Primer for the Apocalypse

“So it’s decided?” Matriarch Potestetiam asked expectantly as she looked at the other patriarchs, matriarchs, and sect representatives attending the holo conference.

Patriarch Henlen Kairos signaled his assent silently. He’d only been invited to the meeting because his disciple had been attacked by the person responsible for the uproar. As far as the others were concerned, that was the extent of his sect’s involvement in the scandal.

But Henlen suspected they were wrong.

He wouldn’t call attention to his suspicions, but he thought he knew his disciple well enough to recognize her handiwork by now. Additionally, she was one of the only people with the right skillset to pull off something like what had happened.

Time shenanigans mixed with spatial shenanigans? It was pretty obvious, as far as he was concerned.

“I will prepare the formal declaration,” one of the attendees said stoically.

Matriarch Potestetiam, the nominal leader of the limited alliance, nodded at the offer. “Ensure it is sent to everyone who has agreed to join the alliance.” Turning her attention to the others, the woman said, “If you know of other sect leaders with a vested interest in the situation, feel free to brief them on the situation. If they are amenable to joining us, they are welcome to.”

Henlen’s thoughts immediately shifted to his old friend, Heph. While he doubted he’d want his descendant involved in what was coming, it was unlikely she’d be able to avoid it, given her teammate’s automatic involvement. It would be better to include her to preclude any potential Accords problems she might encounter if things got out of hand.

“We are not going to let this affront go unpunished,” Matriarch Potestetiam continued. “I will send instructions for you to pass along so the disciples can meet and coordinate things for themselves. Now that we’ve gotten the enchantment engraved, it’s time for them to do the rest.”

After dismissing the holographic mana constructs, Henlen reached out to Heph. He didn’t attempt a direct message link since that might interfere with whatever project the old Smith was working on. Instead, he sent a contact request with a moderate urgency tag.

Within half an hour, he was looking at the aging visage of his old friend.

Henlen really needed to spend some time with the man in person to give him a few anti-aging treatments.

“I was hoping you’d reach out,” Heph said as he wiped the sweat from his brow. “I’ve been thinking about relocating to Sira until Zavira leaves the dungeon, just in case I need to bash in a few skulls.”

The Epíkairos Patriarch smirked at his oldest friend. “I could see you doing something like that, but I don’t think it’s necessary. There’s something of an alliance being established between the sects with affected disciples in the dungeon. We’re going to formally declare war on the Springheart family.”

The news caused the old dwarf to straighten, and an excited gleam lit his eyes. “Oh, that’ll be good for the younglings! It’s too bad there’s nobody to fight at my tier,” he said, slightly deflating.

“Not in the dungeon,” Henlen agreed. “Would you go back in if there was?”

Heph barked out a laugh but shook his head. “Nah. There’s too much to do on the outside and not nearly enough time to do it all before I either die or ascend,” the old Smith said ruefully. “Besides, we both agreed to leave all that behind when we called it quits at Tier Eight and started our own sects.” He paused before eyeing his friend. “Why? Are you considering it?”

Heph’s question made Henlen laugh aloud. “Goodness, no. Nobody pushing through the tenth tier in the dungeon is going to give a damn about some dungeon family scandal. Even if there was someone to fight, I have other things to manage, just like you.”

Shaking his head, the Smith said, “I hope it’s different in the next Realm. It’d be nice to be able to push our boundaries again. It’s been centuries since I was really able to cut loose.”

“Maybe you should focus more on progressing instead of spending all of your time teaching,” the Time Mage gently chided. “You’ve fallen a bit behind lately.”

Heph’s bearded face split into a huge smile. “You’re just jealous that I have a family to occupy my time. I told you not to wait before settling down. Now look at you! You’re creeping toward ascension with only your sect as your legacy. You should get a few concubines at least – leave a few descendants behind.”

Henlen’s eyes unfocused momentarily as his mind cycled through moments long past. For a time, Heph would have avoided such topics out of concern for his friend, but enough time had passed that the brunt of the pain had faded.

“At this point, it feels almost counterproductive to leave someone behind. It would only make me regret leaving.”

“Well, to each their own path, I suppose.”

After a few moments of silence, the Epíkairos Patriarch asked, “Do you want the Hephaistos Sect to join the limited alliance being established? It’ll only apply to what’s happening in the dungeon, obviously.”

“Of course we will!” the dwarf huffed. “It’s only a matter of time before some stupid dungeoneer decides to push things with Zavira, especially if she stays neutral. Besides, it’ll be a great experience for her! It’s just too bad everything will be taken care of on the higher floors before she gets there.”

“Who knows? She might make it to the fifth floor in time to get involved.”

“Just make sure your disciple gives my girl one of those talismans she made. What is she calling them? E3 talismans?”

“Yes. [Enhanced Emergency Escape] talismans, I think. They even work in spatially locked or null zones,” the Time Mage said proudly.

Such items were not unheard of, especially at higher tiers where a lot of the effects could be accomplished with the magical equivalent of brute force – though only against weaker effects. For Emie to make something that worked to counter equivalently-tiered effects really was something notable, even if she didn’t realize it.

Henlen was almost positive most of her success had to do with the strength of her dual affinities. Had she had weaker affinities or different affinities, her creations wouldn’t have been nearly as effective – if they had even worked at all.

Time and Space were a particularly potent combination. It was one of the reasons Henlen had been so adamant about the girl becoming his disciple in the first place.

The old Smith whistled appreciatively. “That’s something. How’d she even figure something like that out? I thought you found her on that mundane world.”

“I did. But she’s smart,” the youthful-looking Time Mage replied. “She also has very strong, very potent affinities. Even then, she needed a Void Mage to make it work.”

“You gave her augments, didn’t you?” Heph asked knowingly, raising a brow as he stared at his friend.

“That has nothing to do with her accomplishment,” Henlen countered with rolled eyes. “Or, at least, it has very little to do with them. And she purchased most of the augments on her own with the Contribution Points she earned during her world’s reintegration.”

“I’m not judging. I gave Zavira plenty of augments, along with an inheritance before she left,” Heph said with a smirk. “I can’t have one of my descendants be disadvantaged, now, can I? Besides, she’ll be an elder in the sect when she returns. She needs the knowledge and experience to fulfill that role.”

“Are you still pulling her out at Tier Eight?”

The dwarf’s expression shifted slightly. “That was the plan. I don’t want to force her to deal with the higher floors. I don’t think she’d appreciate the sudden lack of civilization that comes after the seventh floor, either. Neither of us did,” he reminded his friend pointedly.

“That’s true,” Henlen conceded. “Still, it seems a bit unfair to force her to leave early if she’d rather push further.”

The dwarf shrugged. “She can go back later if she wants. As long as she reaches the eighth floor and doesn’t violate any rules, the dungeon allows it,” he said, though both men were well aware of the rule. “I want her to have the chance to build a family, and Tier Seven or early Eight really is the sweet spot for that since it provides so many advantages to one’s offspring.”

Henlen nodded amicably but said nothing about the limitations he’d placed on his own disciple. While he hadn’t forbade her from starting a family during her respite from the dungeon, he’d strongly discouraged it.

Leaving a family behind after a single decade would be worse than simply waiting, in his opinion. Besides, if she really wanted a family, she could have one when in the next realm. Or, if she decided to stay behind, she could easily manage a few decades-long break to do that once she settled into her new position in the sect.

Their conversation shifted to more casual topics over the next several minutes, and when they finally disconnected, the Epíkairos Sect Patriarch couldn’t help but smile at the exchange.

Centuries had passed since the two had met and partnered up in the dungeon. They’d both attended the same academy but had never met before being recruited for the dungeon. It was before Sir Eri’Non gained control of the quasi-artifact, back when his predecessor ran things.

Most new challengers at the time had come from academies and similar education-based facilities. Even by the time he entered, there were already established cities of native dungeoneers.

The Springheart family hadn’t existed during his time in the dungeon, though there had been others like them. None would have been so bold as to interfere with the challengers of the dungeon. The Dungeon Master would have evicted them had they tried.

Henlen had been surprised to learn that so much had slipped under the perception of the Gatekeeper family. Things like this were what they were supposed to be there for.

But now that Sir Eri’Non was gone and one of his progeny was taking over, who knew what changes might be enacted.

Matriarch Potestetiam was one of the few sect leaders who’d been physically present on Sira during the holo conference, and she had mentioned having discussions with the elven family nominally ‘in charge’ of the dungeon. It was with their blessing that the limited alliance was declaring war on the Springheart family.

He was tempted to head back to Sira to observe things for himself.

At the thought, his tablet beeped, and a list of appointments manifested. “Yes, yes. I’m aware of the time constraints,” the Time Mage muttered to his Interface Assistant.

His eyes were drawn to a particular item on the list – a conference with the Hadier Branch Sect Leader. He’d need to ask about his disciple’s family during their chat. He had no doubt they were being treated well, but it was still important to verify things.

Henlen flicked the screen of his tablet and shifted to a recent report he’d received from one of his vassals on Earth. He liked to provide little updates to his disciple whenever possible. He knew she appreciated the information, even if she was in contact with her family.

Once he read through the information provided, the Time Mage began drafting a message to his disciple. He’d wait until closer to the message exchange to send it, especially with the potential need to update the girl about the upcoming war.

It was a great opportunity for Emie – one he doubted she would squander. Declared wars were a great way to gain levels. It was why they were so common, even on purportedly unified worlds. As long as the system recognized the war as legitimate, participants were richly rewarded.

He was almost jealous.