Bastion was In the midst of gathering some supplies in the back of Zee's residence. It had been six days since the war council, and he was preparing for an upcoming meeting with a prospective client.
He paused as he heard Zee's distant shouting. Curious as to what all the ruckus was about, he made his way across the mansion In her direction.
Gradually, what she was saying registered in his ears.
"I can't believe this! That no good, two timing lizard lover of an emperor. I swear, I am going to ring his bony neck!" Zee shouted.
It was a litany of curses that would make most sailors proud. Cracking open the door that led to the atrium, he cautiously peered inside. It was best not to get caught up in whatever this was. He felt justified in his caution after one glance inside.
The air warped around Zee as she paced back and forth. He aura was on full, unabashed display, with some bloodlust leaking out. Her ember of compression filled the room, making the building groan around her. To add more chaos to the mix, her ember of ebb and flow created a spiritual storm that whipped at her silky red hair.
Her brows were furrowed, and a scowl marred her beautiful face. All the while, the living book flapped its pages over her head, as if trying to protect her.
Bastion relaxed ever so slightly. There didn't appear to be a visible threat. She was glaring down at a crumpled newspaper, as if her glare alone could smite the words on the page. He distantly wondered what that was all about? He was curious, but not enough to venture into that madness and ask.
It was best to stay clear when the emperor was involved. A wise man once said that to approach a pissed off woman is like entering the maw of a hungry beast. You never know if you will get eaten or not. Given her mood, it was probably for the best to keep his distance.
Bastion softly shut the door and slowly backed away. There was some movement at his feet, drawing his eyes. He glanced down just as Dern ran past him, having snuck through the opened door.
"What's going on?" Bastion asked in a hushed whisper.
Dern paused, the small suit of silvery armor looking up at him, which was disturbing since he didn't have a head. He felt a mental nudge that gave him the chills, before Dern's voice entered his mind.
"Zee is a bit upset. The emperor has just declared to the wider public her official coronation day," Dern replied.
Just then, there was a loud crashing of breaking pottery in the other room, followed by more angry cursing.
Bastion nodded slowly. "I see… She sounds more than a bit upset," Bastion pointed out.
"Why do you think I am running away?" Dern asked.
"I wouldn't call it running away. It's more of a tactical retreat," Bastion replied.
Dern nodded sagely.
"This is why we get along. You are a smart man," Dern said.
Bastion glanced back as plaster fell from the ceiling.
"So, do you have a way out? Zee is kind of blocking the exit, and I would prefer not to become the focus of her ire when she is on a warpath," Bastion said.
Dern gestured Bastion to follow with his comically small glaive.
"Follow me, I know a window we can sneak out of," Dern said.
The litany of vulgar curses continued behind them as they fled. No, not fleeing. This was a tactical retreat.
He would return later once her anger had cooled, and offer pie. It was a good thing he consulted her father, Alister. He had to trade a few hard to get types of candy for the information, but it was more than worth it. Knowing which type of pie was Zee's favorite was worth its weight in crystals.
Climbing through a small window, Bastion and Dern went their separate ways.
They had never been much for small talk, keeping a cordial, yet professional relationship.
Bastion preferred it this way, and Dern didn't seem to mind either. He turned his mind from the soul sucking monster, and focused on his upcoming meeting.
As it turns out, courting the future empress wasn't all that bad. In fact, Bastion was having a great time since the war council. Zee clearly hated all the attention, but Bastion knew there were profits to be made. With so many influential people lurking about, constantly vying for Zee's attention, he couldn't help but take advantage.
Over the past six days, he had met with dozens of prospective business clients, most of which were overjoyed to make a back room business deal.
Some were even willing to come out and publicly sign a contract with the Drunken Lizard corporation.
This was made all the easier by the fancy new license Zee had bargained for from the emperor. Bastion still couldn't believe his business was actually legitimate now. He could make money hand over fist, and it wasn't even illegal. Okay, maybe some still were, but no one needed to know about that.
He was even planning on buying a place in the first district of the academy. If things kept proceeding this smoothly, he could soon afford it.
Things were looking up, well, aside from the little problem of being conscripted. And sure there had been a few other small snags, like scammers and shady merchants trying to extort him. Those were bumps for sure, but the failed meetings were just the cost of doing business.
Most of his prospective clients were members of high society, while some were less reputable. It was hard to say which of the two groups were the bigger crooks. Bastion hummed a jaunty tune, practically skipping down the street.
Today he was meeting with a prospective client with extremely deep pockets and extensive ties across the empire.
Based on the information his contact gave him, It sounded a bit sketchy, but Bastion figured it couldn't hurt to at-least meet them.
A client so rich, was probably just looking to bribe him for information on the current heir apparent.
Spilling the beans on dirty secrets about Zee seemed like a scumbag thing to do, but she knew about it.
In fact she asked him to spread misinformation to make her look bad. After the most recent mishap back at the mansion, and the coronation thing, this could help cheer her up.
Getting bribed to spread such juicy gossip was just a happy coincidence. As for the danger of meeting such people, Bastion came prepared.
With enough ether crystals, you could buy a lot of things in Lorocos, including bodyguards.
Bastion was no slouch in combat, but the heart of the Lorocan empire was no joke. Most of his prospective clients were in the D grade, either from a long career or through the power of money.
Just like Taylor, a lot of his clients were pill poppers. Most hated that term, preferring to be called raised cultivators, but that was just to protect their fragile egos.
Those kinds of people would never progress past peak D grade, but for most, they didn't need to.
They could bully the vast majority of people in the empire with their boughten power.
Hence why Bastion brought along Ugandan. The man cost five hundred ether crystals an hour to hire. It was a shocking amount, but Bastion knew he was worth every dara. Having a peak D grade combat cultivator at his back had diffused more than one heated negotiation.
"How does it look?" Bastion asked, eying the small building he had rented for this meeting.
"Seems fine. Your client only brought one guard as requested," Ugandan replied.
"It's good to see that they can follow instructions. Come on, let's go see what they have to say," Bastion said.
His guard entered first, making sure it was all clear before Bastion followed. His client was already sitting at the small kitchen table, and gestured for him to take a seat across from him.
Their guards both took a few steps back, pretending to be flies on the wall.
Taking his seat, Bastion sized up his client.
It was an elderly man in opulent black robes, lacking any clan or house crest. He had graying hair and a wrinkled face. He was around average height, with a wiry frame on the thinner side. At first glance, he appeared completely harmless, but one look into his eyes was more than enough to dispel that thought.
There was a fire behind his eyes, one that spoke of decay, an endless rot that could consume the world.
It was a similar sensation he got whenever he looked into Zee's eyes, though hers were far less cold than this man's. A darkness hid behind those eyes, one that spoke of a monster in human skin.
Bastion had an ominous premonition as to who sat before him.
With his mouth going dry, he spoke first.
"I must admit, I didn't expect to meet the emperor in a run-down shack like this," Bastion said In greeting.
"What gave me away?" Farsaic asked, cocking his head slightly to one side.
"Your face is on the empires, Dara. Given how much I deal with currency, It's hard not to recognize you," Bastion replied carefully.
Farsaic laughed, putting Bastion even further on edge. Bastion frantically searched for a way out of this mess, but nothing short of an army could save him. He was in deep shit, and not the kind that Ugandan could help him get out of.
One glance over his shoulder was all it took to confirm that he was on his own for this.
Ugandan simply shook his head and pretended to be a wall decoration.
It was a smart decision that Bastion could respect, given the current circumstances.
Farsaic tapped the top of the table, seeming amused by the brief interchange of glances.
"I must say, I am impressed by your tenacity. You have been making waves all across the capitol in the short few years you have been here," Farsaic said.
"Thank you, your eminence," Bastion replied, not sure what else to say.
The emperor smiled and gave a dismissive wave.
"You two may leave us now,"
Ugandan was out the door without so much as a glance.
It smarted a bit, but Bastion could understand why the man left. The emperor was well known to be one of if not the strongest cultivators in the empire. He was also a bit of a schemer, and an asshole if Zees stories could be believed.
Doing his best to hide the tension he felt, Bastion sat back in his chair.
"So, how can I help you, your eminence?" Bastion asked.
Farsaic pulled out an ornately carved token, and a platinum band with an embedded green gem placing them on the table. Without preamble, he spoke.
"This token is linked to my personal teleportation hub. If you use it, it will teleport to Liiva, a border planet in my empire. You can ferry a ride from there through the Yardin wormhole cluster to any of the empires they connect to." He pointed to the innocuous ring.
"Pick it up, and look inside," Farsaic ordered.
Bastion did so, his breath catching In his throat. Inside was the largest sum of money he had ever seen.
Farsaic smiled at his stunned reaction.
"Inside are ten million Ether crystals. If you want them, all you have to do is use that token, and never come back. You will never have to work another day in your life. In one of the neighboring empires, you could buy an E grade planet, and rule it like a king. You could even buy enough pills and monster shards to push yourself to peak D and enjoy a long life," Farsaic said.
Bastion swallowed hard. It was an absurd amount of wealth, enough to do everything the emperor mentioned and more.
Farsaic could see the desire in his eyes and continued.
"You could get a palace, fill it with beautiful women to fulfill your every desire. All you have to, is leave. Leave my granddaughter's life forever," Farsaic said.
Bastion had to admit; it was tempting. If he were just a money loving thief he would have taken it in a heartbeat. It appeared the emperor didn't know him as well as he thought.
"I will pass," Bastion said with only a few seconds to consider.
"Oh? And why is that?" Farsaic asked, taken aback.
"Money can buy you a lot of things, but genuine loyalty is not one of them. My guard, Ugandan, is a perfect example. If it were Zee here, she would have had my back regardless of who sat on the other side of the table. And that kind of loyalty is more important than any amount of money," Bastion said, pushing the platinum spatial ring back across the table.
Cracking a thin-lipped smile, Farsaic sat back in his chair.
"I appreciate your candidness. But since you have refused to take the gifts I have offered, you will have to prove yourself. Not just anyone can be the consort to the empress," Farsaic said darkly.
Wary of a trap, Bastion stiffened.
"Prove myself how?" he asked.
"The expedition will be joining up with general Danma's battle group which will be leaving in just under two weeks. Including the attacks on the blood gorger outposts, and venturing into the storm boarding the cosmic river, the expedition should take around four, maybe five years," Farsaic said.
Bastion nodded slowly.
"I am aware,"
"Good… Ten of my descendants aside from Zee will be attending the expedition and participating in the invasion. They will be trying to prove themselves, and show that they are a better candidate for my successor," Farsaic said.
Bastion furrowed his brows.
"That sounds like a good thing from my perspective. Zee doesn't want to be the empress, so I would be more inclined to help her rivals," Bastion admitted, he felt honesty was best here.
Farsaic nodded in agreement. "Your support of her cause is endearing, but unacceptable. You will not aid my other descendants, the opposite, in fact. From now on, you will do everything in your power to make sure they do not become a problem for Zee," Farsaic said.
Bastion raised both eyebrows.
"And why would I do that? Seems counterproductive to me," Bastion replied.
Farsaic cracked a thin lipped smile that made him look like a viper preparing to strike.
"Is that so? I guess it is from your perspective. Oh well. You know, ever since Zee awakened the Mantle, I have been considering something. One of the neighboring empires to mine has a crown prince right around Zee's age. The Mercovians have long been looking for an alliance, and would jump at the opportunity," Farsaic said.
Bastion's heart leapt in his chest.
"Zee wouldn't marry some random prince," Bastion stated firmly.
Farsaic snorted in bemusement.
"You forget who you're talking to. Do you really think I can't arrange for her to be married? I can easily manipulate the situation until she has no other choice but to accept the arranged marriage. I could always just make you disappear, and wait until she gets over your death. It would be child's play," Farsaic said, with complete confidence in his voice.
Bastion broke out in a cold sweat. "What do you want me to do?" Bastion asked, trying and failing to hide the anger and fear in his voice.
Farsaic smiled darkly.
"As I said before, I want you to clear the way for Zee to ascend the throne. During the raids and the expedition, you will do your utmost to remove her competition. How you do that is up to you. You could either make accidents happen, or you can convince her rivals to join her side. In the end it doesn't matter how you do it, as long as you prevail," Farsaic said.
Bastion's eyes widened.
"You want me to kill your descendants?" Bastion asked, appalled at the idea.
Farsaic shrugged.
"If you must. If they crave the throne, they will need to be silenced, eventually. Killing them now will just save you effort in the future," Farsaic said coldly.
A chill shot up Bastion's spine. The emperor might look like a kindly old man, but he was a heartless monster in disguise.
What kind of person would be willing to sacrifice their own grandchildren to accomplish their goals? Bastion gripped his knees under the table with sweaty hands. The man's earlier threat was suddenly at the front of his mind.
Such a heartless bastard would have no qualms with making Bastion disappear. Upon his realization, Bastion decided he had no other choice but to comply.
Fighting the emperor directly, or refusing his demands was not an option. But it didn't have to be all bad. Judging by the man's first offer, Bastion may be able to make a profit if he was willing to risk bargaining with the monster in-front of him.
No reward was ever made without risk.
Licking his suddenly dry lips, Bastion sat up in his chair. He was already in the monster's lair. Now it was time to bargain and hope he didn't push too far and get himself eaten.
In a surprisingly calm voice, Bastion broke the silence.
"What are you willing to offer for my services?" Bastion asked.
As if expecting the question, the emperor pulled out a strange-looking box from the depths of his lavish robes. With utmost care, he placed it on the table.
Bastion stared at the completely ordinary fist sized box. It seemed incredibly ordinary until he blinked.
The box suddenly looked decrepit and ancient, as if it had experienced decades of wear and tear.
Startled, he blinked again. In the next moment, all that was left of the box was ash on the table.
Confused, he glanced up, noting the emperor's amused expression. When Bastion looked back down, there was a small sprout on the table.
Each time he blinked or looked away, it changed. From a sprout, it turned into a sapling, which grew into a tree, and then wooden planks.
That turned into the exact same box he saw the first time. It was the most bizarre thing he had ever seen.
"What is it?" Bastion asked, his confusion evident.
The emperor shrugged. "I have no idea what it's called, nor what it even is. This thing has been collecting dust in my vault since before I ascended the throne. My father said it's a bloodline treasure of some sort. I have my doubts, but it's by far the most bizarre thing I have ever seen in my long life," Farsaic said.
"I have to agree with you. It is weird. Why are you offering it to me?" Bastion asked.
"I don't know. Let's just call it a hunch. Simply open the box, and it's yours. This is all I am offering, take it or leave it," Farsaic said.
Bastion had to admit, he was very interested.
His curiosity was peaked. The urge to reach forward and touch it was nearly overwhelming.
Whatever was inside had to be something extremely valuable.
Bastion took a deep, steadying breath. Whatever it was, it didn't feel like a trap. After all, what need did the emperor have for something like that? He could simply snap his fingers and Bastion would die.
No, this may be an opportunity, if Bastion was willing to risk his life.
With a shaky hand, he reached forward, and touched the bizarre treasure once it was a box. Much to both of their surprise, the box opened.
The emperor's eyes gleamed with excitement, as something rose into the air.
Faster than he could blink, the emperor snatched at the indistinct object. It was futile, the object shot forward, slamming into Bastion's chest and melting into his skin.
It wasn't painful, but it wasn't pleasant either. There was a burning sensation, and then darkness overtook him.
He felt his body hit the table as his consciousness was dragged away.
For a brief instant, Bastion got a glimpse of the true essence of eternity. All of existence, from the beginning until the universe crumbled into dust, flashed before his eyes. It was as if he existed in every moment, and yet, also none of them. He was Eternity, and if he so wished, could steal a Moment in Time.
The sense of vastness faded, as his consciousness returned to his body. He was still sitting at the table, though it was dark outside.
Much to his surprise, the emperor was still sitting across from him. As Bastion sat up, the emperor leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.
"It appears that you have absorbed my treasure. That is going to cost you," the emperor said.
Still a bit groggy, Bastion scowled.
"I already said I will do what you want. What more could you possibly need from me?" Bastion asked.
"Those are just a few simple errands. Let us discuss the payment for the treasure you just stole from me," the emperor said.
Bastion could have argued that the emperor gave it to him, but that would have been futile.
He felt like he was going to get shafted even more, but he didn't really have a choice but to comply.
"What else do you want?" Bastion asked tiredly.
"It's nothing much. There are a few rare treasures in the eternal storm that I want you to collect for me. If you do that, plus, what we already discussed before, i will forgive this transgression," the emperor said.
Bastion massaged his aching head, letting out a tired sigh. "What treasures do you want me to find?" Bastion asked.