First week of February, top floor of Royal Guard tower, meeting room, all twelve master mages were gathered there, all dressed in their uniforms in general deliberation, they were much more than just warriors, they were the real ministers who ruled the country alongside the queen, close to them, the parliament was almost insignificant, but not because of a law, but because of tradition and Celestians being a people linked to tradition.
– So, let's start with what each of the master mages has to present? Starting in zodiacal order as usual. – Said Otrera with a bit of debauchery, she was getting used to the position, having to deal with so many bureaucracies, details, documents that she had to take care of as Grand Mistress, she was as almost always when away from her mother, smoking.
– Regarding the Academy, everything in perfect calm, the prince has been acting strangely keeping an eye on your nephew, but otherwise normal, Princess Gale seems to be fine for now... As for your nephews, talented students, although the boy likes to read more and the girl likes the practice... – Margareth began.
– Looks like them… And as for the prince, I think they'll resolve themselves soon. – Commented Otrera.
– Continuing... This year's newbies seem promising to me, sophomores have a long way to go and seniors, well, they seem to be one of the best classes since the end of the war to graduate, I think good part of them, at least 70% of them pass the exam. – Said the headmistress, the role of Margareth among the twelve was to be responsible for education, she also took care of other colleges and academies spread across Celestia, but as education minister, the deans and directors answers directly to her.
– Troops are well positioned, here are the graphs, I've already sent a copy to the Lady Grand Mistress, the current status of all our Royal Guard forces outside Celestia on the international field, names, abilities, data sheets, those who they are mixed in with the common army, and those on loose missions. – Alister said, projecting on the table several holographic graphics that showed the planet and the points where they had agents and over the air the profile of these agents, their ranks and abilities; Alister was responsible for organizing the army of the Royal Guard and keeping an eye on its movements and dispatching military campaigns. – Lately we've had a lot of problems with Kora'q terrorist cells trying to enter Celestia, and we've also sent some units to Kalaria and Zambi in low profile to check on these cells, it's a global problem that governments are trying to smother and alleviate for their populations, but things are getting more serious. –
– I understand, the Kora'q people suffer from these rebels who dirty the name of their people, but action must be taken, I want these cells dismantled as soon as possible and do not compromise innocent civilians and do not kill the Kora'q minors, they are often coerced into participating, we cannot be so cruel. – Ordered Otrera getting another drink.
– The finances of the Royal Guard are all in order, the transfers were made to the arms of the Royal Guard, the monthly supplies from the Belladona Academy received, payments, pensions, everything in accordance, all that remains is to calculate the adjustments for the benefits of retirees. – Nora said that she was responsible for the finances of the Royal Guard and for overseeing the expenses made by the parliament, in addition to her battle functions, which she exercised with equal praise to all other mages.
– Well, try to be more efficient and finish these adjustments soon. – Said Otrera short and thick as if she expected even more from her. – Ethan. –
– The spy units are with me, they're in place, my team of five spies in Peterosk and Petroskia are keeping an eye on Madame Stroika's movements, and we've identified some of her closest generals... Vidar Vashinikov; Guilherme Sactorum; Myaka Sakamuri; Veronica Leshveik; Andreia Kroton and Maynard Stone, they were seen with the leaders of the terrorist group Kora'q "Alghul" cells in Kalaria, Nihondo and Bricttany, we managed to contact the governments, but they couldn't stop the attacks before they took place, but many of the terrorists they were arrested, and the incidents hushed up as casualties. – Ethan reported, he was responsible for the espionage area and also for the Psychological and Psychiatric care area of the Royal Guard, he had designed the holograms of the files of the cited names, nationalities, backgrounds and skills, except for Maynard who seemed to be more mysterious and with an erased past.
– This Andreia, she is no strange to me, I think I got to know her during the war when I served two months in Zambi before returning to the front in Stroika. – Commented Otrera. – It's good we didn't lose sight of her and her allies. –
– The internal logistics are all right and I'm keeping an eye on mapping the actions of the terrorist fronts and of M. Stroika, in a short time we will have a more concrete action plan for us to act. – Edward said that he was responsible for organizing the tactical actions and military planning, while Alister executed and managed these plans adapting them to the factual reality while Edward had to worry about a tactical planning in the field of abstraction of the data he had, he could be a great spy when he wanted too.
– The religious festivals are underway, the high priest and the other high priests of the twelve gods are preparing the festivals of the gods already... As for the divine designs I have been probing, difficult times await us, in the astrological field everything is under control, the defense and sealing measures are in full swing. – Anitta said, she took care of the cultural and religious area within the Royal Guard, in addition to taking care of the astrological division of the Royal Guard sages and responsible for the ritual preparations.
– For my part, I went back to helping in the division of research for medical development and other areas, of course, but I will initially stick to my area of expertise, but the development of the Royal Guard sages is phenomenal and all this is at the service of our young people. – Said Otrera smoking another cigarette, it was almost ironic that she was talking about health and smoking like a chimney. As Libra, Otrera had the mission of developing knowledge and wisdom, in addition to taking care of the health issue, as she was the most skillful in this field, therefore responsible for the health portfolio as well.
– Discipline and training within the Royal Guard are in order, the neophytes and loose paladins in rigorous training, those on staff are duly under the responsibility of their captains. – Kristen said she was a disciplinarian and who guaranteed that within the Royal Guard that the neophytes and paladins would be properly trained to rearrange them and pass on to Alister, Edward, Ethan, George and Maeve who was available or not, and to keep them fit within the service, she also ran the air force division. Kristen threw holograms of current Royal Guard captains teams and their subordinates onto the table. – Unfortunately, we also received information from our agents in Nihondo that two mages of the Nihondess Royal Guards were executed, both specialists in beast summoning, one was a master of black turtles and the other of flaming birds. –
– The defense of the royal family is strengthened and with the most skilled agents, others in the service of the protection of the royal family directly have reinforced training and I have relocated two highly reputable captains to help me lead the paladins who look after the guard of the royal family. – George said, he triggered the hologram showing the captains and paladins separated for the protection of the queen and princess; he was responsible for protecting the royal family and the stores of military weaponry.
– Environmental preservation measures are in full swing, my division is ensuring that Celestia maintains her nature and biodiversity, studies have shown improvement in quality of life and longevity again, two more years on the population average, 120 years is the new average ... We are almost as leafy and with nature as Kalaria, the balance with nature has been maintained. – Teresa said, she was responsible for the country's environmental issue, she had a very big responsibility, nature had a very important role for Celestia, it was part of her devotion to the divine. It showed the holograms with their statistics.
– The navy is on the line, working at full speed, my subordinates are defending the entire coastline of the country, and our fleet remains the most powerful in the world. – Maeve said short and thick as she liked to be, but with an animated tone and showing her statistics.
– Impressive, and I hope we keep it that way. – Commented Otrera.
– I put the division of sages concerned with scientific advances and experiments on the line… And I shared some of my advances with them… The thing was very low right here, but in two months I get more advances and experiments worthy of note. – Morrigan said with her austere tone showing the results of her studies in Bricttany and the sum with the studies of Celestia's sages.
– Impressive, friend, but... Please, without sacrificing people for your studies, we are no longer at war, we will not kill loyal soldiers for your experiments. – Said Otrera categorical. – Nor Soul Puppet for the purposes of these surveys with members of the Royal Guard. –
– Understood, you know I wouldn't do that, at least not with Celestia's citizens. – Morrigan laughed morbid, she had not many scruples, she was willing to do everything for science.
– From what I could find out and analyze, everyone is taking good care of their assignments, with M. Stroika out there, care is essential... For now, everyone is free. – Otrera said that she still didn't know how to deal well with the whole situation, she didn't know if she would be a good leader. – As for the Nihondess mage, send our condolences, and it is very strange, tortoise and bird, if I'm not mistaken, are part of a set of four races, tortoise, bird, dragon and white tiger. –
– Of course… I have to go back to Belladona, but I'm sure you'll give new orders soon after thoroughly analyzing this information, I know you were more used to practice and medical studies, but I know you'll adapt soon. – Margareth said fondly.
– I have a history class to give for the senior year in a little while, I'll take the opportunity and go with you Meg – Anitta said.
– As for the Nihondess, yes, they are part of a group of sacred beasts, there are four families there, each with one of these beasts, to dominate one already demands a lot of power. – Maeve commented.
Gradually, everyone left, bowing to Otrera. The master mage was reflecting on the murders, she had the impression that it was M. Stroika's thing, she would have them investigated further.
***
Otrera went to her private office, a 60m2 room, the walls were in two colors, burnt gray and aqua green, she had paintings and photographs of Otrera with Morrigan, Edward, Astarte and Astaroth, as well as her family, several pictures of the best moments of her life, it had a very nice decoration and seemed to have changed nothing in its structure since Otrera had left ten years ago, with the area with apparatus for medical care with stretcher, equipment and hanger with its coat, shelves of books and objects.
The mage was sitting at her desk that had an "L" cutout attached to the wall, next to her was a frame with a photo of her with Edward, Morrigan and Astaroth together in what appeared to be a training ground, they were already all master mages. The picture had been taken a week before Astaroth's death. Otrera was focused on reading all the reports that were brought to the meeting.
Morrigan then entered the room to speak with her friend.
– Astaroth made this fucking job look so easy. – Laughed Otrera seeing someone who understood her emotional and psychic state.
– He really made it look very easy, but I know you'll handle it, I came to see how you were. – Morrigan said sitting down.
– I'm fine, I'm just getting used to all of this, one thing was taking care of health and intellectual development, another was having to balance everything. – Said Otrera, unburdening himself.
– Calm down, you know you have me and Eddy to help you, everyone there wants to help you. – Morrigan said trying to cheer up her friend and takes the photo that was on the table. – It was a week before the end of the war… I have the same photo in my living room. –
– Yes... He's really missed, sometimes I can't believe it's been ten years, for me it's still like yesterday. – Said the Libra mage.
– He had asked you to marry him, you were going to get married right after the end of the war, it was a hard blow, but none of us was to blame. – Morrigan said, she could be cold, focused and morbid with a lot of people, but not with her two best friends.
– Mor, what were your real intentions in returning here? I know you too well to know that even Madame Stroika wouldn't be enough to trap you here, that you could get yourself some kind of massive magical energy source, use a reanimation technique, hunt and kill her with an undead army... Why did you come back, really? – Otrera asked that she loved her friend, but she knew that pure sentimentality didn't suit her, she always had something to gain from every action she took.
– Eddy didn't notice, nobody noticed, except you, of course, you and I were always very clear and your warning about not using the reanimation technique with celestians mages was a clear "don't resurrect Astaroth", I wouldn't do that, I know the laws of necromancy and I know it would be a disgrace to his sacrifice... My real reason for returning is much longer term, you know my ambition to master all the magic in the world, to achieve immortality, not all we were born with its ability to regenerate, my methods were morbid, but I'll probably outlive everyone else in that room together… – Began Morrigan.
– I don't judge you, you saw a scientific provision that was possible mixing necromancy with science and we were at war, but in times of peace? Did you keep taking bodies? – Said Otrera scared.
– To do this process I need strong, powerful subjects and the body must be compatible, luckily this group Alghul has mages of all possible nationalities and many compatible with my blood and high level, I didn't kill innocents, only terrorists, and yes, I already knew that Stroika was back, I have a lot of contacts, I was even taking care of being chased, I could kill those there who are her generals by sneezing, but I would give away my location... My real motivation to come back, it was the resources, I don't speak financial, but all this cutting-edge material, if my research with limited funds and with a lot of income from my intellect advanced so much, imagine what I can do with the resources of the Royal Guard? In addition to human capital, prodigies that I can train as my own students... Those incompetents who claim to be sages with all these resources didn't do half of what I did with much less and having to hide so as not to be disturbed. – Morrigan said, she did not show any remorse. – Besides, it is clearly looking for my scythe that Adriana's disgraced sister stole from me in the war. –
– I see… Don't want to compare your intellect with theirs, you're the smartest person I've ever met, not to mention I could feel all the corpses you used when I healed you after the test battle, you told the truth about where they come from, but all this, whatever you want, is for Celestia's sake, right? – Otrera said that she trusted her friend's word.
– For a better world, and for Celestia, a world in which science fulfills its role. – Morrigan smiled, she did not lie or revealed the whole truth.
Edward walked into the room with a whiskey and three glasses.
– Girls! I found you, I think we deserve a drink! – Edward laughed already serving the drink.
– It's time! – Morrigan said she was relieved with him there, escaped interrogation for now.
– I'm in need, don't regulate this in my glass! – Otrera said.
– I always envied that at "O", she doesn't get drunk and her lungs don't deteriorate with cigarettes, iron health is a joke when compared to her resistance. – Commented Edward who sat at the table.
– One of the advantages... Do you remember when we invaded "Asta's" office to make him look away from so much paperwork and have more fun? – Laughed Otrera.
– Yes, and apparently we'll have to do it now with you once in a while. – Edward laughed.
– I liked coming back after all, I realized how much you were missed, do you remember the time we went out hiding at night after curfew in our second year? Margareth wanted to eat our liver, but Asta wouldn't let her. – Otrera remembered.
– Or that mission in Piazza in Razzi? Did we have to face that tribe of summoned warriors from another dimension? It was the first time we saved Asta and not the other way around, we were 22 years old, so young, so naive, so happy. – Morrigan remembered genuinely.
– And there was that time we helped that goddess of universe 6 to deal with the fugitive mages. – Edward remembered.
– What was that one? – Morrigan asked confused.
– It was Hera and her heroes, remember? Three highly dangerous stroiko mages managed to escape to universe 6 and it took a lot of work to recover them. – Otrera remembered.
– Ah, I remembered... It was in this that Edward was turned on with that demigod boy, he was almost killed because of jealousy, it looked like he was in a relationship already. – Morrigan laughed.
– So many memories… Even in the midst of the war we managed to rejoice, take care of each other, you are the family that life allowed me to choose, and I never want to have to say goodbye again. – Said Otrera emotional.
– I don't want to spoil the mood, but I have to go take care of some experiments, a toast... To Astaroth! – Morrigan said.
– To Astaroth! – Said the other two mages.
– See you later. – Morrigan said, she was leaving.
– See ya! – Said the other two.
Now Otrera and Edward were in the room, there was a lot of history between the two of them, somewhat different views on feelings.
– "O", now that we're alone, I wanted to talk to you, you know, we've known each other for so many years, we grew up together, and I can't hide that what I felt for you, I never stopped feeling, when you feel me rejected I accepted, understood and went to live mine life, but I never stopped loving you. – Edward declared himself.
– Eddy, I love you, but not like this, you're like a brother. – Said Otrera blushing, he had already had this conversation more than ten years ago.
– Otrera, I know you loved Astaroth, he was my master too, I have all the respect for him, but it's been ten years since he died, don't you think you deserve a new opportunity to love? – Edward said with all his charm and beauty getting closer to the mage.
– Edward I know, but I can't see you like this, I swear, I'm sorry… I wouldn't forgive myself if I stayed with you just for pity, you mean a lot to me for me to do this to you. – Otrera said that he was almost crying.
– Why? Why can't you love me like I love you? – Edward said, he was blushed and embarrassed.
– Eddy you are one of the people I love the most in this life, as a friend, as a person I would trust with my life, but I don't see you that way, I'm sorry, I wish I could reciprocate this feeling, but I can't, I don't want this to spoil what we have, you mean a lot to me as much as Hecuba or Daedalus and Mor. – Said Otrera who hugged Edward emotionally.
– Don't worry, it won't change, it's not the first time you've dumped me, and it's part of loving, respecting and honoring the other person's decision, I can love you, but I won't force something that isn't reciprocal. – Edward said crying.
– Eddy, man, the man or woman who manages to gain your heart has to know that you're worth the world, you're the best man I've ever met after Astaroth and my father, you're the man that Astaroth molded you to be and he'd be proud, the problem isn't you... You're partner, romantic, amazing, generous and fucking hot, I won't lie, but I can't think about romance right now, "he" was the love of my life, and when he died it seems that this side of me died too... I want you to be happy, do you understand me? – Said Otrera looking into his eyes speaking with all the sincerity that the confused whirlwind of emotions allowed him to be.
– It's ok "O", always counts on me, I just need to get some air. – Said Edward, who dries the tears, gives a kiss on the mage's forehead and leaves.
Otrera was alone in her room composing herself, she was very strong and knew how to swallow her feelings, she still loves Astaroth and also felt that she couldn't give in to things like love at that moment, it wouldn't be fair to Edward to trap him in a loveless relationship or without the time he deserved, it was painful for her, but her decision benefited both of them in that moment no matter how much he didn't realize it.