The Second Carpenter

LV

LV_I_The_Hymn_of_Ekowa

"Your breath smells of inferno."

Hearing Raznaxard say those words to Rasa'el, Suaroca who was awkwardly playing with her hair came to realization of what that scent she had never been able to point out was, as if she knew the smell of inferno.

"No number of decades seem to be enough for a nephilim to adjust to terrestrial life. Maybe I should have started brushing my teeth after all."

"My comment was a complement and you know it."

"It's good to see you as yourself again, old friend. But I notice that you have let Skuls loose. If he gets out of hand . . ."

"Worry not; I still have remarkable influence over creatures of hell. And, for no apparent reason, Kris seems to be cooperating with me."

"Will you have them aid the vampires?"

"That would be meaningless. We don't need the southern continent to die out completely as long as we can simply contain them throughout the process of terraforming; and I'm confident that the vampires are already more than capable of accomplishing that."

"Whither, then?"

"With you two." He smiled at Suaroca.

"Oh, hi!" Suaroca found herself no longer capable of conveniently pretending she did not exist.

"I see. For the summoning?"

"Yes. We can't take any chances with that. An army of demons will escort the Summoner to the portal."

"I needn't remind you, I trust, that the Mortal Tast is yet incomplete?"

"I know. I've . . . spoken with our lord. 'Just take the girl there, it will be okay.' Well, we've never regretted trusting him. That is the reason he is to be followed. Part of the reason."

"If Madowa said so, then it will be fine."

"And don't worry about the south. I will command everyone carrying my blood to come to you aid, except the ones who are in the southern continent; I'll have them aid the vampires."

"Fair enough."

LV_II_The_Noble_Few

With endless wishes of health for your beatitude, glorious Matriarch of ancient Inisaisa, we would like to sadly inform you of foreboding activities surrounding the temples in the great desert of our humble continent. We fear this potential threat may prove too much for the Union to handle on its own if the event in the near future are not organized correctly, and we would like to ask for your support as such. It is a fact that if the next election of Emeria does not work in our favor, the Union will lose a remarkable deal of its grasp in the region. It is also worthy of remark that the relations between this continent and your magnificent island has grown ever more fruitful in the hands of the current head of the Union. It is indeed a fact that a threat that is not contained in the continent of Tholaralia shall become a threat to the world, naturally including Arxoloksia. We merely wish for your support in the next election of Emeria.

Bertrand Saikario, Head of the Diamond Belt Union

How nice of you to write to me, old friend. Whatever it is that worries you, I shall entrust that matter to the extremely intelligent people of Emeria to utilize the democracy that they definitely have and is by no means an absolute illusion. Ask for my help once your venerable union sees reason enough to accept women as official board members. It needs not pointing out that your comparison with the gender-based laws of Inisaisa made absolutely no sense and was disappointing, just as much as the fact that you write to a friend only when you need her. I will not be told that the safety of my nation relies on your reelection; and your attempt at making the implication more polite by being indirect failed completely. I enjoy you very much; which does not change the fact that you seem to fail to acknowledge the superior nature of my birth. To think of the women under my care as their matriarch and their hardworking slaves outside my direct territory, I observe that an entity on the brink of collapse is not a reliable ally for my people. For this exact reason, I may even have to consider withdrawing the part of my wealth entrusted to the banks owned by the Union. But worry not, I will only do that if the threat seems ever more tangible; for unlike you, I do not forget old friendships. If your Union is in fact as capable as you claim, dealing with your situation will surely not prove to be problematic.