In Loki's Honor

The [Librarian] wept when she saw us enter her home.

In the years after the shit show of a showdown between Wyxnos and a resurrected Bundeus that fucked up the Labyrinth and killed half of the high-tiered people in the world, the Academy of Magic became ruins. They lost their [Archmages] to some magical mishap (not my fault they were assholes) and then all the teachers and students decided they could get away with stealing a piece of the pie.

They did. For a while, at least.

Now, with mom pushing our plan of ushering in an age of magic centered on Clovehaven and the Church, we needed to rebuild the Academy. It would be an extraterritorial enclave, beholden only to Clovehaven and mom. There, we would teach magic and other related crafts, forge a new generation of capable mages and wizards, indoctrinate them in the faith of the Matriarch, and use these Academies as hubs for our final goal.

Crush the churches of every single deity that wronged mom and mom's mothers. Which was, like, all of them. Except for Bit. Better, the ones who invaded Yznarian from Earth. Erm, the invaders except for mom. Yeah. All deities except Bit and Mom. There. That's better. That also included demon worshipers and summoners. Ackerton and Atlantis were basically besieged. The levels of depravity and decadence in the Scorched Continent were unparalleled.

But we needed to start somewhere and nowhere better than home. Or former home. Sorry, I had so many things on my mind at the time that it was hard to think straight. We sent out a summons for the former Academy staff members, and the first one we met was Daisy Dolarminn, the [Librarian].

Barbara squeezed the half-elf's hand. "It's okay, Daisy."

Ms. Dolarminn's tears were of joy, of relief. A fire set out to cover the theft of some grimoires destroyed most of the Academy's collection. And now we told her that every single book in that facility was saved in the [Lost Sage's Encyclopedia]. That and much more. Over the years, we copied every single tome in mom's storage to those endless pages. Considering she raided thousands of libraries across many ages, that artifact was the most faithful repository of knowledge in this world.

"I'm so glad to see you, Barbara... I mean, Baroness Ambrose."

"Barbara is fine. How are you doing?"

We were at her house in the capital. After the Academy shut its doors, Daisy has been tutoring daughters and sons of merchants for a living. Judging by the decoration, she was getting by.

"Better," she smiled. "The Goddess' Champion, eh?"

Barbara blushed and looked away.

"I couldn't declare that out loud. The nobles would..."

The half-elf tapped the Halfling's hand. "I know very well what they would do. You did what was best for yourself."

"Actually, I was more afraid of Nethe doing something horrible to them."

I sent it to both women.

"Most teachers thought you were a monster sent to exterminate us all," Daisy half-joked.

"The Matriarch would never..." She protested.

"Does the Matriarch has one?"

Barbara and Daisy both shuddered. "Let's change the subject, shall we?" She demanded. "Ms. Dolarminn—"

"Daisy. Or I'll start calling you Baroness Clovehaven."

"Daisy. We have here the terms of your employment offer." Barbara took a booklet from her storage ring. "The biggest hurdle you already cleared, which is to worship the Matriarch."

"I accept. I heard of the Goddess' declaration at the throne room a month ago. No way you'll keep me from working at the library there."

"Working?" Barbara smirked and squinted. "We want to hire you to be the head [Librarian] of all the Academies."

"I'm not qualified!" Daisy protested.

I retorted.

She rose a hand to her chest. "I do?"

"Of course. The Goddess has seen your heart, Daisy. And she is delighted. Right, Nethe?"

"I'm honored. This is the best day of my entire life."

"So far," Barbara corrected with a wide grin. "This is the best day of your entire life so far. We're going to build something magical, Daisy. Literally magical."

"Yes!"

I flew around the house taking every item into my storage. The one in my silk case and not the infinite item box, that was locked behind the curse. Then Daisy boarded our personal airship. She moved to one of the guest rooms of Barbara's castle in Clovehaven.

*

*

Though Pekothas, I mean Espero, had a pretty good claim to being the cradle of civilization, that achievement went to a tribe of hunter-gatherers where the ambitions of the world's first conqueror were dashed by a lagomorph stronger than it had the right to be. They were taught many things by that critter but the most important one was the ability to take care of their wounded. That increased drastically the survival rate of their people and they founded a dynasty that survived relatively unscathed for eight thousand years.

When Windemere disappeared underneath a massive chunk from shattered Sylvis, the remnants of the Church of the Matriarch were absorbed by the splinter faction that worshiped the Aspect of the Great White One here in Auvani. Pandora rolled with it and appointed the new Pope from one of their priests. They thought they were doing a good job but the clergy here put their personal interests above their piety.

Locking Kasumi for a century in a gilded tower was but one of their sins. The other was their gaudy taste in architecture.

Our biggest airship left the rift in the Ethereal right above The Auvani capital. We came unannounced, giving zero fucks to diplomacy or sovereignty. I was ready to direct all complaints to mom and let her deal with them. Perhaps they wanted a new lake.

"By the Goddess! I've seen paintings but the real thing is amazing!"

Barbara leaned on the railing, staring at the majestic buildings down and ahead. They were as opulent as they were decadent. It became a kind of competition between the Auvani Royal family and the Church to see who had the biggest, wealthiest, and most ridiculous palace. The top priests were members of the local nobility, usually second or third sons and daughters. Raised with a taste for fine things and thorough hedonistic, they brought their customs to the church. Donations went to providing comfort for the ecclesiastic body instead of the needy as it should be.

Today was the day of their reckoning. They had enough time to heed the cautionary tale back in Pekothas (the continent). We came in a warship to show we meant business.

The people on the surface knew not the occupants of the airship. They only saw a vessel with a hull of bluish-gray metal appear out of nowhere, and reacted as every fantasy kingdom would. We heard only the din of physical projectiles bouncing harmlessly on our Adamantite armor plates. The spells were dissipated by the magic-absorbent metal without even leaving a black spot on the mirror-polished metal.

"You would think they would be wiser than that," Lakerta remarked.

We brought the Lamia because she was the one who had bonds of friendship with the Royalty here. Though it was ages ago, the Auvani (Royal family) held accurate records and journals. We knew they would recognize her.

"Shouldn't we announce ourselves?" Barbara asked.

"I worry for the people down there. The arrows and spears they are shooting at us must fall somewhere."

"Be kind to them, Nethe!"

Since it was a Perk earned this life, it wasn't locked to me. I sent some Divinity to the System, and it granted me a country-wide notification.

> Behold! For the Advent of the Matriarch is upon thee! Clad in Divine Adamantite, the Vessel of the Goddess arrives over Auvani. Cursed be the ones who dare shoot against Her Airship.

The effect was immediate. The attacks stopped.

"Better," Barbara smiled.

"We should land on the central square in front of the palace gates," Lakerta suggested.

This airship could fly with only mental commands from either Barbara or me. Right now, I was at the "helm" and directed the ship to a landing pattern over the big square. We were in no hurry and went slowly. The sails were furled and we were moving only by magical propulsion. That gave time for the people on the surface to prepare for our landing.

"There, the Royal family was faster," Lakerta pointed out.

A group of riders all clad in shining armor and white fur cloaks made their way to the front gates.

"The [Priests] are coming out too," Barbara pointed to the other side.

Less orderly than the [Knights], a lot of them were pouring out of the cathedral. Passersby and civilians also gathered to see the flying ship.

"I guess it's showtime," Lakerta mumbled.

I shapeshifted into Haru. Didn't unlock my full power, that was for the climax of today's meeting. I wore a silken shrine maiden outfit. I also wore a Subordinate Tabard that was partially hidden by a gold embroidered haori on top and a huge ribbon tying my obi sash. My tails flared behind me, the world's most expensive fur duster.

"So, how do I look?" I asked Barbara.

"Lovely," she beamed.

I grasped her hands in mine. In this form, I was a head taller than her. Haru's half-dwarven heritage really helped in the height department. Acting on a whim, I pulled Barbara closer and hugged her.

"You stay close to me," I said as I kissed the crown of her head. "I'll protect you, my Champion."

Barbara giggled, "Isn't it usually the other way around?"

"The ship stopped, lovebirds," Lakerta derided.

I could feel Barbara's cheeks heating up. I let go and regained control of our descent. Then I touched down, right by the side of the fountain. I locked the ship down by commanding all floating crystal elements to stand still in place.

Still holding Barbara's hand, we walked down the ramp. Lakerta followed behind us.

One of the armored [Knights], bearing the Auvani Royal crest on his ornate breastplate dared approach.

"Welcome to Auvani," he said without recognizing my identity or even showing any gesture of considering me his superior. I could sense his [Diplomat] Proficiency at work but I rebuffed the social effects with my own.

> Level 72 Human [Prince].

I cast a cold gaze at him. "I don't feel very welcome right now, [Prince]. Your Goddess has come for a visit and I earn not even a nod from you. Is this the extent of both your piety and hospitality?"

On the other side of the square, some priests were glaring at me.

"We have to be cautious. Though the System sent us that message, I have no evidence that you—"

I froze and silenced him by wrapping his entire body in a wall of Force shaped exactly like his body but one millimeter too tight. It squeezed his whole body and locked every bone in place. The enchantments of his armor that should prevent foreign magic from working broke.

Now I know why Darth Vader went straight for orthoerotic asphyxiation. Suffer not the fool.

My head turned to face the [Priests]. The one at the front identified as a [Pope], level seventy-seven. I stared into her eyes. "It seems my not-so-devout clergy has failed to properly educate the current generation of royalty. Or do most of their proper duties at all."

The light gray tail with dazzling patterns lengthened by a yard as I drew on my Affinity. I cast a {Mass Command} spell, covering as much of the city as I could.

"Kneel before your Goddess. The day of your reckoning is upon thee. Your sins are weighed, and the sinner's days are numbered."

Spread thusly and suffering interference from the nearby Adamantite hull, my magic failed to penetrate the protection wards inside the Royal Palace. But every single person at the square and beyond in a few hundred yards obeyed. The only ones not on their knees were Barbara and the arrogant [Prince]. Lakerta had no knees to lay on anyway. The mounted [Knights] dismounted to kneel next to their mounts.

I released the [Prince] from my spells. He wobbled for a moment on his saddle but regained his composure.

"This is not how the Goddess would behave!" He declared. "You are an impostor, an enemy!" Then the idiot drew his sword. "Charge!"

I summoned the [Unicorn King Spear] and met his charge with it. At the last moment, I commanded the spear to grow and extend. It ran straight through the horse's barding, torso, and rompers, exiting on the other side. At least it was an instantaneous death. Dragonfire erupted from the weapon, consuming the horse's flesh. The [Prince] leaped from the saddle, sword raised overhead as he bellowed a war cry.

I slapped him out of the air with a tail. The light blue with white streaks one, Lightning. I converted most of the damage into knockback. The thunderclap was soon followed by the thunderous crash of his armored self on the walls of his own home. I used a ranged healing spell to make sure he would remain alive.

I ignored the unconscious [Prince] and the burning horse carcass and turned my back to the Palace to walk toward the kneeling [Pope] and [Priests]. I touched the head of the old man to the left of the [Pope]. With this small pool of Divinity, I could also access the administrative functions of the System for deities. That allowed me to see their sins and transgressions.

This one was embezzling funds and sending them to his fief. Through the same deific administrative interface, I claimed the Divinity and the soul pledged to me. The body perished and all of his Status, Attributes, Perks, Classes, Paths, Proficiencies, and Levels were converted to power and sent to Pandora. The soul I cast into the wheel of Samsara or whatever bullshit name it was called nowadays. Dispossessed, it would need to start from zero without any advantage.

Barbara yelped as the lifeless body dropped on its head, the butt sticking up. Though we talked during our trip through the Ethereal and she knew I would kill most of the clergy here, it still upset her greatly. I gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. Never change, Barbara.

I touched the forehead of the next [Priest], his pleading eyes trembling as he stared at me. Indulging in young ladies. Not young enough to make me wish to cast him to the depths of hell but I couldn't call what he had consensual encounters, not with that kind of coercion. Gone.

One by one I went through the [Priests], snuffing the lives of five out of every six I judged. The ones who were spared wept out of sheer joy and relief.

Then it was time to deal with the [Pope]. I walked back and stood before her.

"What will I find when I peek into your soul, my [Pope]?"

The woman raised her head and gave me a long stare. Her eyes showed just a hint of fear but mostly defiance.

"I am the sister of the current [King]. Don't think you can —"

I flicked her forehead and pushed her soul out. Then I pointed at a rabbit-kin [Priest]. "You. You are the new [Pope]. My temples are not a place to enrich oneself and their secular families, nor a house of debauchery and depravity. If people want to fuck on holy ground, they should visit the temple of Zacheia."

I couldn't pay for the promotion but Pandora did. All the way from outer space. I looked up. The planetary ring was spinning and I wished to believe the process of accretion of the new moon was underway. But I had no idea how long it would take. Planets take dozens of millions of years to condense from stellar dust into a ball of rock.

"Can you see me from up there, Nenandil?" I mumbled under my breath.

I shed a tear that condensed into a shimmering pearl. Barbara caught it before it hit the ground.

"We'll be together again someday," she whispered.

I nodded. My eyes were drawn to the pearl.

> [Goddess Tears]

"Let's wrap this up," I replied. "I think this is enough theatrics to get the message through. Now, it's time to release my true power."

I suppressed the only curse currently afflicting me.