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“You didn’t have to come with. We would have managed, or Lissana could have gone without you.” Quilo said, trying to soothe the other runner’s annoyance.  Shaa, his shoulders and legs still held captive by braces to support him, only grumbled as he very stiffly walked along the mountain trail. With Rowan back in the Beneath, studying of whatever it is she’s doing with Tal, his heart felt heavy and even with the drow at his side, he was feeling more than a little grumpy. Instead they were out in the mountains, following a rumor or all things. They needed gems for more of the haedian’s enchanting projects, and the specific ones were expensive so even with the guild’s resources, it might be more prudent to hunt them down themselves.  Following the same rumor was another puller by the name of Fletcher. She seemed pretty tough, and her belly was covered in a forged marking that almost made one feel warm in her presence from its color alone.  Their group was a bit bigger than the three of

Once upon a time there was a universe like so many others..., but with great heroes and villains... and many of them with abilities equivalent to those of gods... In this universe, the greatest heroes have been defeated. Somehow, a great villain has succeeded in his plan to destroy the universe... it would be prudent to ask what is gained by doing so? Perhaps... Longing for emptiness does not seem very productive or appropriate... why long for emptiness? How can non-existence be better? Well, no answer would fit in that universe replaced by vacuum. Everything was gone. There was not even anyone left to mourn such a loss. Maybe it was better this way... The big issue is that absolute emptiness cannot be sustained for long... infinite dimensions moved and universes moved to occupy a void... and at this moment something unexpected happened when many universes collided. It was as if some universes short-circuited for a few moments and different versions of the same people collapsed for

It’s been a long, long climb through the tree’s labyrinthine thickets. Plenty of time for Eft to notice the improvement in leadership. Yggdrasil yields to the Stag in a way that it doesn’t for Sabuno. Where she shatters shoots and tears leaves, he wanders as he will, and a path reveals itself. While Sabuno walked them in circles, the Stag guides them with certainty. Near the top, it’s lighter. Airier, too. A faint breeze stirs the littlest twigs now and again, and the leaves rustle a papery tune. Almost peaceful, were it not for the mess. Many branches are snapped. Some still hang from bark fibers, and their leaves are piked, drying corpses. Gouges chew the boughs to their cores. Sap weeps from the wounds. “What is this?” Efterar asks the Stag. “The Eagle does it,” he says. “We’re in his realm. He’s watching us.” “Why does he injure Yggdrasil?” “I don’t know. A prudent question, if you can get him to answer. Have you seen him yet? He’s only a little ahead of us.” Efterar peers down

Chapter 5 Evelyn noted her daughter the moment she stepped onto the breakfast terrace. The artificial sunlight that filled the domed moon city did little for Zandorah’s pale complexion. Truthfully the lighting did little for even the most radiant of women, one of the shortcomings of space life. “Good morning mother,” Zandorah chirped as she leaned in to give her a kiss on the cheek. “Zandorah.” She greeted, giving her daughter a thorough look up and down. “Will father be joining us?” Zandorah asked as she took her seat across the table. “Don’t be silly dear, he already left for the day, with the Chancellor.” “Of course.” She said then reached for the plate of croissants in the center of the table. Her mother swatted her hand. “Don’t load up on carbs. You’ll bloat.” A servant poured black coffee into a mug for her instead. “We will be doing a broadcast with your father this afternoon,” “Will I need to practice a speech prior?” She asked, sipping her black coffee through a straw. “Yes, your father said he would have it sent to you after his morning meeting.” Zandorah nodded to her mother and dished melon onto her plate, though she scarcely intended to eat any of it. Just like her mother had shown her she pushed it around politely with a fork, feigning an interest. “Also, you are going to marry the Chancellor.” Zandorah’s melon pushing fork froze. Her stomach lurched into her throat. Yet, her face maintained the same placid smile it always did. “Oh?” What else was she supposed to say? She was marrying the Chancellor of the Universal Council. There wasn’t an appropriate response, particularly because she did not want anything to do with Moore Kalford. He was an old man. “Yes, well it is a lucrative match to be certain.” Her mother stated, “I thought it would be best to hear about now, and not in front of your father.” “Very prudent indeed.” Zandorah finally let her irritation shine through. So prudent of Evelyn to break the news to her daughter on a crowded terrace where she would need to maintain her composure. “Won’t it look odd, since I’m still so young?” Zandorah prodded. “It isn’t as if you are marrying him tomorrow.” Evelyn scoffed. Zandorah eyed her mother suspiciously. The Chancellor was not known to be a patient man. Certainly he would want to take his prize sooner rather than later. “You are enrolling in the Universal Youth Exchange Program,” her mother rolled her eyes. “Apparently sending the Council Sweetheart to Earth is the key to world peace,” Evelyn snorted before standing up from the table, “Assure you have composed yourself before the broadcast.”she said, leaving Zandorah sitting in stunned silence, staring at the untouched plate of breakfast pastries. She would be going to Earth, then coming back to marry Moore Kalford. Her breathing hitched and tears welled in her eyes. She could not cry here. Media may be heavily censored, but the Council Sweetheart crying publicly? At least one person would be brave enough to snap a photo. Grabbing the entire plate of pastries, Zandorah stormed off the patio to her private rooms. “What bullshit!” She muttered, before slumping against the marble archway that separated the bedroom from the unused sitting room full of plushy pastel furniture. The couch with its perfectly fluffed cushions and warm blankets looked inviting. A much better choice than the cold hard stone Zandorah found herself resting on. But self loathing kept her on the floor with her plate of stolen delicacies. She grabbed the golden cream cheese danish her mother had forbade her from eating and shoved the entire thing in her mouth. Decadence. Months had passed since Zandorah had tasted rich buttery carbs. She reached for a second, hearing her mother’s voice squeaking about the calories going to her already too wide hips. “Fuck you mom.” Zandorah mumbled, pieces of chocolate filled croissant spilling from her mouth. Once the plate was empty she sent it soaring across the room like a frisbee. Crystal shards exploded against the mantle and clattered to the floor. Her eyes found sparkling silver shoes on the floor not yet put away from last night. Then they found the crystal vase decorating the sitting room coffee table. A shoe flew and more crystal crashed to the floor with the satisfying shatter that only destroying expensive pointless shit could conjure. Zandorah stood, assessing her work. Hung on the opposite wall was a family portrait. Her parents looked so proud of her in the stupid painting, Evelyn was even smiling at her. Of every piece in her suite, in her entire collection of art, she hated that portrait the most. Once she had loved it, she looked so thin. Her mother had asked the artist to paint her daughter with narrower hips and a smaller waist. Even now, at the actual thinnest Zandorah had ever been, she still didn’t look like the girl in the painting. “Fuck you!” Zandorah shouted and the other silver shoe glided through the air. The spiked heel stuck right in her own face. “FUCK YOU!” Her voice broke, and tears began streaming down her cheeks “Miss Vandermere?” A petite dark haired Auranthari female peeked through the butler’s door behind Zandorah. The same servant from this morning that Zandorah didn’t recognize. “What?” Zandorah snarled, “What do you want?” “Apologies miss, I heard shouting and thought you were in trouble.” Her dark olive skin glowed in the warm light of the chandelier, and she sounded so sincere, so concerned. Except her deep violet eyes stared impassively at Zandorah. Stop being a little bitch they said. “Who are you?” Zandorah snapped. She knew every servant her parents possessed, and this beautiful female was not one of them. “My name is Brill, Miss.” She said bowing her head slightly. “Why are you in my room?” “I heard you scream, Miss.” Brill repeated. “You already said that. Why do you have access? You don’t belong to my family.” Zandorah stated. “I belong to Master Kalford Miss. I have been gifted to you.” Brill answered. “You belong to the Chancellor?” Zandorah looked Brill up and down. Understanding why Kalford had procured her. She was stunning. Brill had delicate, almond-shaped eyes that were a deep violet, a preference most breeding operations strived for nowadays. Her features were soft and elegant, with a small nose and full lips. Her dark hair was pulled back in a neat bun, revealing a finely chiseled jawline and elegantly sculpted cheekbones. She had ample breasts, and a womanly curve to her hips that Zandorah knew any man would find enticing. “Where is my maid?” she asked. “The Chancellor requested I be your personal servant for the time being, Miss.” Zandorah clicked her tongue at Brill. “Well you have my schedule for the day. I am going to lay down until the broadcast.” As the door closed behind the servant girl, Zandorah let out one last shriek before rushing to her bathroom. Regret for her breakfast indulgences had finally bubbled up. She couldn’t afford that many carbs. Using her index and middle finger, she purged it all, until she finally had the gloriously empty feeling she desired. Everything would be fine, Zandorah reminded herself looking in the mirror. She plastered on her picture perfect public smile. The broadcast aired, the revival of the Universal Youth Exchange Education Program was announced, and as its newest participant, Zandorah excitedly endorsed it. … “He sent her his sex thing?” Evelyn Mackenzie Vandermere grumbled to her husband. She grabbed the bourbon from the gold plated bar cart in her personal sitting room and poured it with a heavy hand. “Is he expecting her to teach Zandorah how to ride him?” Thaddeus exhaled sharply. “Evelyn, really?” “Well is it that far off of an assumption?” She sipped her drink, long and slow. Not a hint of a grimace. She would in public of course, a proper lady like herself was more inclined to appreciate wine of a good vintage. Never drinking liquor straight. Evelyn, however, had developed a taste for the hard stuff young, drinking with her father as he taught her the ins and outs of the family business. “I suppose not.” Her husband scowled. “His antics have become increasingly vulgar, as of late.” “His antics have always been vulgar.” Evelyn chided. Remembering herself in a similar situation years prior. Though not nearly as desperate. She made her way to the royal blue velvet settee, across from Thaddeus. taking the bourbon bottle with her. As she sat her heels clattered to the floor, finally resting her feet. The nude stocking she wore made her toes look webbed. Staring into the amber liquid before her, Evelyn couldn’t help contemplating what led her to this life. Evelyn’s father had adored her. She had been everything he could have wanted from a son. She was intelligent, witty, and well liked by everyone who knew her. Randal Mackenzie was grooming his daughter to take over his slaving empire. By the time she reached her mid twenties Evelyn attended every executive meeting, acted as her father’s representative when the booming business had him overbooked, and immaculately coordinated sales events for their most high profile clients. Her marriage prospects were also impressive. Though that wasn’t her priority. Eventually, her and her father would select the perfect young man for her. One who would be a respectable accessory to her success and provide excellent genetics to continue the Mackenzie line, but that was all still many years into the future. Her biggest event, a dinner party for the Universal Council and their families, was what ruined all those perfectly laid plans. The event went perfectly. Mackenzie Breeding had never had a more lucrative slave sale. Evelyn even sold Vice Chancellor Kalford’s wife, a kitchen slave who wasn’t part of the auction catalog. She put herself on everyone’s radar that night. Including Kalford’s. She was invited to his private parties; the entire Mackenzie family was hosted at his multiple vacation homes. At first Randal thought they were building a lucrative partnership, one good for the business. He realized eventually though, Kalford didn’t give a flying fuck about Mackenzie Breeding, he wanted Evelyn. Evelyn remembered the conversation perfectly. “He’s married, daddy.” Evelyn had assured her father. Calling him daddy to soften him. Remind him there was no threat. “Evelyn, that didn’t stop him last time.” Randal gravely reminded her. The rumors that Kalford’s first wife’s demise was, less than natural, had circulated for years. Evelyn never humored them. So what if he got remarried in a distastefully short amount of time after she had passed? He was the Vice Chancellor, there was no way he killed his wife. But Randal was spooked. His daughter would not be relegated to bored Council housewife, and she certainly would not be shackled to an old man who she would be stuck taking care of in twenty years. The suitors began arriving in droves. Each one less promising than the last. Kalford of course noticed. Evelyn was a prominent figure in society. She, along with all her prospects, were splashed across the tabloids. Then, as if Randal had seen the future, Kalford once again found himself a widower. And Evelyn found herself engaged to Thadeus Vandermere. A good enough looking young man, from a respectable family, but not one so successful he would over shadow Evelyn. Randal felt confident he had saved his beloved daughter from a life with Kalford, and secured his own family legacy. No one could have predicted Thad’s idiot half-brother would get himself killed in a hunting accident, and he would inherit the Titan seat on the Universal Council. Now Evelyn sat in her luxurious Council rooms, staring at that husband. Resenting him. Resenting the daughter they had. Laughing darkly that she had still ended up the Vice Chancellor's bored housewife.