Volume 1 – 38. The Merchant Council
22nd Goldmere, Crimson Rise, 1,504 Asterian Year
Merchant Quarter — Consortium Council Chamber
The Consortium Council Chamber occupied the upper floor of one of the largest administrative buildings in the Merchant Quarter. The room was spacious without being extravagant, designed more for authority and practicality than luxury. Tall windows lined one side of the chamber, allowing the morning light to spill across polished stone floors. Maps, trade ledgers, and reports were neatly arranged on side tables around the room, while banners representing the Consortium's major factions hung from the walls.
At the center stood a large circular council table.
Five primary seats occupied the inner side of the circle, positioned so their occupants could face one another with ease while maintaining a clear view of the rest of the chamber. Though all five individuals held considerable authority within Vel'Sharim, one seat remained subtly elevated above the others
A high elf woman occupied that seat.
To her right sat a man in his early fifties wearing layered green robes, his posture composed and scholarly. To her left sat a human woman who appeared to be in her thirties despite likely being older, dressed in practical military attire. Beside the human woman sat a dwarf man with a broad frame and a perpetually stern expression, while a half-elf woman occupied the remaining seat beside the robed man.
“So,” the high elf said, turning her attention toward the man beside her, “how is the situation regarding Corruption treatment and medicine production?”
The man inclined his head slightly.
“There have been no major issues, Lady Shalheira.”
“Calla informed me about the attack on Temple Vigil yesterday.”
At the mention of her name, the half-elf inclined her head slightly in acknowledgment, while the man in green robes let out a quiet breath. A trace of sadness passed through his already soft expression before he answered.
“It's nothing that requires immediate concern. The Stage 4 Hollow that posed the greatest threat was eliminated before it could claim more lives. A team from Temple Vigil, working alongside a half-Inferni scout, was responsible for bringing it down. Afterward, Gregorius and his people managed to push back the remaining Hollowed and stabilize the situation, though the casualties were still unfortunate. Sir Moran has already repaired the border as well.”
At the mention of his name, the dwarf showed no visible reaction, remaining as stern and impassive as ever, while Shalheira listened without interruption, her fingers resting lightly against the arm of her chair.
Privately, she considered the losses acceptable—perhaps even lower than what such an incident would ordinarily have produced. Given Aldous's devotion to Zoḗgennis, however, she saw little reason to voice that thought aloud. Instead, she shifted her attention toward the woman seated on her left.
The military officer had been waiting for an opportunity to speak, and it showed in the slight tension around her eyes.
“How are matters with Ironhand Territory?”
The woman's expression tightened imperceptibly. It didn’t seem to be a subject she particularly wanted to discuss.
“We received the weapons shipment we requested,” she replied nonetheless, folding her hands atop the table. “However, they also reported unusual activity in the east.”
As she spoke, her gaze drifted toward Calla.
The half-elf immediately understood and straightened slightly in her seat. Reaching for one of the documents laid before her, she glanced over it briefly before looking back up.
“That is included in my report for today's meeting,” she said. “With assistance from the Twilight Covenant, I was able to confirm the presence of a Stage 6 Sovereign-type Hollow. It appears to have once been a military commander.”
The room grew noticeably tense.
Calla glanced briefly around the table before continuing.
“It has been actively absorbing nearby settlements into its domain and consolidating control over the surrounding region. Based on its recent movements, we believe it may be preparing to advance toward Vel'Sharim.”
Shalheira resisted the urge to sigh.
When would I be able to go back to worrying about crops instead of disasters?
The thought surfaced briefly, carrying with it memories of long afternoons spent among fields and orchards, where concerns were measured in soil quality, rainfall, and harvest yields rather than Hollow incursions and the survival of an entire city.
It was still summer. In two months, autumn would begin, and two months after that, winter would arrive. Istraebso's three-year phase of dominance would end this month, gradually giving way to Pleibdun's ascent until it reached full dominance six months later and held it for three uninterrupted months, a shift that would drastically affect crop growth throughout the region.
A great many harvests had been devastated during the Eclipse, but not all had been lost. Thanks to the efforts of the Lifebringers, a considerable portion of the surviving farmland had been purified and restored to production. Barring unforeseen disasters, the city's reserves should be sufficient to carry Vel'Sharim through the coming winter.
After that, however, she wasn't certain.
Her fingers tapped lightly against the armrest as she considered the numbers she had reviewed countless times over the past few months. As the person responsible for grain distribution and food security throughout the city, uncertainty was not something she could afford to ignore.
“May I say something?”
The voice pulled her from her thoughts.
Shalheira lifted her gaze toward Petra and gave a small nod.
“Of course.”
A faint smile appeared on the military officer's face as she straightened slightly in her seat.
“I've received new information that may assist our efforts to reclaim the Luminous Spire.”
That immediately caught Shalheira's attention.
The concern lingering at the back of her mind faded as she leaned forward ever so slightly.
“And what would that be?”
“With Lady Calla's assistance, we've managed to confirm that the key to entering the Luminous Tower is indeed located within the Silverleaf Club vault in the Middle Ring district.”
Several people around the table visibly perked up at that.
“We obtained the information from materials recovered near the Civic Quarter,” Petra continued. “Unfortunately, we still haven't discovered a method for opening it. However, there are several locations in the Civic Quarter that remain only partially explored, including the Records Hall, the Marble Palace archives, and a number of tower plaques and administrative repositories. We believe the answer is somewhere among them.”
For the first time since the discussion had turned toward the Sovereign Hollow, Shalheira felt some of the tension ease from her shoulders.
“That is good news.”
And it genuinely was.
The possibility of reclaiming the Luminous Spire had always been one of the city's greatest priorities. Although she remained uncertain how they were supposed to ascend nearly fifty floors before Corruption overwhelmed them, Aldous had spent many times working to improve treatments, develop suppressants, and extend the amount of time an expedition could safely operate within contaminated zones.
If they could successfully reclaim and restore the Luminous Spire, many of their current problems would become far more manageable.
A faint smile touched Shalheira's lips as she considered the possibility. Around the table, she noticed similar reactions. Even the dwarf's stern expression had softened slightly, while Petra appeared quietly pleased that her report had produced something other than concern.
“I also have information that may help address the concern I imagine is currently on your mind regarding any future expedition into the Luminous Spire.”
The unexpected remark drew Shalheira's attention.
Calla sat a little straighter in her chair, her expression calm but noticeably more serious than before.
Shalheira studied her for a moment.
“Go on.”
Calla gave a small nod.
“It concerns the half-Inferni scout who participated in the elimination of the Stage 4 Hollow at Temple Vigil yesterday.”