Morning arrived and a servant fetched Rashanna. She was led through dark corridors, completely blind in the blackness, until she entered a large, circular chamber that was illuminated by a single, bright brazier in the center of the room, recessed into the floor. The crackling flames cast a sinister glow over the room.
All around the room were cushions that had low tables in front of them. She spotted Chancellor Vehenna, Spymaster Velenna who she was introduced to recently, and several other figures whom she did not know the names of, but instantly committed them to memory. In front of her, however, was the most unique person she had ever seen before.
The wooden throne was covered with furs. Flanking it were twin Duskari – male and female mirrors of one another, with the only difference being their armor. On the throne, dressed in resplendent, black full plate, was a Duskari woman. Unlike the rest of that race present, her eyes were blue, and flickered like flames. She was...beautiful. Gorgeous. Rashanna had never seen someone more striking.
Until she noticed the scales, claws on the hands and feet, and what she thought was a crown – which was actually horns. She felt fear and her heart pounded in her chest. This is the Demonic Dragon...the Destroyer.
Vehenna stood up, "My Lady, I present to you Rashanna of the prestigious Selenya family. She has traveled to us from Vharthos and is here to seek appointment as your chief Diplomat."
Rashanna bowed deeply, "It is a pleasure to be allowed to look upon you, Lady Rivers," she stated as firmly and with as much confidence as she could muster under the withering glare.
The Destroyer stood. The armor receded to reveal a lithe form, and the draconic features vanished. Lyn Rivers walked down the dais and to Rashanna. "Stand up." The voice was deep. Almost otherworldly so. The same voice that every person on Ghomar heard not too long ago.
Rashanna stood, her heart pounding faster and faster. She could feel her ears twitching with her tail – physical indicators of her anxiety. Please don't kill me, was all she could think, pleadingly, hoping this Destroyer heard her.
Lady Rivers circled her before nodding, "Excellent. You are in good health? No maladies or lingering medical issues?"
"None, your grace," Rashanna replied. She knew better than to call this person 'my Lady' – that would only be proper if she had sworn to their service.
Lyn laughed. An enchanting laugh that caught Rashanna off-guard, and the voice was brighter and...cute. "Relax. I'm not going to eat you." She leaned in and whispered just loud enough in Vharthonian to be heard. "Unless you wanted me to."
Rashanna was shocked. Not by the threat of being eaten alive – she had anticipated that – but the fact that Lyn Rivers knew a language that was not taught to non-Vharthons. Where in the abyss did she learn that?
Lyn raised her hand and switched to Arinol, "If we are done with council business for today, all save Chancellor Vehenna, Spymaster Velenna, and my bodyguards are dismissed." The chamber rapidly emptied at her instruction, and she took her throne once more. "Gael, please, bring a cushion closer for our guest."
The male bodyguard in full plate pulled several cushions over and gestured to it. Rashanna bowed once more and sat on the offered seat. "Forgive me, your grace, for the imposition...how do you know my race's language?" She asked in Vharthonian.
The Destroyer giggled once more, responding in kind. "I know every language on Ghomar. But we are not here to discuss that."
Chancellor Vehenna stood up, "My Lady, shall we begin the interview?"
"Yes."
The Chancellor came over to Rashanna and began going through a series of questions regarding her finances, affiliations, relationships with various countries or organizations. This is...odd, Rashanna thought as she went through the questions.
Lyn listened intently to Rashanna's answers. She had come up with interview questions that she imagined someone on Earth would be asked if they were going to sign some sort of legal agreement. And the woman was answering with flawless grace, quickly responding to questions in a full and lucid manner. She had no connections to the world beyond the Valley of the Volcano, save for old business contacts who still held her in high regard, but not her family name. That's fine, Lyn thought. I can just have her utilize a title instead of a last name. Ensure she has a fresh start here.
When the interview concluded Vehenna bowed and backed away, and Spymaster Velenna approached. She grilled the Vharthon woman about any and every secret she held. The woman was...surprisingly forward. Or perhaps, unsurprisingly given that Lyn had intentionally intimidated her to make her afraid, hit on her to throw her off her guard, and implied that she has broad knowledge of events outside of the Valley.
And, just in case, Bolvon was hidden in the shadows. Lyn had no idea what to expect from this woman save for what Chancellor Vehenna had told her. Better safe than sorry.
The final questions concluded, and Lyn stood up. "You have passed this interview with satisfactory answers," she stated. "Now, to what your duties would be. My intent is to rule this whole world with benevolence and grace. A society where no one is sick as medicine is plentiful. A place where no one goes hungry, as they are provided food when needed. Where no person will be abused, and crime is eliminated. Equality amongst the races and social classes...with myself at the top, of course."
Ben ruffled his hair, "Okay. Maybe make a special one today for mommy? She would love one of the petunias, I bet."
Lawry picked up his supplies and went across the garden, plopping himself down on the dirt and setting to work with a fervor. "Mommy wants petunias, mommy gets petunias."
Ben chuckled and rocked Ginavieve in his arms as he took several laps around their property. An enormous chunk of farmland, their house was built on a hill overlooking a small town in the heartlands of Trisk. Their hospital was not only a place of learning, but also one of the places where injured and sick people came from across the kingdom. It was always practically full.
Couple that with Ben's school which produced some of the best bodyguards and brawlers in all Ghomar thanks to his actual boxing training and natural defensive fighting skills from the Guardian core...they made quite a tidy income. He barely had to work, instead getting to focus on just being a parent. He still did work around the farms and their various buildings because he didn't want to get lazy.
He was on the North side of their property when he spotted two figures riding down one of the trails running through their farms. That wasn't unusual in and of itself – quite common to take shortcuts through the fields instead of the main roads. Ben cast an internal spell upon himself, and a Guardian-only external spell that placed a barrier around Ginavieve – any damage she suffered would instead be directed to him.
But his worries were for naught. "Thomas!" he shouted as the man came into view. The Knowledge hero looked younger. And he had little hair, only a short crop unlike his normal unkempt mop. And he was...scarred, heavily so. There was a red-furred Vharthon with him as well, with several tails. She's a powerful mage in that case.
Thomas rode up and dismounted, "Ben! It's good to see you." He said in English.
Ben's demeanor soured, "I should punch you," he said. "You told us, promised us, you would come and tell us before going to smash that statue."
Thomas' head hung low. "Misty filled you in?"
"Yes. James killing you, your resurrection – how the hell did you pull that off anyways?"
"Long story." His eyes met Ben's, and there was a deep sorrow there. "I don't have my Knowledge core anymore. I'm just...Thomas the bookworm again." He chuckled ruefully, "I was hoping that you needed a tutor. I don't have any money, so I figured I could earn my keep by teaching your kiddos. Eli is more than old enough, and the other two could start learning also."
"Who is this with you?" Ben asked, swapping to Triskol.
"Ah, this is Stellas. She is one of Misty's former students. I'm tutoring her."
The Vharthon woman nodded her head from atop her steed, "It's an honor to meet the Guardian hero who saved us from the Demonic Dragon."
"You're welcome," Ben stated as he met Thomas' eyes. "Well, come up to the house. You'll have to get the go-ahead from Trisha, but I'll take all the help I can get with these tykes."
Thomas grinned from ear to ear, "Oh, that's right! This is the newest addition to the Baxter family. Hello there, little Ginavieve."
Ben's infant daughter didn't stir, just moved slightly in his arms. "She had a rough night. Catching up on the sleep."
"I thought you two used a spell to keep her from fussing and help her stay down?"
Ben chuckled, "These kids man. They're something else. They must've inherited my resistance to external spells."
Thomas shrugged, "Makes sense. I didn't find anything in the history books of two heroes having children." He stood up to his full height, "We could also test their mana cores, see how potent they are."
"Maybe when they're teenagers. I don't want them to be exposed to spells too early."
Thomas nodded, "That's fair. Wait until they understand the huge power at their disposal. Not set the house on fire, etcetera. Still, the earlier we start them on learning Elenthir, the better comprehension they'll have of it. That alone will set them apart in this world."
Ben waved for them to follow, "Come on, let's get you settled into one of the guest houses."