So it's decided. We will start to investigate all those locations and determine if we can find a trace of the Council." Miruliru nods with a satisfied expression.

"And you are sure that Eris told you the truth?" Carne grumbles while he is flipping through a stash of papers.

"Sure as much as it's possible. I kept Eris close just in case." I smile at the group at the table. We are in Asheim to talk about our future actions.

"You kept her close? Don't tell me you did something unreasonable like with El Shaddai!" -Chiffre

"Nonono. It's nothing like that. You don't have to worry." I keep smiling. Hmmm. But the talks about El Shaddai remind me of something.

It feels like I forgot something. Hmmm.

"I see, you don't want to tell. Well it's the same in any case." Gwalonna shrugs her shoulders.

"We will check all locations within our territories and report back as soon as we find something." Zanders nods at the group and vanishes.

One after the other, the rest leaves too until I am alone in the room. Hah. It still feels like I forgot something.

Whatever. I will remember it sometime. While I hum a tune, I step onto a pathway to take a look at our newest project.

I reappear on a panorama platform above Chimera. To be more exact it's on the moon. To deal with the rapid appearance of new Spheres, we decided to massively invest in our fleet of flying fortresses.

By stepping closer to the big window, I get a good view on a long row of crystalline ships. Well I will call those things ships. They are smaller than the fortresses with long and sleek forms.

We decided to do it that way because they are easier to build. Or grow in this case. And using a whole fortress is serious overkill to deal with small incidents.

The other powers don't have something like that yet. But they are playing with the thought. The Arcane Community already launched a few of their prototypes.

The fortresses and ships offer protection if nothing else. It's not that easy to crack open a crystal armoured shell. And in case of fights, they are perfect rally points of strategic value.

"I see you came to take a look at my work." Margerie's voice reaches me from behind.

I turn around and smile while hugging her. "I got curious how far your project has evolved."

"The first few ships will fly within the next month. We concentrated all our efforts in developing the moon as a shipyard so far. If we face no unforeseen problems, we will start to finish a ship every three days." Margerie smiles proudly while she crosses both her fingers in front of her.

I arch my eyebrows. That's more than I bargained for. "Do we even have enough people to man them?"

"They have smaller crews than the fortresses and there are many security features to the systems. We could even lend them to the other powers if we run out of personnel. Of course only in exchange for a little fee." -Margerie

I smile wryly at her. "I wouldn't be too confident that guys like the Arcane Community wouldn't be able to work around those security features. They have some very crafty people."

Margerie snorts at that comment. "I doubt that they would have the guts to dabble with my security features. I linked any security breach directly to a complete energy conversion."

"Energy Conversion?"-Me

"The mana which makes up the mana crystal will completely convert directly into energy, if a foreign power would take control of the vessel." -Margerie

"ARE YOU INSANE!? IT WILL BLOW THE WHOLE SOLAR SYSTEM APART!"?I scream up. That's dangerous! Never release the energy of a mana crystal uncontrolled!

"MUAHAHA! It will be fine! It's all within my calculations.?Half of the mana will be spent to create barriers. The destruction will be restricted to a small space around the vessel." Margerie pats my shoulder with a confident smile.

"I still haven't a good feeling about something like this above Chimera." -Me

I keep talking to Margerie about her security measures for half an hour until I feel relatively assured about the safety of this project.

Afterwards I set out to get back to my family for dinner. It became a custom for the whole family to eat together at least once a week long ago.

I reappear inside the dining room where Celes is already waiting with the kids. Arthur, Katrine and Ireth are there too. Just Nicosar is missing?

I sit down at the table. "Where is the geezer?"

"Nicosar took one of the fortresses to investigate possible hideouts of the Council." Ireth gives me the short version.

He could have let others do such a boring job. Checking out all the places someone could hide within the multiverse is a hideously boring task. Even if you can move at instant speed from one location to another.

"Well. He could have taken the time and came here for dinner at least." -Me

"You know him. If he is on a task, he doesn't stop until it's accomplished." -Arthur

"Dear. I wondered lately. But have you released Tjenemit like we decided?" Celes asks me while Rose serves her a plate of food.

I hit my fist into my open palm! "That's IT!?I knew I forgot something!" I grab the globe out of my pocket. I carried it around for so long! It felt completely natural to have it in my pocket and somehow I forgot about it's existence.

"LIIIGHT! THE LIGHT IS BACK! AT LAST THE DARKNESS IS GONE! THE GREAT DIVINE MASTER FINALLY DECIDED TO....."

I grin at the Tjenemit globe. Somehow I don't want to give it away. This little gabble is very amusing, and relaxing too. It's a real treasure trove of entertainment.

Suddenly the globe gets snatched out of my hand!?"HEY!"

"That expression on your face was creepy! I will deal with this. You are obviously too reluctant to throw used and old stuff away!"Ireth glares at me.

While trying to object, my words get stuck in my throat. I can't go against mother. What's wrong me!? I am the King and I can't go against my mother! I have to stand up against this!

"Yes, mother."

Damn! I wanted to say no! I will never get rid of this conditioning!

*********In another world, at another time*********

Nyaaa! This is the worst outcome ever! My journey to glory and salvation! I only got halfway to the north when slave traders captured me!

Now I will be most likely sold as a lust slave! I wanna cry! Stupid life! Stupid curse! Stupid chains!

*Kick*?*Kick*?*Kick*

"Miss! You are going to draw the slaver's attention." The little girl beside me is chained to the same tree as me.

The slavers started a camp when night fell. There are twenty of them and about fifteen slaves. Mostly women and small children.

I heard that they are from a nearby village. The slavers attacked it while the capable men were on a hunt. While plundering everything, they captured everyone who couldn't run fast enough.

"Who cares! They will do horrible things to us. Does it matter if it happens sooner or later?" I grumble at the little girl.

"You are a gloomy one, Miss. Why don't we hope for the best and trust in our abilities and the gods?" The little girl smiles at me.

I start to chuckle. "Abilities and gods? Curse them all! I was on a journey to get rid of my abilities! And gods? The only thing I received from them so far are curses!" I spit on the ground to make a point.

"It looks like you had a hard life until now Miss. Care to tell me about it? Maybe I can help?" The little girl sits cross-legged besides me and pats my shoulder.

"You are a little girl! Younger than me! How old are you? Twelve? Thirteen? How do you want to help me? You can't even imagine what I went through!" I snap at the girl for no good reason. I just want to vent my anger!

How could I have been so stupid to believe that I would manage such a journey alone! The world is much different from a town.

"I may not look like it but I lived in a monastery and received the best schooling possible from the monks. They thought I was too cute to be left on the streets. I read many books in my short life. So if you tell me your story, I may be able to lend a few wise words." -little girl

I sigh. "My story isn't worth telling."

"I want to judge that by myself. And we have nothing better to do." -little girl

After a few seconds I conclude that I can't do anything else anyway. So I tell her about my life as the heir of the biggest whore-house in town. And about the curse by that pervert god!

How I couldn't even leave the house without cloaking myself. I would be hunted by hoards of morons in no time otherwise.

Never being able to talk to the opposite gender normally. They would always get charmed by my eyes or my voice.

And how I made up my resolve to search for a cure and trained my ass off. But I never found any clue about the gods who were involved in my curse besides the local deity of our city. But the deity didn't matter anyway. Her meddling didn't affect me.

Then I made my resolve to travel and search around the world for answers. Just to find out that I was easy prey for a few slavers with ropes and sticks! I was lucky that they didn't **** me on the spot.

When I am done, I look gloomy to the fire a few metres away. Aaah. It surely has to be warm there.

"You are a stupid little damsel Miss. To think that you lived your live like that until now is truly hilarious." The little girl chuckles and insults me.

"What? How dare you to say something like that?" I hiss at her.

"Miss. You lived your entire life without ever trying to control your powers or using them to your advantage. You just bathe in your own unluckiness and pity yourself." -little girl

I open my mouth with a shocked expression. Is that her wise advise?

"Miss. After hearing your story, you only complained about the gods. The gods are unfair and cruel. But in fact you got blessed by two gods and cursed by one. Two greater ones at that and one lesser are involved in your fate." The girl tilts her head at me.

"Do... Do you know anything about Angrod and Miruliru?" I try to crawl closer to the girl, but the chains stop me.

"Hmm. Let's see. Angrod is the god-king of the Realm of Chimera. Your soul seems to be under his jurisdiction. If I remember right he is a very very powerful being, although he isn't widely known because he normally doesn't concern himself with mortal beings. He is a god of magic and change."

The girl takes a breath.

"Miruliru is a benevolent and nice goddess. She is wise and helpful. And very kind. She is a goddess of faith and determination. You should thank her. Obviously you did something very nasty in your previous life for Angrod to play with your soul like that. But Miruliru took pity on you and averted the worst. Imagine your life if your mind would have been male?" The little girl chuckles at me.

My mind still isn't functioning after she started to talk about the gods. "You know how I can get rid of those curses?"

The girl shakes her head. "Idiot. Didn't you listen? Angrod is a king among gods. A magical being beyond imagination. And he dabbled with your soul very very thoroughly. I doubt that all the gods of this world together could take those curses off of you. Miruliru is a very strong god too and she could just help a little."

I let my head fall. My hope is gone. My dreams. All futile..... then the girl kicks me. "Ow!"

"Don't let your head fall! That's your problem! You just accept your abilities as curses but they are more! They are given by a divine being and you got a list of them, longer than most mortals besides heroes could ever imagine! Use them! Learn to control them! Try it! Call one of those slave traders and tell him to loosen the chains and let us go!" -little girl

"What are you saying? They would be idiots to do that." -Me

The little girl snorts at me. "If your mind is locked in a cage like that you may deserve your fate. Don't you have an ability to change your fate? Use it! Use Angrod's powers! They came from the king of gods! They are bound to be powerful!"

I think about it for a second and then I decide to try it. Maybe she is right and I looked at this from the wrong direction.

"~~~Hello? Guys? I am so alone here. Doesn't anyone of you want to come over here and talk?~~~"

Four of the slavers actually get up and come into our direction. Damn! I just needed one of you! Don't come here with your friends!

"Look! The Cutie is feeling lonely. Maybe we should entertain her a little?" A fat slaver starts to scratch his crotch while standing before us.

"No! I will take her alone! A fine girl like that isn't meant for fatsos like you." Another not really handsome skinny slaver insults his colleague.

"What did you say?" -fat slaver

The others just stare at me with lecherous eyes.

"~~~Uuum. I guess if you would prove me your worthiness, I could show you heaven? I like strong men!~~~"

"I will show you!" Suddenly Skinny draws a dagger and slits Fatso's throat.

I watch in horror as the blood sprays everywhere. Skinny must have hit an artery. I have never seen someone killed before!

"~~~KyAAAA!~~~"

I scream in horror as the fat slaver collapses before me and all slavers jump up at my scream. Another guy stabs Skinny from behind while the fourth draws his sword.

The other slavers reach the combatant's and try to stop them but one thing leads to another while someone gets shoved and stumbles into his own sword!

"~~~AAAAIIIIIIII!~~~"

I scream with all my might and tears in my eyes! Why are they doing this!?

A wild close quarters combat breaks out with everyone against everyone! I don't even understand why they suddenly start to fight each other after taking a look at my horrified face.

Seconds later everything is over and a field of corpses is before me. "Oh gods! So much blood! Oh gods! They killed each other!"

The other slaves watched in silent horror, as the scene unfolds before their eyes.

"I said you should call -one- of them over. Not start a fucking?slaughterhouse!" -little girl

I shake my head while I look horrified at her. "How should I know that this would happen!" I look back to the corpses which are lying close to us. But still too far away! "How should we get the keys now!? Did I kill us?"

The little girl takes a deep sigh.?"Well. At least you finally saw what you are capable of. Maybe you will learn from this and start to look at your powers in another light. Guiding mortals sure is rough. I will give you a little bonus since you are just a young dumb damsel in distress for now."

Huh? Her voice and her aura changed? Something heavy is in the air and it's hard for me to breathe. It feels like something far bigger than me is all around us.

The little girl stands up while her chains suddenly melt and pearl off her skin like water. A nice cute dress instead of the rags appears on her and she starts to skip towards one of the corpses.

I think that was the leader. The girl grabs a set of keys from his belt and throws them before me on the ground.

"Don't forget to offer some prayers to the gods from time to time. Especially towards ME! I will be mad otherwise! Helping someone twice without a thanks isn't my style."

I look up, but the little girl is gone.

"Miruliru?"

As if to confirm my question, my handcuffs suddenly click open and fall to the ground.

"Smart mortal! Try to get a grip on your?-blessings-?until we meet again."