Sofia’s head was just about ready to explode after meeting with people for the entire day, some wanting to stay in the city, others offering trade deals, and many trying to recruit her in some faction or another. Finally, in the middle of the night, Erredis entered the meeting room again.

“Almost done, how are you holding up?” she asked.

“I’d rather be slicing up my soul for a snack,” Sofia answered, her face against the table, “This is so exhausting…”

“Cheer up sweetie, only four groups left. Politics are a part of the strong’s life, whether we want it or not, this is good training. We will have a feast after. Alright, I’ll send someone that will wake you up,” Erredis said, give a few gentle pats to Sofia’s head before heading out.

The mere presence of the ‘person’ entering the room afterwards did in fact shock Sofia awake. Its murderous aura and hideous appearance were beyond description.

“L- L- Lady Ar’Zoth? Wel- Welcome.” Even having known that she was coming, Sofia was still uncontrollably shaking. Even Er’Gakk had not felt that way, it was this Kleptra that was beyond terrifying for some ungodly reason.

“NoooOo, not laaAAdy. Ar is laAady. Zoth is onlyyyy oooOne laAady,” the Kleptra answered, dutifully correction Sofia’s grammatical mistake.

“Oh- M- my apologies… Do you want to have a seat?” Sofia asked, starting to be able to fight through the instinctive terror.

“No neeEed. No neeed. Zoth sleeEepy. LoooOve said you build teeEmple where Zoth can sleeEp. Will yooOou?”

“Y- Yes. We agreed I would build her a Temple. H- How big do you want it to be?”

“MeeEe? Zoth can beeee big. Zoth can be smaaAal. Size not matter. Only LooOove do.”

“Alright… I will see what I can do. Thank you for coming.”

“ThaAnk you for tEemple. I go to nearby foOrest until done. Zoth will sleeeeeEep now. Now will sleep,” the downsized Kleptra answered, turning around and calmly leaving the meeting room, each of her steps shaking the ground.

Straight like a rod on her chair, Sofia wiped the sweat off of her forehead, staring at the bone curtains that had somehow survived direct contact with the creature. That woke up me up alright.

Three more then?

I still haven’t seen the fairies.

While Sofia awaited the next person under high pressure. It was a normal-looking person that entered next. One of the dark-skinned humans from the other side. Sofia recognized, that was also one of the persons she recognized from the public.

“Hey,” the lady greeted, raising a hand, “Are you alright in there?”

“Ah… Hello, and welcome. Sorry, I was a bit… Out of it after dealing with the previous guest. My apologies.”

“It’s fine. Your first time dealing with a Kleptra outside of the trials, right?” the lady asked, sitting down in front of Sofia.

“Yes…”

“It’s your human instincts going out of control. You get used to it,” she explained with a smile, before extending a hand, “I’m Kalla, from High-Reef Island. Nice to meet you.”

“Sofia Aphenoreth,” Sofia answered with a handshake.

Tough Kalla was well aware of that, she answered with a nod, “Have you heard of the Storm Archipelago before?” she asked at the end of the handshake.

“I have not heard the name but I did hear about a human archipelago on the other side of the world.”

“That is it,” Kalla confirmed with a smile, “That should not come as a surprise, but we were quite impressed by your performance in the trial.”

“I’m only trying to get stronger.”

“Aren’t we all? I have been stuck at level 499 for a long time now. Hopefully you fare better that I did at the end. Nevertheless, it cannot hurt to help each other between humans, right? So our side has a few things for you.”

“I am afraid I do not have much to offer in return,” Sofia answered, wary of ‘gifts’ as she had noticed all throughout the day just how much favor people expected their ‘gifts’ to earn them.

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“We expect nothing except that you treat our people well,” Kalla answered, “I have led a small delegation here. A few of our talented youth and a number of craftsmen, architects, carpenters, city planners. They wanted to help build your city.”

“They want to help?” Sofia asked.

“Indeed. Your name has quickly spread even to those unable to witness your prowess. It is rare for us, weakest race, to count someone like you among our ranks, so it inspired many to come of their own volition.”

“I will gladly accept their help then. Thank you for bringing them, Lady Kalla,” Sofia thanked her with a curt bow.

“Please, no need. You look tired so I will not take much more of your time,” Kalla said, a very large rolled-up parchment scroll appearing on them table. “This is a present from our leader, Ravaging Thunder. I have not looked inside, but knowing the man, this is likely a spell schematic. Feel free to do whatever you want with it,” she said with a certain exasperation coating her words as soon as she mentioned her leader.

“Thank you? But… Ravaging Thunder… Is that an elven name?”

“Our first lady is an Elf so he has received a name from her parents as per their customs… But he is fully human, that there is no doubt about…”

“Oh. Understood. I- I will take good care of your people. I hope I can visit the Storm Archipelago in the future.”

These words brought a smile back to Kalla’s lips, “You would be very welcome.”

After exchanging some polite parting words, Kalla left and a peculiar trio entered after her.

“I am Justice One!” a female fairy in pink robes introduced herself, as she flew up to the table, landing on it.

“I am Sword One!” a male fairy in a blue flowing robes continued, flying up to the table in a similar fashion.

“And I’m… Pursuer One…” the third fairy said looking at the ripped stumps of his wings behind his back, unenthusiastically jumping onto the table with a grumble.

…I better not say anything about the wings…

“Welcome the Ser’Extra, respectable Ones,” Sofia answered with a light bow, “To what do I owe the honor of your presence?”

It was Sword One who took a step forward and bowed back, “We greet lady Sofia,” he said sincerely, “This One apologises for young Pursuer One’s earlier misconduct. We hope you can forgive his mischievous nature,” he said, as the wingless fairy also bowed behind him.

“I-... Of course. It seems he has already suffered punishment enough, I hope there will be no lasting grudge about today.”

“Much appreciated,” Sword One answered, righting himself up.

“Are you coming to talk about the Wheel of Progress?” Sofia asked.

“We are not,” Sword One denied calmly, “We understand you aim to challenge Great Exalted One, correct?”

“Is that the Prince’s name? If so then yes.”

“Yes. Since you intend to do things the way our Eminent One laid out, you will encounter no opposition from our side.”

“Noted. Then you have come for…”

This time, Justice One took a step forward, “We have come for the Ravager One,” she explained with a nod.

“Pestle is not going anywhere,” Sofia answered within a heartbeat, trying her best to maintain a polite tone, but instinctively looking at the curtains.

“Please do not misunderstand,” Justice one said, raising her hands, “We only wish to ascertain two things. Firstly, we must inquire about the Ravager One’s true identity, and Secondly, Pursuer One will check whether she is under any kind of mind control or coercion. If the Ravager One is truly following you of her own will, then we have no reason to interfere any further,” she explained with another curt bow.

… It’s risky. Pestle’s circumstances are too strange… Who knows how they will read it?

“Do you have a way to know whether I am lying or not?” Sofia asked.

Justice one raised an eyebrow at the question, but nodded, “I do, it is fully in your best interest to say nothing but the truth. I have never been fooled. And we require to personally check the Ravager One either way.”

“Understood. Let me tell you how I met her first, then I will bring her here. I you try anything funny you know who is waiting behind the curtains, right?”

“We are keenly aware,” Sword One answered, “But make no mistake, if you brainwashed one of us, no Dragon or Old One is going to save you.”

“Understandable. So let me explain first. Pestle used to be an Eddarinian.”

“What!” Justice One cried out with furrowed brows.

“Please let me finish,” Sofia said.

“Hmmpf. Very well. But for you information, all such treacherous Ones have long been captured and offered to the Leviathan.”

“It’s complicated, but she is not a ‘treacherous One’. Or at least, not anymore. The One she used to be has detonated her soul, and from what I understand, a new conscience rose from the scattered remains. Pestle is nothing like the monster the previous One used to be. She only has some fragments of her previous life’s memory, and is, by all counts, a completely different person,” Sofia explained.

“That is rather hard to believe…” Justice One said, dubious, “But I sense no lies. So at the very least, you are convinced of these facts. Can anyone else vouch for this?”

“A few of my companions and family would be able to, but if you need a trusted voice, Erredis is right outside and witnessed the previous One destroy her soul firsthand.”

Justice one looked back at the curtains and sighed, “We shall trust you on this account. Then please call the Ravager One, we will need to examine her without your presence.”

It was Sofia’s turn to frown, “Certainly, but make no mistake, if you harm her, no Great Exalted or Eminent One is going to save you.”

“Naturally,” Justice One answered.