Chapter 742 – The Antithesis of Civilization
The Imperial Diplomatic Corp, under the Bureau of Foreign Affairs, is easily one of the smallest departments in the Empire. There are more souls allocated to foreign expeditions than to diplomacy although how much the humans themselves do and achieve is questionable in the first place. Personally, I have still not worked out what someone with the job of ‘Imperial Diplomat’ is supposed to do save for negotiate meetings and schedules between more important individuals.
The actual Imperial Diplomatic Corp is composed of two individuals, Arascus and Helenna, then with reinforcements from Kassandora and Iliyal, and now I assume Fortia and I will also be used to host discussions on military matters with foreign entities. The two individuals mentioned first, the God of Pride and the Goddess of Love, are, rather sadly, more than enough for everything the Empire wishes to do and achieve. Most Imperial Diplomacy is not democracy in the classical sense of the word but rather a purchase of alliance and integration. Sovereignty for the certainty that the red white black will come in and revolutionize the newest entrant.
The success at Esberia has given the prestige it needs to stroll into the vast majority of nations left standing. Being adjacent to Arascus’ border is not particularly dangerous, Arascus has not yet made any open invasion upon an independent nation, although it is difficult to assume that any leader that runs a nation close to Arascus would be comfortable with the God of Pride being so close. After Epa the first nations that made up the largest powers of the Epan Coalition fell and joined the Empire, it was only a matter of time for the rest of Epa.
Ghelgen simply joined Empire, although it was sandwiched from all sides. Norje joined as a way to avoid diplomatic incident due to the assassination attempt on Helenna. If there every was a real chance for the Empire to attack another Ardan nation, then it was then. Kandai joined because it was asked to join. Helenna gave them nothing save the assurance of defence against Tartarus.
There is plenty of talk about what happens next, or what the policies of the Empire should be. I constantly wobble on the question of whether Arascus will institute massive regime change eventually or whether this laissez-faire model of decentralized government will continue to work.
There is no chance that Arascus implements anything during the Surface War, I would go further even. Arascus will first unite Arda before actually aiming for large scale societal change at the very minimum. It may not happen whatsoever, but if it does, then it will not be during the Surface War. The God is simply too smart for that.
The Empire collects nations in the same way a fisherman catches fish: the bait is terribly sweet.
- Excerpt from the notes that Goddess Maisara, of Order, is using to write her third edition of the Imperial Bureaucracy Review.
Ciria prided herself on being able to talk to any and all of the Imperial Divines. No matter whether it was Arascus or Fortia, Kassandora or Maisara, she could hold her own against all of them. Or, at the very least, she would have something to say. Maisara argued backs Fortia condescended, but at least Ciria could look at them and see that they were trying to make a point.
And now, with a field of almost five hundred ICDT towers behind Ciria, the Goddess of Civilization had gone on her break, used to the usual ritual of going to have an argument with Fortia save for the fact she did not find Fortia standing there. Of all the Imperial Divines, it was the one that Ciria had wanted to spend time least with: Fer, Goddess of Beasthood. As one of her ancient titles called her: Civilization’s Antithesis.
Fer stood taking slow, deep heavy breathes, her eyes fixed on Ciria. Her ears rotated around with every gust of wind. The woman was almost naked, she wore a shirt, obviously nothing underneath and a skirt. Ciria doubted there was anything underneath that considering the top. The little Goddess of Civilization knew that these ancient Divines were tough, but wasn’t the woman just showing off at this point? Lubska was in the midst of winter, whereas the local area was cleared of snow by weather mages, the ground was still frozen solid into the hardness of rock. Maybe even worse.
And Fer stood there without even goosebumps even though Ciria needed a full cream coat to not shiver. Even Halkus, large as he was, had bought himself winter clothes. Heavy boots and a brown coat that fell to his knees, in the UNN, people had talked of Imperial quality. Now that Ciria was actually here, she could see that hadn’t been an understatement, and that made everything worse.
Fer’s lips curled into a smile. In the propaganda posters and pictures, the woman always had golden hair. Now, it had streaks of silver running through it. The tuft at the end of her tail was also silver. The fur on top of her ears too, to the colour of a snow leopard. “Why are you smiling at me?” Ciria asked dryly. At least with the others, she could assume that they would talk about something worthwhile. There’d be Empire to discuss. What was there to discuss with Fer?
That smile was terribly off-putting.
Fer probably stared at her dinner plate in the exact same manner. Ciria thought so at least. “I am not allowed to smile?” Fer asked. That voice, through all its rumble, was surprisingly light.
And what a question! “You are of course.” Ciria said. “Just why are you smiling at me?”
“Do I have a reason not to smile at you?”
Ciria didn’t like it. The woman was playing her, this grin was more than just an innocent little smile between two people who haven’t met each other yet. Of Civilization felt a shiver go down her spine when the next gust of wind hit and slid around the pair. Machinery operated in the distance, massive cranes which were strapping booster rockets to the ICDT towers or lifting the transmutation diamonds into position. Men on ropes worked with automatic screwdrivers and welding torches as the final touches were made on the towers. Or they were doing the most important and entirely optional addition, the name and paintjob.
Soldiers smoked their cigarettes, trucks and trains brought even more raw materials. Ciria had realised that she could organise her time more efficiently if instead of waiting down at the bottom of this hill for the next delivery, she would just let the resources build up for a while. Then she could quickly construct a tower and wait for a while. “We’re not friends.” Ciria shut Fer down immediately. “So that’s why I’m asking. If we’re not friends, why are you smiling?”
Fer stared down at Ciria, her smile grew an inch. Of Civilization met her gaze for a few moments, then had to turn away, it was as if the woman was looking into her soul. “I’m polite.”
That was all. No more explanations, Fer was polite, apparently. That gave Of Civilization nothing to work with. The leave-less grey forest of towers behind Ciria stood silent as Halkus’ footsteps got louder. Of Industry should be within earshot at the very least. “That’s it?”
“Does it have to be more?”
“Everything is more.” Ciria said. “Name me one thing which is simple and doesn’t need more explanation?” Fer did not hesitate even for an instant.
“I am family with Arascus.” Fer said with a smile. Ciria forced the scowl off her mouth.
“You think that your relationship with Arascus can have a great amount of explanation frankly.” Ciria said and Fer chuckled.
“Maybe, but I have a better simple thing to prove you wrong with.” Fer said, let the silence hang for a second or two, then continued. “Self-evident truth is self-evident.” She smiled with such smug satisfaction that Ciria didn’t even know what to say. That was supposed to be logic? That was nothing! That was cretinous frankly! Idiotic!
“You mean it’s just circular logic?” Ciria asked and Fer shrugged.
“I thought logic was an abstract and not a shape.” Ciria blinked, then sighed, then shook her head. Idiotic. What else could she expect from the Goddess of Beasthood? “Halkus.” Fer said as Halkus came to a stop next to Ciria. It was because Fer was here, when it had been Arascus or a White Pantheon Goddess, the God of Industry did not bother getting so close.
“Fer.” Halkus replied and slightly bowed his head. He shouldn’t have done that.
“So you’re the one who is watching me now?” Ciria asked.
“Maisara and Fortia have thrown in the towel and gone for a spa day.” Fer replied. Ciria had to replay the words in her mind to truly understand them.
“Excuse me?” She asked. “A spa day?”
“Hot baths, you know what that is Ciria, don’t you?” Fer asked. Ciria felt herself begin to blush. Was it the tone? Or was it the fact that Fer was so huge and yet acted with so little decency. Of Beasthood crossed her arms underneath her bosom and pushed it up, with the entire shirt. A small trace of stomach revealed itself in the gap between shirt and skirt. “Enjoying the view Halkus?”
“I wasn’t looking.” Halkus said and Fer chuckled.
“Of course you weren’t.” Ciria turned to look up at her husband, the man had turned away and was staring off at one of his factories. Trucks were bringing more supplies to them, raw materials that would get converted into metals so that Ciria didn’t have to waste time on refining. And Of Beasthood continued. “Do not worry Ciria, Ana gets jealous that I am prettier than her too.”
“Shut up.” Ciria said dryly. “Why are you even here then? Just to taunt me then?”
“Forti and Mai found you so unbearable to be around that I’ve been sent in.” Fer said. “And I am a nice and polite Goddess to the Divines I like. Now the question is do I like you?”
“I don’t want you to like me.” Ciria said the only thing that she thought could salvage her image in the moment. “Great. We’re on the same page. I don’t like you too.”
“What do you not like about me?” Fer asked.
“I assumed someone like you wouldn’t be bothered Fer?” That was a good hit. Ciria was actually proud of her own snark.
“I’m curious.” Fer said. “What, in your eyes, do I actually lack?” Of Beasthood stared and shrugged. “So? Ciria? What do I lack?” That question was a wrecking ball to the motivation Ciria had to attack Fer in the first place.
“What do you lack?” Ciria quickly thought of something that would cut deep. It couldn’t be anything that the Goddess of Beasthood had heard before, she probably being uncouth as a sign of honour. “It’s not what you lack, it’s how full of yourself you are.” Fer’s smile grew as Ciria went on. “What? You think just because you’re bigger than me I should bow down to you? Even more beautiful than me? Fine Fer, I’ll accept that.” Ciria did not, obviously, but it was good for the sake of argument and it made her point. “But don’t be a whore who teases my husband for it.”
Ciria finished, her golden eyes met Fer’s. Beasthood stared down at Civilization. And Fer whistled. “You are a treat Ciria.”
“Don’t mock me.”
“Do this, don’t that.” Fer chuckled. “Who would have thought that Pantheon Peace would incarnate a tyrant?”
Ciria saw the opening in the verbal spar, it was a clean hit. She would get Fer to retreat just like Maisara and Fortia did. And she would get talking with Arascus again, and eventually, he would either kick her out or he would let her go free about the Empire. “If I’m a tyrant, then what are you?”
Fer raised an eyebrow as if she couldn’t exactly understand the words that were just said. “I am Fer.” Fer said. “Goddess of Beasthood.”
“And I am Ciria, Goddess of Civilization.”
Fer somehow managed to make even her whistle seem sarcastic. “What a grand title little Goddess. But no, you’re wrong all counts against me. I am full of myself, I am more beautiful and I definitely am bigger than you are, but those charges are false when they come out of your mouth and true when they come out of mine.
Ciria didn’t exactly understand what Fer had just said. Was she calling Ciria a liar? It had to be that, right? Or maybe that Ciria’s opinion wasn’t worth listening to? “That is what exactly?”
“That means it is truth because I said it and I mean it because I love myself, whereas when you said it, it was wrong.” Fer smiled down at Ciria. “Welcome to my Divinity class, Goddess Fer is your teacher, although I also go by Miss or Missus.”
Ciria could work out what this first lesson would be, and she was not going to embarrass herself by letting Fer confuse her and roll her over. “Oh yes, just pure power, is that it? It’s true because you said it, because you’re stronger than me.” Ciria poured every inch of sarcasm she was able of dragging out of herself into those words.
Fer’s smile grew deeper. “It is because I know what I am, whereas you are merely a little girl telling me to get out of the sun. I only do that when there’s a please followed by a thank you Ciria.”
“Do you deserve to be told please and thank you though?” Ciria launched back into her attack again. “Did the people you killed back in the Great War get a chance to say anything? What about when you attacked Arcadia? What then Fer? You kill children, children Fer.”
And Fer stared at Ciria. Her smile returned after a moment, her tufted tail swished from side to side. “Whatever will we do Ciria?” Fer said. “Do you want me to defend myself?” Fer spread her arms out. “Or what exactly will we do?”
This was exactly what Ciria expected, and it was exactly why she didn’t want to get into a discussion with Fer in the first place. Of course the woman wouldn’t feel bad about being a mass-murderer. It was probably normal for her. “That’s all you have to say?”
Fer spoke quickly, Ciria couldn’t tell if the answer was rehearsed or not. “I’m not going to talk of morality Ciria, of how my times were different. I will save us with talk of necessity, or self defence, or anything else on the matter because all of that is justification and it is important for humans, but it is not important for Divinity.”
“Why exactly?” Ciria asked. “We need just cause too. You can’t just what?” Ciria extended her arm to a team of buildings in the distance. “You can’t just kill them.”
“Well I can.” Fer said. “And my punishment for it would probably be only minor if there’d be any at all.”
“Of course it would, Arascus is your father.”
“He’d be the one to punish me most.” Fer said, she extended an arm to the ICDT towers. Five hundred of them with some change stood ready to be launched at Arika. Arascus wanted four times that amount. “The reason those are untouchable is because they’re dad’s, not because I could not destroy them.” Fer’s eyes stared down at Ciria. “You are in the same position Ciria, you do realise this.”
Ciria blinked, her mouth fell open slightly. Halkus took a step towards her. “Was that a threat?” He asked.
Fer’s ears swivelled, she turned her cold gaze on Halkus. “So what if it was?” She asked. Halkus stopped moving.
“You’re threatening me?”
“No.” Fer said. “I am merely explaining reality. Fortia hates you. Maisara does too. Be glad Arascus has kept you away from Elassa because she is close to Anassa, so you get a two for one deal if you piss one of them off. Likewise, Kassandora has no grand opinion of you because Kavaa thinks you’re downright despicable in how naïve you are.”
“I’m naïve?” Ciria asked.
“I’m not going to even bother explaining.” Fer said. “You might be smart enough to work it out for yourself and if you’re not, then you’re not worth giving the answer to in the first place. No, if you wish to beat sense into me, then know I am Fer, Goddess of Beasthood, and Beasthood is rather stupid. You will have to beat it into me literally, and not figuratively by hurling the same sort of moralistic speeches I don’t care about that you hurled at everyone else since coming here.”
“I’m not….” Ciria trailed off.
“I don’t care what you think you are and aren’t. In fact, your opinion of yourself has precisely zero to do with my opinion of you at this moment. You know what does? How annoying you are. How stubborn. How many times I will have to listen to some great talk from your wandering mind. Instead, think about what would happen if I decided you two weren’t worth the effort right here and now.”
This time, this was most definitely a threat. There was no way anyone could pretend it wasn’t. Ciria felt her heart drop like a stone cast into water. Halkus tried to mount a defence. “I would try to stop you.” The words were weak and it didn’t help that whilst Halkus was tall, he was still shorter than Fer.
“Do you even understand what level of power I operate on Halkus?” Fer asked dryly. “Do you actually have a deathwish? I wouldn’t blame you of course if you’re married to Ciria, but I’ve been told not to assist you in that mission.” Fer chuckled as Ciria saw Halkus tense his entire body. “Besides, you could not defeat me even if we were the same level of power. Even if you were stronger than me, I wouldn’t believe it.”
“Why not?”
“Because you talk of trying to stop me and I talk of killing you.” She took a step forward, her eyes fixed on Halkus. “Do tell me Halkus, how does stopping me look like? Will you grab my arms and hold me in the air? Flip me over your knee as if I were your junior and give me a swatting? Maybe you’ll send me into the corner to stand and reflect upon my behaviour? And you’ll try? Gods forbid, whatever will I do? No, you won’t succeed, you’ll merely try at telling me I’m supposed to go to bed because it’s past my bedtime.” Fer chuckled. “No Halkus, don’t treat me like a child because I don’t do you that dishonour. You’re an adult and you’re a God, I would sink my teeth into your neck and shoulder and shake you until your limbs dangle like those of a rag doll.”
Ciria swallowed in terror as Halkus stopped moving too. “You somehow manage to talk to me as if I were a brat who thoroughly deserves to get my cheeks slapped, and you’re still hesitant to do it, whilst I am ready to tear every body limb from limb and we both know that not only do I mean it, I would sleep so well that even a baby would get envious of such blissful rest.”
Ciria stared, wide-eyed at Fer, as she tried to think of a response. Absolutely nothing entered her mind. Slowly, her hand closed around Halkus’. He squeezed her in return. And Fer broke the silence. “It is not your ideals, your morality or your good nature that protects you. It is the fact that Arascus has deemed the two of you useful.” Fer smiled. “And know that there will come a time when Arascus deems you no longer useful.”
“Remember what I said, or forget it, I do not care. This is not the sort of high and mighty and intellectual lesson you crave Ciria, but it is the low ranking lesson you need. I have no taught you no grand concepts today, nor anything like that. Rather, you should now know where you sit in the hierarchy.”
“Know your place, both of you.” Fer said. “I told Fortia and Maisara that I will deal with you, I have dealt with you. We will not see each other again because I have better things to be doing than standing around as a private guard in a field.”