Meera was already fully packed. That was the luxury of having to move about so often and having an armor that was more like a second skin at this point. The only thing she needed to do before leaving was to visit a certain professor. It had been over a week since she had given him the Failed Crystal of Darthin.

He'd better have some new crystals ready for me by now, or I'll be less than happy.

Even if he could do two or three more, she would be happy. After all, she was going on campaign soon and would be earning a few good skills here and there, even if they were mostly going to be ice skills. But she might still be able to incorporate them into other skills and create a super powerful one.

So, she was headed for the University, preparing for another bickering match with the infuriating guards. But before she could even leave the palace, she was cornered by the princess, who, contrary to usual attire, was in full armor. Armor was stretching the word as it was decorated with many golden vines and flowering plants. It was beautiful to look at, but Meera thought it belonged more in a museum than in battle.

Meera raised an eyebrow. "Does that provide any protection, or does it only look fancy?"

"Oh, you wound me, Meera," Rehia feigned a hurt expression. "It's supposed to be very tough, and yet light enough that even someone like me can move about freely. A sorceress is supposed to move about and not be wound too tightly in one place. After all, having no armor is how you killed so many of them, didn't you?"

"No, I had an arch dragon do most of the killing for me," Meera said. "While I focused on the ones that really mattered."

"What more could one expect from one such as you," said a cold, feminine voice.

Meera had a feeling who it was, and then from around the corner, stepped Duinith, arms crossed and looking down at Meera from the bridge of her nose. Meera gritted her teeth, as she immediately wanted to put her in the dirt.

But Meera didn't let her anger show. Instead, she shrugged. "There is only one thing I care about in this world, and you tried to keep me from him. So, you lot had to go." She flicked her eyes to the princess, so she, too, got the message.

The princess paused for a moment as Meera's unspoken message was delivered to her. Her carefree mask slipped for just a moment before it was back. It was nice to see that Meera could get under her skin. Now, she just needed to make sure that she used it at the most opportune moment.

"Ladies, I will need you to play nice if we're going to be working together," Rehia said. "I can't have my dear army fighting with the Reverent Lady every chance they get. The same goes for you, Meera."

"I told them long ago that if any of them came across my path in the palace, I would gut them where they stand," Meera said. "The fact that I haven't gone through with my threat should tell you all you need to know. I'm only doing this because I need the Hierarch gone, so I can safely traverse the White Ember."

"Ah, yes, Firaan told me about your little scuffle and how you had to tuck your tail and run." Duinith's eyes mocked her, even if the rest of her face was impassive as ever. "All that power and still couldn't defeat a simple ice monster."

"You know what, I'll take you to the said monster and we can both see how well your papers fare against the simple ice monster."

"Ladies, what did I say about fighting under my command?" Rehia said.

Meera drew up. "Under your command?"

"Well, of course, it is my task, or did you miss that part?" Rehia said. "Didn't you say that you would help me. So, I'm your commander. The sorceresses understand this part very well. To them, I might as well be their next Sovereign."

Duinith said nothing to contradict the woman. She didn't even flinch or give her a side-eyed glance, but Meera knew that comment must've chaffed the old hag, especially in front of the killer of her last Sovereign.

"Well, it looks like you've truly housebroken them, Princess. Duinith didn't react to that comment, or maybe she is dying to burst out, but can't say anything. But if you can keep them in line, then…" Meera shrugged. "I'm all yours."

"Good." Rehia's jovial expression turned a little serious. "The reason for this visit is simple—you're the only one amongst us who has been to the Pale Mantle and seen the Winter Spire. Well, you and a few of Aksha's daughters, but I sent them as a forward scout. They're waiting for us there, preparing a war camp as it were."

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"So, what do you need from me?" Meera asked impatiently. She really wanted to head to the University to get her new crystals.

"I'm getting to it. Don't be so hasty, Meera. How long did it take you to get there?"

"A single day."

That got some raised eyebrows. Even the old sorceress couldn't keep the surprised expression from her face.

"I assume you flew there," Rehia said.

"That's right, and before you ask, I cannot just lift you all and have you fly there with me. I can only fly thanks to my mirrors." She jangled the mirror chakrams on her arms. She wouldn't let them know that her armor was made of mirrors as well.

"I see, then you can just give one to each of us and fly us to—"

"Absolutely not!" Meera snapped. "Any sorceress that touches my chakram is dead, that includes you, as well, princess."

Rehia's expression turned cold. "I could command you."

"And I will vanish like this." Meera snapped her fingers. "You know what, I changed my mind. You're not my commander anymore. This is a partnership. You need my help as much as I need yours in killing off the Cult. So, we do it together. You can give your commands to your witches, but we plan together, and I will do whatever we decide together. If you do not like that, then I suggest you find another Reverent Lady. I've had enough of you people walking all over me."

Duinith scoffed. "Shown your true colors that fast, huh? Hasn't been an Ascendant for two weeks and already thinks herself so high and mighty."

The princess didn't react to that information. She didn't even raise a single eyebrow. Of course, she would know. It was probably the first thing the sorceresses told her when they came here. It made Meera wonder how long this girl had been planning to take on the Cult and when she had first considered getting Meera to join her, probably since that conversation in her room. After all, her whole demeanor had changed after reading the prophecy.

The prince hadn't reacted at all till then. She simply stared at Meera as if she was contemplating whether or not to stab her now or wait until the opportune moment.

The princess sighed. "Partners, it is, Meera. The same rules that apply to me also apply to you. You cannot go off scheming and plotting behind my back. I do not wish to awaken one day, only to learn that you've gone and attacked the spire with an archdragon or something of the sort."

"That will depend on how well you can keep your witches in line," Meera said. "If we're talking about risks, I'm taking the greater risk by being in a camp full of women who wish me nothing but harm."

"No sorceress will lay a finger on you," Duinith said. "They will follow Veridiana's last command."

"And the daughters?" Meera asked. "Can you promise the same about them? The blood was still leaking from her mother's body when that mad woman shoved that command aside as if she had never even heard it and attacked me. And these daughters are nothing more than just pieces of the original."

"They can and they will," Rehia said firmly. "And whichever one doesn't will personally be executed by yours truly."

"No offense, Rehia, but they are stronger than you," Meera said. "In fact, most of these sorceresses are. It'll only be so long until they decide that they don't wish to listen to the commands of a princess. I know, I wouldn't."

"That is because you have no honor," Duinith said through gritted teeth. "And the fact that you would think the same of others speaks volumes about your character."

That pushed Meera over the edge. If the princess weren't standing here, she would've pulled off her chakram and made origami out of this paper sorceress. The sheer hypocrisy of this woman was appalling. It was as if this woman had no idea what her dear sisterhood was doing at all.

"Character and honor from the woman who gave the command to hack a man's body to pieces and be fed to the dogs while his lover was brutally humiliated in front of the rest of your order. And don't even get me started on what I saw in your dungeons. What Aksha did to those poor men." Meera shook her head. "They were literally begging for death. They'd been tortured so. Need I go on about the human experiments?"

"And there you two go again," Rehia said, heaving a heavy sigh. "Partner, just a suggestion, maybe do not talk to them. Pretend they're not even there."

"I will do that."

"Now, let's return to the very reason we came here," the princess started. "If we go by conventional means, by the road, it's going to take a few weeks to get to the Pale Mantle. By then, the cultists will have enough warning and they will fortify themselves so strongly that we might never break down their outer walls, let alone get anywhere close to killing their leader."

"I can fly you all, as long as you're clutching onto something made of a mirror," Meera said. "Something strong enough that it won't crack if you're gripping it hard, and you're going to want to grip it hard."

Rehia smiled. "Now, we're getting somewhere. I'll see if we can find some strong mirrors. But will you be able to carry us all the way there?"

"Yes, but bring a shit ton of Mana potions," Meera suggested. "I don't need to eat or sleep much, so I can keep going the whole day, but since you all are only human, you'll have to take breaks, so the best bet is we can be there in three or four days."

Rehia nodded. "Then let's plan to leave for tomorrow morning."

Meera raised an eyebrow. "You can have the mirrors ready by then?"

"I am the princess, after all."

"Well, I'll leave you to it." Meera moved past them and headed for the palace door, but she had taken two steps when a guard stopped before her.

He bowed low before speaking. "Reverent Lady, a message has come for you from the University. Professor Hiral Raka wishes to speak with you immediately."

Meera smiled inadvertently. Finally! You'd better have some good news for me.

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