The sound of footsteps echoed throughout the marvellously crafted masonry hallways of the Ravenkeep castle as Seth made his way down the corridor, having left the Lords bedroom and heading towards his own with measured steps.

As he walked, Seth flexed and curled the fingers of his new prosthetic arm. It was nothing special, simply mortal steel poured into the same mould he had used for his previous one. The process in general had pained Titus, but they didn't have time to waste on a creating an entirely new design and crafting it from scratch. So a cheap and easy melt and pour was simply going to have to do for the current time.

Seth had at least soothed his irritation by allowing him to work on new designs whilst he was away. A project that Titus seemed eager to drown himself in as soon as possible. Before Seth had even left, he was already in the process of sketching out new designs.

Thankfully, the harness hadn't been too damaged and was salvageable enough, with the help of Julius, that they didn't have to spend much time on it. That was another project that needed countless design iterations to be crafted and tested, but it would have to wait. For now, he fixed the glaring issue by simply covering the crystal core with a steel plate and some padding.

It wouldn't do much, but it was better than nothing at least.

Clutched in his other hand was a pair of metal half rings, forged semi circles with their exterior face covered in intricately, and truly beautifully drawn runes. These runes were drawn by none other than Julius, as his first project of his new world.

He wasn't as much of a perfectionist as Titus was, instead he seemed very shy and anxious about Seth watching him while he worked. He even had to use two of his hands to steady the one that was carving the runes, so that it didn't tremble too much. Despite his nerves, however, he had created a wonderful piece.

It was also strikingly similar to the ring Seth was currently sporting on his finger, however the runes on this one were slightly different, both in design and handwriting, as they had been carved by Seth personally.

He couldn't let his boys do all of the work, nor was he going to work them like slaves either. He had already assigned them rooms within the castle and taught them how to get to them, using the subtle servant passageways so they weren't spotted and kept the lab hidden.

Seth had decided not to use those passageways himself, instead opting for the main corridors so that he could grab a passing squire and give them a message. It was a simple message, instructing a small group of particular people to meet the Lord in the courtyard in an hour.

It was just enough time for him to clean himself up, and take care of a particular issue that couldn't be left unsolved whilst he was away.

Stepping into his bedroom, Seth quickly kicked the door closed behind him as the sound of rattling metal reached his ears. It wasn't long before the coy, playful tones of a certain woman joined the metallic rattling and wormed its way into his ears.

"You're such a naughty boy lover~ You know, if you wanted me chained up in your bedroom, you should have just asked. We could have done this long before now."

Tiff strolled forward, eager to embrace Seth as he entered the room, but quickly found herself halted in her steps as the metallic rattling echoed out once more. The chains attached to shackles around her wrists drew taut, pulling back her arms and stopping her advancement, but it didn't seem to bother the girl all too much.

She simply leaned forward, grinning madly and gnawing at her lip like a beaver on a tree trunk, as she used the tension of the chains to stop herself from falling forwards. The entire time she stared at Seth with lustful eyes that were almost sparkling with joy.

He did his best to avoid looking into those eyes.

Her natural healing had kicked in whilst Seth had been working, meaning that whilst she was still covered in scrapes and looking like utter hell, at least she wasn't completely swollen like a bee sting victim. However, it would be quite a while before she would ever think about showing her face on camera, or around other people again. Especially if those people could shoot lighting from their fingertips.

The chains that bound her were not attached to the wall, but were instead clutched in the iron grip of her own personal prison warden. Warden Bob was diligent in his work, single minded to the point that even if she used her abilities on him, making him unaware of her presence in the room or why he was holding these chains, Bob would nevertheless remain doing so.

After all, his Father had ordered him to do as much. If Father had ordered it, then there had to be a reason for it. The constant rattling of her chains with every movement also seemed to cause trouble with her abilities

It seemed to be a flaw in her abilities, one she would no doubt find a way to account for if she were left alone in a regular cell with a regular guard on duty, rather than a truly loyal personal warden.

Sparing the crazed girl a glance, Seth stepped forward and placed the half ring around her throat, before connecting the other half ring on the other side. Like magic, for obvious reasons, they snapped together and formed a singular existence, a perfect collar around her neck. It wasn't the most attractive accessory, in fact it was rather crude and unattractive, but it's looks weren't the important part.

It's functions were what mattered.

"What's this? Mmm, collaring me too? You are a naughty boy, I didn't realise you wanted a pe-"

Her incessant flirting was immediately brought to a halt, her jaw snapping closed so fast that she almost bit off her tongue. Her jaw clenched, so tight that her teeth creaked under duress, as her eyes widened in shocked pain. Every muscle in her body tensed up at once, as an electric current run through her nervous system, stemming completely from the accessory bound around her neck.

It wasn't as painful as Astra's shocks, but it shut her up and made controlling her body absolutely impossible. Even thinking straight was next to impossible with her nervous system on fire.

With his hand raised in front of his face, to display the ring he wore on his finger and the glowing runes that decorated it, Seth watched her convulse for a few moments before cutting off the mana supply to the ring.

As the runes dimmed, the electric current receded from the collar around Tiff's neck, allowing her to gulp in a lungful of air. She panted heavily, having fallen to her knees in the process, and looked up at Seth weakly. Strands of her dishevelled hair hung in front of her face as she did so.

"Better. Now, let's get one thing straight. You and I are not lovers. We are not a couple. You are a stalker, a sick woman. Nothing more. Do you understand?"

"What are you talking about? Of course we're-"

Her feverish ramblings were immediately cut off as another jolt of energy raced through her nervous system, causing her to convulse for a few seconds before Seth cut off the mana supply once more.

"This isn't an argument. I'll ask again, do you understand?"

"..."

"I'll take that as a yes. Now, I'm sure you've figured out the purpose of your new accessory. It's not the best looking, but I'm sure you can work with it. If not, well it's not coming off so you better get used to it.

Not only does this let me keep those insane impulses under control without having to resort to slapping sense into you, like Astra did. But it also lets me know exactly where you are at all times. That's right... your little trick isn't going to work on me anymore."

"So then why..."

"Why keep you alive?"

She paused for a few seconds, before nodding solemnly. After all, killing was the logical thing to do. The cold, heartless and utterly logical thing to do. However...

"Because that's not the type of person I am. It's not who I want to be. You are sick, twisted. While we can't get you the help you need, we can at least make use of you."

"What would you have me do, my Lov- My Lord?"

Seth narrowed his eyes at her, but let her have this slip. Clasping his hands behind his back, he looked down at her with utter disdain and irritation as she knelt before him. A look that caused her to shiver slightly, although he could still swear there was a little smile playing on her lips.

"I have a feeling that you are partly responsible for the little cult that has sprouted up, filled with those that are devoted to worshipping Corvus."

She definitely smiled there, a twisted smile filled with insane pride in her accomplishment.

"I thought so... You're going to be my access in there. I want to control it, to guide it. Although not as their god. I can't stop them from believing in what they want, god knows some people need something to believe in, but I can't let them run free and do what they want.

If they are going to do it in my name, that mean's I'm responsible for it. I need to know what they are doing and why."

"Oh, that will be easy my Lord~ I will be more than happy to spread your word amongst your loyal followers, they are the ones who truly understand your greatness after all."

"... Just make sure that you keep the source of your orders anonymous. Use your influence and... influence them. This isn't the will of their 'god.' It needs to come from them."

"Thy will be done."

She smiled, bowing her head slightly as Seth grunted in annoyance. He really did not like that he was having to rely on this girl for such things. He didn't trust her, and for good reason. She would need a guard at all times, to make sure she was doing what she was told, but it wouldn't be Bob. He would just need to have a puppet follow her in disguise.

"There is one other thing I want you to do when I release you..."

Tiff smiled softly, keeping her head bowed in reverence and adoration. Yet as she heard the words coming from her loves lips, as she simply refused to admit that he was anything but her love, her entire body froze once more and her chains began to rattle.

However it was not the fault of her new collar, but was the cause of the anger bubbling up inside her. Her body frozen, only able to tremble with barely contained rage at the words he spoke.

"I need you to use your communication gift to find someone. A woman, called Ophelia Quinn.