Meera sat down as the sorceresses filtered out one by one, but not before throwing some glares her way. It was as if they were instructed to dislike Meera, no matter what she did. After all, she had just brought them some proper intel while saving one of their own, and they still hated on her.

Ilona gave her a nod as she walked out, so not all hated her. Though she made sure no one else saw her doing it. Meera figured she would be in a lot of trouble if Duinith or any of the older sorceresses saw her doing it.

Once they had left and the door firmly shut, the princess sighed—a dark orb formed in her hand, which grew to cover the room in darkness. Everything fell into shadows. With a start, Meera realized it was the same skill that Munral had used to encase them in darkness when she first conversed with the God King and then when she met with the Royal Oracle, Rehia's mother.

"Since you're doing this, it must be important," Meera stated.

She rubbed her temples. "You know, I have half a mind to send you away."

Meera frowned. "Why? Because the sorceresses don't like me?"

"And vice versa. Whenever you and any one of them are in the same room, it seems like I'm sitting on a volcano that is going to explode at any moment. What did you do to them?"

"I thought you knew. I unleashed an archdragon on them, which resulted in the deaths of the bulk of their sisterhood, their leader, and destruction of their home."

"Yes, that would do it," Rehia stated. "And I did know that. But that is not why I've asked you to stay behind. Meera, I have a secret mission for you, when you are out there surveying the enemy's capabilities…"

"You want me to bring back as many sorceresses as I can," Meera said, guessing her intent.

"Not as many. All of them. I want you to put your hatred of the sorceresses aside for a few minutes and work with them, or our little war will be over before it even begins."

There was something that had been irking Meera since before they had even left the capital. It was their meager numbers. It was like the princess was making a statement that she would do this with just her sorceresses. After all, their empire had a planet's worth of soldiers they could call upon, but they launched their campaign with a few dozen women.

"Speaking of our meager numbers, why did you bring so few for this campaign?" Meera asked. "There are barely fifty of us. I'm sure the God King could afford to spare a few hundred capable soldiers."

"Oh, he could afford to spare, way more than that." There was a faraway look in her eyes, with a tinge of sadness. "You were there at the gala when he announced that I would be getting no help from him. He summoned me the next day and threatened to lock me up in my room if I didn't stop acting so stubborn. Said I was acting like a fool, that I was throwing my life away on some fool's errand. When I tried to make him see reason about why it would be beneficial to remove the Cult from our borders, he wouldn't have any of it. Said that if I were adamant about doing this, then I would have to do it on my own. He particularly didn't like that you had agreed to back me in such an open manner."

"I see…"

It certainly made the unspoken threat clear. He was still worried about his daughter and if she perished on this campaign, then Meera might as well add the Varshan Empire to her long list of enemies. So, on top of having to find a way to kill Elrasil, a man who could make immortal monsters, she would have to keep an eye on the princess, making sure she was safe at all times.

Meera sighed and leaned back in her chair. She reached into her Hoard Belt and pulled out a cube with two symbols on it—one was of the T-Rex like Druvis, Kyldar, which glowed red, and the other was of the green glowing leaf. The princess's eyes widened when she saw that.

"Wherever did you get that?" she said, rising to sit up straighter as she reached for the cube.

"Munral gave it to me when I left for the Mantle, in case I needed help in my travels. And I'm just now realizing that the reason they didn't come to my aid or go looking for me when I was training in the Rawaki jungle was because they always knew where I was."

"How so?" Rehia asked, frowning.

"This thing lets Munral track me, no matter where I am," Meera explained. "It's a trade-off for being able to summon his Reapers for aid."

Rehia scoffed and shook her head. "What a convenient way to track your movements."

"I realized that, but I kept it, just in case I needed some backup." Meera shrugged. "Now, I'm giving it to you. I'm guessing you know how it works. So, use it when the going gets tough, and it'll send a call to the Reapers to come to our aid."

Rehia nodded. "Thanks, Meera. I think I will keep it, though no matter how much I want to smash it to bits."

"Now, if there's nothing else, I have some notifications to go through, and I did say to the sorceresses that I would wait for them in the town square."

Meera almost told her about Lainor, but she decided to keep this one in the back pocket for now. She wouldn't play that hand until she absolutely needed it. After all, this war hadn't truly begun. For now, it was time to see what that wall of theirs could do.

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"Please think on our conversation, Meera," Rehia said, as she collapsed the shadow dome.

Meera sighed. "Yes, yes, I'll save your annoying witches."

"Thank you."

Meera left the princess's hut and walked down to the middle of the town square. There was a big pole that held a notice board of some kind. She put her back to the pole and sat down on the ground. She ignored the sorceresses and their glares. She was used to it by now and didn't think it was going to get any better.

Then she brought up her notifications.

*ding!*

[You have killed 6 Frostweavers – Level 401 - 447]

*ding!*

[Congratulations. The Mirrorborn Slayer has gained 4 levels and reached Level 632. You have been awarded 12 stat points]

*ding!*

[Congratulations. Mirror Affinity (III) has gained 2 levels and reached Level 96. All of your mirror-based attacks will get a 576% boost.]

*ding!*

[Congratulations. Mirrorbound Sight (III) has gained 2 levels and reached Level 46]

*ding!*

[Congratulations. Mirror Tower Shield (III) has gained 1 level and reached Level 4]

*ding!*

[Congratulations. Nightstalker Bindings (II) has gained 2 levels and reached Level 59]

*ding!*

[Congratulations. Mirror Bolt (II) has gained 2 levels and reached Level 26]

*ding!*

[Congratulations. Quaking Fist (IV) has gained 1 level and reached Level 96]

*ding!*

[Congratulations. Haunting Presence (I) has gained 3 levels and reached Level 29]

*ding!*

[Congratulations. Armor of Mirrors has gained 3 levels and reached Level 287]

Next came the part she would've been excited for, but this time, she was less so. She had seen quite a few skills of the Frostweavers, and there were only so many she hadn't seen yet. Besides, she didn't care for them. Unless there was a skill that could depower them all and make her invincible, and she doubted they would be walking around with such a skill.

As expected, there was nothing new. She had seen most of the skills already. There were a couple of Frigid Waves, an Ice Ball, a Hailstorm, Frost Sense, Frozen Cleaver, and even an Arctic Cage. The problem with these ice skills was that an ice mage could easily counter them. They could easily melt this down, and she would've wasted Mana for nothing. However, there was one pair that stumped her.

*ding!*

[Class Ability Activated. You have stolen the skill Glacial Calamity– Level 143. Glacial Calamity – Type: Active. Affinity: Ice Affinity. You can call down a towering glacier from the heavens, shattering the battlefield in a storm of ice and ruin. The impact is so wide and strong that it shakes the ground and sends out waves of frost that freeze your enemies solid where they stand. Would you like to acquire this skill?]

*ding!*

[Class Ability Activated. You have stolen the general skill Cryoward – Level 213. Your body has become resistant to cold, will take reduced damage from ice skills, and chill, freeze, and frostbite will never take hold. Would you like to acquire this skill?]

Meera rubbed her chin. The first sounded like a powerful skill that could alter the shape of the battlefield. She could smash an army's worth of enemies with one move. In essence, she alone could make the difference in the coming battles.

But Cryoward…

Was just what she needed. With this skill, she could survive the cold of the White Ember. Whether she could survive the extreme temperatures was anyone's guess, but she would have to test that out. For now, this could work. With this skill, she would become resistant to her enemies' attacks.

So, do I want an extremely powerful skill or one that I will need in the future?

In the end, she chose Cryoward.

*ding!*

[You have acquired the skill Cryoward (II) – Level 90]

Meera grinned as the skill took effect. The chill in the air vanished almost entirely. She could still tell that it was cold, but she didn't feel the cold much. The chill air was like a gentle summer breeze, which felt nice. She was sure her armor was insulating her, but she also knew that this skill alone was not enough for her to cross the White Ember. That eventually the cold would get to her, forcing her to light a fire, and thus inviting the Hierarch's beast from within the ice.

She didn't let that thought put a damper on her mood. This skill would be immensely helpful in taking down the Cult.

She closed her eyes and rested her head on the pole, enjoying the cool air. She noticed a group of five sorceresses coming towards her. They were clad in what looked like expensive armor, but it wasn't like traditional armor that the men wore. It was as if they had sewn the metal in their clothes, and for once, they weren't wearing dresses and were dressed for battle.

They must've thought she was sleeping, for one sorceress raised her hand, and steam came off it. She had auburn hair, plump lips, and looked like she was a brat. She didn't look a day over twenty, but then it was impossible to tell their true age. Meera didn't need to know her to tell that much about her.

[Sorceress of Mists – Level 399]

"Shall I wake her up with a hot steam bath?" She asked the woman standing to her right.

The sorceress gave her a side-eyed glance. "Stand down, Gael. We're not here to fight."

This woman had a no-nonsense persona about her, like she was a military drill sergeant. She was the only lady here who hadn't let her hair down. She had tied it in a tight bun. Her face was all sharp angles. There was an eagle-like aura to the woman.

[Sorceress of Sounds – Level 478]

Meera had a strange feeling that filled her with intense sadness when she saw the woman. She couldn't help but equate it to her Ascendant ability that let her sense a person's fate.

She coughed, and to see what she would do, Meera decided not to open her eyes. She coughed again, a little louder this time.

Meera still didn't stir, but someone else did.

The brat, Gael, stepped forward. "She's not going to wake up like this. She needs a good kick."

Before the woman could stop him, Gael kicked. Her foot was directly aimed at Meera's head. Her hand flashed, and she caught the girl's foot, eyes still firmly closed.

Now, Meera opened her eyes. "The only reason your foot is still attached to your leg is because I promised the princess that I wouldn't hurt you all. I have a very short memory, and by the next time you try this shit, I'll forget all about my promise."

Gael tried to take her foot back, but Meera held on a little longer and pressed down on her ankle. She didn't need to activate Druvis Might to make it hurt. She was strong enough already.

The other woman, who was clearly their leader, stepped forward, putting a hand on Gael's shoulder to steady the struggling girl.

"Message well received."

Meera let go of the girl and stood.

"I am Jephena," the leader said. "Despite our differences, I hope we can work together."

"You keep your girls in line and we'll work plenty fine." Meera smiled and formed a Mirror Tower Shield big enough for them all to stand on. "Well, hop on. Time to give the Cultists a tweak on the nose."

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