When it comes to the Mage and the Sorcerer, both are exceptional individuals. It is said that both fulfilled the same role in the Great War but this is simply not true save for the battlefield and only then at purely face value. If we are judging by battlefield standards, then everything can be reduced down to fighting prowess. The Imperial Sorcerer existed only as a shock troop, as air-support and as a battlefield assassin to hunt down our generals or mass assault on minor Divines.

The Mage did everything the Imperial Sorcerer did, but the Mage also served in logistics. Mages fertilized fields, mages readjusted waterways, mages reshaped landscapes, mages closed off or opened up valleys. Great rituals were taken to adjust the weather and the ocean currents. Whereas an Imperial Sorcerer would assist in construction, a Pantheon Mage would pull buildings out of the ground.

However whereas I have just praised the World of Magic and besmirched the World of Sorcery, it is pure, self-defeating, arrogant ignorance to not be able to give an opponent their fare dues. If one keeps losing to idiots, then what does that make the one? Arascus is highly intelligent and charismatic, to say that statement is not revolutionary. It is merely a documentation of the world. Likewise one has to give Sorcery its credit. A Sorcerer on an individual level is so much more powerful than a Magician that competition is worthless. The best explanation is that what a Mage is to a mundane man, a Sorcerer is to a Mage.

I know that this sort of talk is pointing fingers however it needs to be said. We cannot be all Allasaria who simply wishes to make sweeping commentary on ideology without inspecting the individual. If one of Maisara’s Paladins kill a man in fury, the Goddess answers for it. If one of my Guardians cheats and steals, I answer for it. The same is for Clerics and Kavaa, the same is for Seekers and Allasaria. The same is for Mages and Elassa.

And that is the problem because whereas the Imperial Sorcery was represented by Anassa, Pantheon Magicry were represented by Elassa. Anassa has an endless of grievances against morality. Ineptitude and sloth is not on that list. Every Sorcerer we had ever captured during the Great War had personal contact with their Goddess. How many Magicians have ever even seen Elassa?

Elassa has total control over the Magical World. Her word is law. She pretends this not to be so. She is simply wrong in this regard. I can approach Maisara and ask for Paladins and the woman will give them. If Elassa is approached then by the time the Colleges spread the burden, the threat has usually passed. This was the reason for the Sole Arcadia project. The Magical World is not Elassa’s private army, it is a nation. Not the most populous but definitely the most powerful nation in the world.

Elassa simply failed to rise for the occasion. She has always said that she was only a teacher and not a Queen. That simply could not go on. We have made her into one.

– Excerpt from “Recollections”, written by Goddess Fortia, of Peace. Never published.

“You have to see it to know it truly.” Fer said and Kassandora sighed as she looked over the ocean from the cliffside of Rancais. Behind them were pushes and the army Division that was currently camping. Kassandora had given them one day of break and celebration since they had reached the coast. The war for Rancais was over. The military had marched from the nation’s east to the nation’s west. Tomorrow, they would start their return home or to wherever else Arascus decided but today, they would party and drink and sing songs and cheer.

Behind the bushes, men were firing guns into the air and laughing. Fireworks were going off. Even artillery was shooting timed shells into the air so that they would explode into great black clouds over the ocean or make great splashes in the water. Kassandora had given them total freedom on celebrating however they wished. A commander that ruined the mood of their men was a bad commander, that was one rule of leadership that was rarely stated but everyone had to know. “See what?” Kassandora asked.

“The end.” Fer replied happily. Fer had stayed out of the Battle of Aris but quickly rejoined Kassandora’s division after. As they killed more of Anarchia’s men that abused Fer’s stolen strength, the Goddess of Beasthood slowly regained her power. She had a big jump during Aris itself but after, the tactic used by Anarchians had obviously become to just go to ground and try to hide from the Imperial Military. “The ocean.” Fer said and giggled. “I don’t really know what I’m saying Kassie, but I know we can’t go further.”

“That we can’t.” Kassandora agreed. She knew exactly what Fer was saying. The war was over. It was out of Kassandora’s hands now. For Fer to regain her strength now, it was Malam, Kavaa and the Special Imperial Service that would have to finish the job of hunting Anarchia’s blessed down like the dogs they were. But the military had won.

“I’ve never liked the ocean.” Fer said as she sat down. The Goddess of Beasthood was now just the height of a man. So half the height she normally stood at, but then just a week ago, she barely managed to reach a man’s head with the two ears that popped out of the top of her head. Her mane of gold hung down to its waste.

“I have no opinion on it.” Kassandora said and Fer sniffed in humour.

“I knew you’d say that.” Kassandora didn’t know whether she should be ashamed or not.  She brushed her crimson hair back out from her face and stared at the blue ocean. It wasn’t sunset yet, but the sun was beginning to get close to the horizon.

“Am I that predictable?”

“You’re very predictable.” Fer replied. The worst part was that Kassandora could not sense whether the woman was being honest or not. It wasn’t that she thought herself complicated, but when people mentioned it so openly to her, it did bruise something.

“Mmh.” Kassandora replied. Fer made a grand sniff that managed to be condescending.

“We made it though.” The Goddess of Beasthood said.

“We did.”

“Do you know what’s next?”

“Probably Guguo.” When it came to matters like this, the call was Arascus’ and no one else’s. Kassandora simply did the job she was told and not one bit more. “Or the UNN.”

“It won’t be the UNN.” Fer said.

“Why not?”

“Because there’s an ocean between us.” Kassandora supposed that was true. Alanktyda would have to be pulled into the Empire first. If not, then the UNN populace would have to be won over but her own mistake with Continent Cracking had destroyed whatever chances at goodwill they had.

“Mmh.” Kassandora said. Fer waited for a moment and then leaned onto Kassandora.

“Won’t you call me smart?” She asked.

That was a question for the ages. Of course Kassandora would call Fer smart. Her sister was unbelievably sharp, not just in strategy but also in the social aspect. Frankly, the adaptability was one of Fer’s greatest strengths. There wasn’t a job she couldn’t be sent for. “You’re one of the smartest people I know.” Kassandora answered. Fer had her reply ready.

“Smarter than Kavaa?” She asked immediately. Kassandora stood there for a moment in stunned silence. What sort of question was this? Kavaa was… Well, Kavaa was intelligent but Kavaa to Fer? It really did not compare. Apart from Father, there was Fer and then there was massive gap.

“Smarter than Kavaa.” Kassandora replied. Immediately Fer sighed in disappointment.

“I was hoping you wouldn’t say that.”

“What?”

“This is why you’re like this.”

“What do you mean?” Kassandora asked.

“You obviously like Kavaa, so you shouldn’t say that even to me.” Fer explained.

“I don’t really understand.” Kassandora said.

“I mean you should have some pride in the relationships you choose!”

“Kavaa is smart!” Kassandora exclaimed immediately. “But what am I supposed to say? You’re smarter.”

“Oh am I?” Fer asked. “Should I tell her that?” Kassandora sighed heavily.

“No.” She wasn’t so stupid or so direct that she wouldn’t be able to see where that led. “But frankly, go ahead, Kavaa liked me and I like her. It’s not about how smart she is so I don’t really care.”

“Finally.” Fer said. “An answer I can respect.”

“Excuse me?”

“The fact you like her enough not to care. That’s what I wanted to hear. Don’t worry, I won’t tell her you think she’s stupid.”

“I never said that!” Kassandora exclaimed.

“But you said I’m smarter than her” Fer teased.

“And?”

“Well I’m just the simple Goddess of Beasthood, how smart can I truly be?”

“You are very intelligent.” Kassandora said. Fer didn’t reply. She just smiled and leaned on Kassandora. Her golden mane of hair was as soft as goose-feathers and it was warm to the touch. Kassandora smiled to herself as she let herself put her arm around her sister. Of all the people who could truly make her feel on the back foot, it was only Father and Fer. Everyone else could be reasoned with, these two though were simply correct in their analysis of her character.

They stood there, watching the sun slowly crawl towards the ocean. The wind started to pick up in the evening. The waves got larger. They crashed upon the tall cliff that Kavaa and Fer watched the seaside from. The trees behind them creaked and whistled and strained. The sky was smattered with all the colours of dusk: purples and reds and oranges and yellows, the ocean became dark. The party from behind the trees slowly got lounder, the random celebratory shooting was replaced by song and dance and someone’s terrifically loud radio. And then, there was an explosion from the north. A terrible sound, a deafening explosion of the sound barrier being shattered.

“That’s Raptor One.” Kassandora recognised it immediately. A second explosion rolled in from the north. “And that’s Raptor Two.” Fer made a show of sniffing the air.

“And that’s Ana.” She said.

“Where?” Kassandora asked.

“There.” Fer pointed into the sky as the two planes shot off towards the horizon. They left white trails of cloud in the sky and behind them was a person stood in the air. They didn’t move, they just stood there. Although the fact the person did not move and instead just blinked from position to position revealed who it was. The dress of silk which blew in the wind revealed even more. There was only one Divine who still tried to forsake the Imperial uniform.

“Do you know what she’s doing?” Kassandora asked.

“Ah.” Fer said. “So you don’t know either.”

“I don’t.” Kassandora said. “I’ll call her.”

“Just throw your sword, she’ll see us.” Fer said and Kassandora supposed that was easier. Anassa was the sort that would answer only half the time as well. The Goddess of War took a step back, one foot landed in front of the other and her greatsword, Joyeuse, appeared in her hand. There was no incantation or ritual, the space was empty one moment, in the next, it was filled by black metal. Kassandora twisted her entire body and swung and let go. And so the blade went into the air. Anassa must have noticed it immediately because the woman from her position and then re-appeared next to the two Goddesses on the cliffside. In the same fashion Kassandora had summoned the Joyeuse, Anassa moved to the cliff. No portal, no summoning circle, nothing. She just appeared suddenly in front of them. And just as Kassandora had seen, she was wearing the red dress but also had a camera in her hands. “I told you.” Fer said in pure delighted satisfaction.

“What are you doing here?” Anassa asked.

“Enjoying the sunset.” Fer replied. “What are you doing?” Anassa sighed and shook her head.

“It’s classified.” She said after a moment and Fer raised an eyebrow.

“Are you sure about that?”

Anassa immediately decided to give up the classified secrets. “I’m taking photos of the Raptors. Propaganda for Helenna.” The Goddess of Sorcery showed off the camera. “Do you want a picture?”

“Yes!” Fer shouted immediately and grabbed Kassandora by the waist to pull her close. Another version of Anassa appeared by their side as the Anassa holding the black camera raised it. The Anassa that had appeared to be in the frame put her own arms around Kassandora and Fer, the other one, still in the air, took a dozen or so pictures. She finally put the camera down. The Anassa that had appeared to be in the photo, the other showed the shot off to Kassandora and Fer.

It was the three sisters stood together. Kassandora smiling, in her black uniform and red hair. Anassa the reverse, with black hair and her red dress, and then Fer beaming a smile in front of the two’s legs. “I’m so short!” Fer exclaimed.

“We’ll get you back.” Kassandora replied without thinking, although there was nothing to think about. Of course they would get her back.

“We will.” Anassa agreed, another version of her appeared in the air and then started blinking in the air to chase the Raptors.

“Why are you taking pictures?” Fer asked and Anassa shrugged.

“Propaganda. We’re going along the entire coast.” Anassa said.

“With the planes?”

“I don’t make the plans, do I?”

“But we also did work. The planes didn’t do that much compared to Kassie.” Kassandora smiled at the compliment. She knew her cheeks had started turning rosy immediately. Why did Fer even have to say that? It was night, but she didn’t need someone to sing her praises!

“Aren’t you cute?” Anassa said after noticing it.

“I am.” Kassandora agreed to simply get the issue over with. The three Goddesses burst out in laughter.

“So what are you two doing here?” Anassa asked.

“Enjoying the view.” Fer answered. Frankly, Kassandora was only here because her had dragged her out. She was glad her sister did though. It was a pretty view though and this is why she relied on Fer in the first place. If there was work to be done, then Fer would not step in to pull her away. “We’ve won. We deserve a break.”

“Mmh.” Kassandora couldn’t say it though. She simply backed up Fer with a wordless sound. Anassa turned south towards the planes and shrugged.

“So you’re just sitting down here and admiring the view?”

“You’re welcome to join.” Fer replied.

“Do you have wine?” Anassa asked.

“I’m banned from drinking until I get big again.” Fer answered. Anassa shook her head, rolled those red eyes of hers and then fixed them on Kassandora.

“You?” Anassa raised an eyebrow at Kassandora.

“I don’t.”

Anassa sighed as if this whole situation was painful for her. “Well that’s great.” She declared. “I don’t have anything either.”

“Do you want sit with us?” Fer asked. Kassandora didn’t know how the woman could just say that. It was a question so honest and so baffling to just be… asked like that. This is why Kassandora admired Fer so much, because this sort of openness was what she wanted to be able to emulate. How she did it though, Kassandora simply did not know.

And Anassa smiled. Her voice went warm and low and slower. “You know what? I do.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep