"

"Wendigos are incarnations of hunger and cannibalism, so why are horns made of their antlers producing fruits and vegetables?" That hardly made any sense.

"I, uh, I had Princess Treasure kiss the antlers and break the curse before I used them for crafting," Bernard replied. "I thought it wise not to use cursed material."

Oh. Oh, that was smart. Wepwawet wished he had thought of that. He committed the fact that his new mimic could break curses on objects—not just people—to memory and then claimed the wendighorn as a relic of his faith.

Quest: Relic Hunt IV, completed! You have earned the Wendighorn of Plenty Rank 6 Artifact Miracle!

Wendighorn of Plenty

Rank 6 Artifact

Conjures a Wendighorn of Plenty (quality B) at a designated spot.

New Quest: Relic Hunt V

Acquire and bless a unique relic of cultural significance.

Reward: Artifact Miracle.

And the cherry on top of the cake was that it wasn't unique! Wepwawet could create as many copies as he wanted!

There goes my lettuce garden, Wepwawet thought as he immediately replaced his old and now completely obsolete Sacred Food Miracle with his new one. You served me well, but it's time to move on.

Quest: Magic Collector, completed! You have earned the Reflect Force Rank 9 Prophecy Miracle!

Reflect Force

Rank 9 Prophecy

When one of your Champions is targeted by a spell, you can grant all of your Champions the Reflect status (send spells affecting the Champion back to the sender) for five minutes.

Ah! Now that one would hold a nasty surprise for gods using lots of spellcasters!

New Quest: Magic Trader

Trade at least five Miracles with other gods.

Reward: Prophecy Miracle.

Oh, that one shouldn't take long to complete since Wepwawet had already traded a few Miracles with his friends. His main issue was finding out whether or not those he had already traded with counted for the quest or if he would need to restart from scratch.

Unfortunately, Wepwawet soon encountered a new problem: he could only hold thirty cards in his deck, and he had already replaced all his beginner deck cards. There were no easy picks to let go of this time.

Wepwawet decided to let go of Sleeping Magna-Shield after a short moment's consideration. Victoire already retained the original, so he could always re-register the relic in a pinch. Other Miracles would be harder to let go of.

Bernard will quickly run out of wendigo horns to fashion the wendighorns, but if I produce one of them per day, Wepwawet thought. I can equip all settlements in Verglane with one in a month's time, which should considerably ease our farmers' burden; especially with Narc's fields still being poisoned.

He was deep in logistical contemplations when he sensed Victoire's anxiety through their bond. "Lord Wepwawet," she called out to him. "Do you see this?"

See what? Wepwawet focused his attention back on his first and most precious Champion to watch the world through her eyes. She had long left her guest room and now looked up to the ash-ridden sky from the palace balcony alongside her fellow Champions.

A pyramid floated down from the clouds above.

A mix of nostalgia and utter confusion floored Wepwawet as a colossal, flying limestone monument about as large as the Red Pyramid of Egypt descended with a rumbling roar towards Salamandra's outskirts. A base of blackstone similar to the ones Wintresse used to create her wands radiated magic, keeping it afloat. A congregation of winged humanoids akin to angels and harpies escorted it and trumpeted its arrival for all of Lavaland to hear.

However, it was another and very infuriating detail that caught all of Wepwawet's attention; namely, all of the pyramid's faces boasted a certain one-eyed falcon's symbol.

His cousin Horus was finally making a move.

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