The Greatest Sin [Progression Fantasy][Kingdom Building]
Chapter 257 – Something Worth Doing

General Ekkerson sighed as he smoked and watched what was happening down the street. A hospital was collapsing, one of those massive crabs had been brought down with a full team of tanks and in its death-throes, it had smashed through several walls of the building. One of Ekkerson’s assistants came up to him holding a phone.. “General Zalewski called.” Well that was new.

“What does he want?”

“I don’t know.” The soldier gave him the phone. “But he said it’s urgent.”

Ekkerson finished the cigarette as he typed out the number. Zalewski picked up quickly. “Ekkerson here, what did you want?”

“Just wondering if you heard anything about treason.”

Treason? That was a first. They were all largely ex-Clerics here. Clerics did not do treason. “No. Why?”

Zalewski made a sour tone. “Kassandora took my sorcerers.”

“She took mine too.”

Kassandora took a breath and slowed down just before she knocked on the wooden room in Central Requisitions. Baalka was still asleep, Kassandora simply had to check, just in case, but the Goddess of Disease did not even stir once from her slumber.

And now Kassandora stood on the other side of the corridor as her mind played through a dozen scenarios simultaneously. Then a dozen again, and a dozen again. Until she was satisfied that whatever argument against her would be met with a disarming parry. Her shieldwall of ideas would outlast any charge of doubt or unwillingness. It had anyway. Anassa had gone in, and Anassa had to be dragged out to help at what was happening in Nanbasa.

Kassandora did not know how to enter that realm within. Nor did Fer. Irinika could, but Irinika was not here. Malam maybe, but again, Malam was not here. Kassandora took a deep breath and shook the doubts off. What was she even complaining about? She had a Goddess at her disposal, if Leona was still alive, Kassandora would have ended up with one sickly mortal about to keel over and die. It did not matter that the Goddess Kassandora had could not be trusted, should not be freed, and had just as large a chance at fleeing immediately as she did at actually helping.

But those were mere problems to work through and to be solved. Kassandora smiled to herself as the crusade in her mind culminated in a thousand simultaneous successes. It was time to meet with the Goddess of Magic. How hard would Elassa be to work anyway? Kassandora had spent a millennia in prison acting as the confidante of every White Pantheon member. If there was anyone who should be able to get that woman dancing on strings, then it should be Kassandora. The Goddess of War pushed open the door.

Elassa was sitting on a chair, craned over a table, lost in thought, as she assembled a jigsaw. The woman’s dark hair was pulled back over one shoulder, and she wore a pretty blue dress. Even if Elassa was a prisoner, she was too high-value of a prisoner to mistreat. Kassandora was glad she had put the effort in on organising the room. The comfortable queen-sized bed, the various wines and cakes, the books and jigsaws brought in from cities. Elassa looked up, blue eyes looked in surprise at Kassandora and the Goddess of Magic straightened her back. “Ahh… Hello?” Elassa said.

“Hello Elassa, how are you doing today?” Kassandora said as she scanned the room. She could not feel any eyes in here, not any magical traps. So that ring really was working. It was such a tiny little item and yet it managed to lock down an entire Goddess.

“How do you think?” Elassa said replied dryly. Kassandora looked down at the jigsaw, it was an image of elephants bathing themselves in the river.

“How’s the ring?” Kassandora asked.

“Don’t remind me.” Elassa showed it to Kassandora. She moved her hand around so that Kassandora could see the ring from all sides. “Why ask?” Elassa must have noticed that Kassandora did not particularly care about the ring itself, and every time she had come to visit before, she had just talked with Elassa as if they were friends. If there was one thing prisoners hated, it was reminders of their situations.

“A situation has cropped up.” Kassandora answered. She needed to be careful here. Elassa needed some pressure applied on her, if the woman knew she was the only rope Kassandora had managed to grab hold of, then she would start to bargain. “And you are the closest and easiest Elassa.”

Elassa caught on. Or at least she thought she did, smarter than Fortia and Maisara, this one. Kassandora had to give her that. “Why not Olephia?”

“Olephia is busy on the frontlines.” Kassandora replied earnestly. “Could I take her? Yes. Do I want to? Not really.” It was the little things, the definite ‘yes’ versus the ambivalent ‘not really’ that would lay the groundwork for the ideas Kassandora was trying to build.

“Ah. So you want me?” Elassa said, there was some smugness in her tone. Those dark blue eyes of hers were confident too. Maybe Kassandora had been treating her too good. “I’m honoured Kass.”

“I’m happy you’re happy Ela.” Kassandora said. “Will you hear me out or are you just going to say there’s no way.” The Goddess of War made a show of looking around the room. “Time is of the essence in the matter, and I’d appreciate it not being wasted right now.” Elassa sat there for a moment, Kassandora let her think. It would be better if she was going to raise a condition now rather than later. Besides, whatever the woman was thinking, there was no way she would predict Anassa was stuck in the Jungle.

“Just so you know.” Elassa said. “I think you’re the most honest liar to exist.” Kassandora smiled at the compliment. That was a new one. She liked it. “And it’s not that…” Elassa trailed off for a moment, chuckled and shook her head. That black hair swayed from side to side as it retreated from her shoulder to her back. Kassandora smelled the woman’s perfume, it was a citrus-scented one Anassa liked. “I won’t waste your time, I can’t promise to agree, but I will consider it Kassandora. On two conditions though.”

Kassandora leaned back with a smile. Now they were talking. Everyone had a price, the only question was how high it got. “What?”

“One, you won’t ruin my image publicly.” Elassa said then explained. “I don’t want to be seen on your side of the war. Nothing like that. I’m not going to attack Fortia or Maisara no matter how much I dislike them. I won’t touch Arcadia.” Kassandora nodded along. That was a good one, Kassandora would have made a similar demand frankly.

“And two?”

Elassa smiled like a hawk. “I want something in exchange that is worth my time. You can decide it.” Kassandora smiled back. What a perfect set of demands. They would be utterly debilitating if the woman was being sent off to fight on the front.

“No fighting White Pantheon forces, and you save Anassa’s life.” Kassandora said. She didn’t even know if Anassa was in danger or not. Frankly, it was Anassa, she could be on the edge of death and perfectly safe at the same time. “How’s that for payment?”

Elassa sat there for a moment. She leaned back. She tilted her head. She crossed her arms. She stared Kassandora down. “We both know that isn’t payment.” Elassa finally said. Kassandora had to give the woman gall, they both knew Anassa was important to them, and they both knew they rescuing Anassa was not payment.

“So you’ll leave her?” Kassandora asked.

“You said you have Olephia.”

“I said I’d rather not pull her off the front.”

“Apologies for not being part of the war effort.” Elassa said coldly.

“You understand freedom is off the table.” Kassandora said. “I’m not rescuing Anassa just to have to deal with you again.”

“What if I pull out of the Pantheon then?” Kassandora laughed to cover up her surprise. Elassa did not know! Did she?

“I thought I was trying to buy you?” Kassandora laughed and Elassa shrugged.

“What can Fortia and Maisara do? With Kavaa on your side, the situation is bad. With Epa spiralling out of control, then it’s only a matter of time before the White Pantheon loses most of its recruitment grounds. What then? Is Arcadia going to start supplementing the frontlines because Fortia can’t deal with the fact you best her?” Elassa laid it out plainly as she spread her arms out across the half-completed puzzle of elephants.

“Epa is already out.” Kassandora said. She thought for a moment, should Elassa be told? It wasn’t exactly hidden information, and if the woman felt tricked, she wouldn’t care about going back on her. Finally, Kassandora decided. Elassa should know the whole truth, but it should be Kassandora’s truth that was ever on the march to victory. Not, for example, Allasaria’s truth, where Arascus’ army was about to crumble at any moment. “You don’t know what’s been happening outside.”

“I assumed you wouldn’t share so I didn’t even ask.” Elassa said and Kassandora shook her head.

“I’m not you.” Kassandora began and laid out the scenario. Some things were said straight: Kavaa, Iliyal and Fer found out that Tartarus is still is on Epa. Some things were dishonest truths that gave off better impressions: The Five Epan National Goddesses are good enough now to have served in the Great War. Along with: Iliyal is doing better in Epa than we are in Kirinyaa, and we’re withstanding the invasion from Uriamel. And some things were simply omitted, there was no need to mention that Irinika and Malam had been found after all.

But the most important part was said straight, the one that would make sure Elassa would feel as if she was being treated with honesty: Allasaria has returned. She is leading Uriamel’s assault on Kirinyaa. That’s why I don’t want to move Olephia. Elassa leaned back and tilted her head at Kassandora as the Goddess of War finished. “That’s everything.” Kassandora said.

“You did not lie once.” Elassa said it as a statement, but Kassandora answered nevertheless.

“On my life, I did not.”

“You are terrifying.” Elassa said flatly. Kassandora’s lips curled into a smile. Elassa was generous with her compliments today! “I know I’m being played, but I have no idea how I’m being played.”

Kassandora laughed and put her hands on the table. “I’m honoured at how smart you think I am Elassa, but that is the situation. You know now what hand I have. I don’t want to let you loose because I don’t trust that you won’t run off to Allasaria.” Elassa sighed and leaned back, her arms fell to her sides.

“You’ve talked to Kavaa about me then?”

“And Iniri and Helenna.” Kassandora affirmed.

“That’s not what the situation is like. I had to ally with Allasaria.” Elassa said. Kassandora lifted an eyebrow to prod the woman into an explanation, but she wouldn’t force it. Elassa always preferred being asked than commanded. “Anassa was locked away in the Divine Library, in Arcadia, you know that already.”

“I do.” Kassandora said.

“Why do you think they didn’t execute Anassa? She’s not you, you have intrinsic value in here.” Elassa tapped the side of her head. “Allasaria kept you as a contingency in case Tartarus or Paraideisius ever attacked us.”

“That’s working under the assumption I would want to help.”

“Wouldn’t you?” Elassa asked and Kassandora smiled. Of course she would. She would barter something out, she would buy her freedom, and then she would win that war and destroy the Pantheon with it. But Allasaria had always been an optimistic idealist. “But why was she kept alive? You, of all people, should figure it out.”

Kassandora smiled as her gears started to turn. The pieces fell into place the moment Elassa asked the question in that depressed tone of hers. It was so obvious she kicked herself she didn’t see it before. “You were compromised by Anassa.” Elassa’s eyes fell and she answered only with a slow, sad, nod. Kassandora leaned even further back to give the woman space. “Care to explain?”

“What is there to explain?” Elassa said.

“Why?”

“Why I kept her alive?” Elassa asked sarcastically. “I trained her. That is reason enough.” Elassa shook her head as her eyes started to tear up. “I’ve met plenty of prodigies, by Anassa was a prodigy among prodigies. I have never met anyone like her. I don’t think I ever will either.” She cracked a sad smile. “She’s created an entire branch of magic herself. It’s the first time I’ve seen of such a thing. It’s like…” Elassa burst out in laughter. “It’s incomparable to your demesne Kassandora, it simply is. Magic was set. Anassa came along, and Magic was not set. The fact she exists means…” Elassa broke down in tears.

Kassandora had not expected Elassa to start crying, she would have brought a handkerchief. The Goddess of Magic took a few moments to compose herself and then blew her nose into her dress. “Anassa proved to me magic was not a finished art. I cannot…” Elassa burst out in laughter. “If she did not exist, then the training methods me and her developed would have never come to fruition. If Anassa was not around, then the foundation for militarizing magic, all the theory, all the groundwork, it wouldn’t be there. We laid that. Me and her.” Elassa, two thin tears streaming down her cheeks.

Kassandora let the woman calm down. There was no reason to push her even further than that. “Why align with Allasaria so much then?” The Goddess of War asked. “You are called Allasaria’s Dog.” Elassa burst out in laughter and slammed her down onto the table.

“Because Allasaria had you.” Elassa said and Kassandora sighed. When was the last time she thought of Allasaria? In a context that did not involve defeating the woman? She simply did not understand it. Everyone had moved on since then, Allasaria had founded her own kingdoms after Worldbreaking, Kassandora simply could not. They had gone their separate ways. It was as simple as that.

“And?” Kassandora asked.

“She kept you alive. It never sat right with anyone else either. But because she had you, she allowed me Anassa.” Elassa shrugged. “Because it’s fair? Because I justified her? I don’t know, ask her yourself.”

“One day.” Kassandora said flatly. She didn’t need to ask. She had been kept alive because the White Pantheon was soft at the end of the day. If Kassandora captured herself, then her head would be rolling by the time the hour is up. She was simply too competent to keep alive.

Kassandora stopped herself from asking whether Elassa would want freedom. It was a perfect story. It made fantastic sense. And it was exactly the sort of thing she would say herself if she wanted freedom. No. If the woman wanted to play at this emotionality, then she was digging her own hole. Kassandora pushed her into that hole. “So will you help us save Anassa?” Kassandora said slowly.

Was it dirty? Was it wrong? Most likely. But this was simply another battle. The victory condition was killing the Jungle. Kassandora would drive the sword that was Elassa through that giant, swords only needed to cut. She had never asked Joyeuse on what it felt about being her greatsword either. Elassa cracked a smile. “How Kass? How? I have no staff.”

“I have heard magicians themselves can serve as catalysts.” Elassa snorted in laughter.

“Black magic.” She said dryly.

“Magic nonetheless.” Kassandora said. “Do you have a problem with it?”

Elassa shrugged and smiled without a single ounce of warmth. “We’ve all done worse, haven’t we?” Kassandora smiled back. Of course they have. The basics of magic had been discovered in the same way as the basics of medicine, as the basics of damn-near everything else: trial and error. And early magic had considerably more error than trial. Elassa raised another question. “But you have no magicians.”

Kassandora crossed her arms. “We have sorcerers. You said it yourself, it’s a school of magic.” Elassa wiped the remnants of her tears away. A certain excitement was starting to brew in that short woman.

“Never been done before.”

“Even I know elements can be mixed.”

“Sorcery is a foundational principle, not an element.” Elassa said, but the woman was caught. It was obvious she was, she was eyeing Kassandora, begging to be convinced. “What sort of magic do you want cast through them?”

But Elassa was not the sort to be convinced through promises and platitudes. Besides, what could Kassandora offer? An escort back to the White Pantheon? Did Elassa even really want that? Kassandora doubted it. And besides, Elassa did things only if they were worth doing. “There isn’t one, I need something new.” Kassandora said.

“What’s the closest approximate then? For a Jungle like that, some mass enchantment then? Or what?” Kassandora shook her head.

“Nothing that precise. I just want the evolution of a magic you know. Like that, but just better.”

“Better than what?”

“Worldbreaking.” Kassandora’s word echoed around the room as Elassa’s lips curled upwards.

“There is nothing greater than Worldbreaking. That’s impossible.” The Goddess of Magic’s voice curled as if she was tasting a fine glass of wine. Kassandora exactly what the woman wanted to hear next was.

“And?” Elassa sighed and looked down at the ring that was blocking her magic. She moved that finger up and down, curled, then straightened it. Then looked to Kassandora. There was a flame in her eyes, a sense of excitement Kassandora had not seen previously on the woman. It wasn’t the rageful Elassa that Kassandora had faced during her escape, nor the terrible one during the White Pantheon’s invasion. This wasn’t even the Elassa Kassandora had seen in the Great War.

Some things never changed. No matter how much one buried their past, it would always come back. Elassa’s eyes were burning with the exact same excitement as when Kassandora had proposed the idea of militarizing magic all those millennia ago. That flame which burned with originality and excitement. That said something should be done, because it was indeed worth doing.

If for nothing else, then to prove it could be done.