Chapter 556 – Duties, Duties

Repairs and magical reinforcements continued well underway. It was looking like the semi-finals would commence tomorrow. Kanae paid a trip to the stadium to see how things were progressing. Aidenhall knights let her through the entrance and saluted. On the arena floor, spellcasters with telekinetic magic levitated stone blocks onto the hole in the wall.

On a different section of the arena, mages practiced putting up a magical defensive barrier while fellow colleagues fired offensive spells to test it. When the combatants of the last few matches were to inevitably be pushed to their limits, a stronger barrier was necessary to protect the audience. Kanae couldn't even imagine the next match-ups to go without some level of insane destruction.

"Greetings, Kanae. Ah. Perhaps Your Majesty or Amethyst is more preferable?"

Kanae spun around to find Archmage Donnu strolling up to her. He performed a polite bow, but not too low.

"Kanae's fine. I'm surprised to see you here, Donnu. Figured the officials were keeping anyone not from Aidenhall out of the work area," Kanae said.

"That's because I'm aiding in the repairs and will be lending my defensive magic during the semi-finals and finals. Don't get me wrong. I'm still sore about losing. However, after seeing my opponent advance so far into the tournament, it has lessened the sting," Donnu explained.

"Oh, you fought Bocchiri! I remember now." She recalled how quickly the match was settled after the elven Saint Priest bombarded the archmage with his spells.

He cleared his throat. "Yes, him. I'm… not sure if I should be telling you this, but Bocchiri came to me, Viscount Duran, and Sultan Cerberus with a plea for help. To save Nu-hauta from sinking."

Bocchiri had come to Kanae asking the same thing. He was still waiting on her answer.

"What did you say?" Kanae asked.

"That we do not have the capacity or means to achieve what he asked us to do. We are not gods. With the Ortesia threat over, however, Avanesse is rebuilding Sultan's Wake. Sultan Cerberus wants to construct a fishing fleet to regain their self-sufficiency. Because we are allies now, he promised that if the time came that Nu-hauta needed ships to evacuate its people, they would have them," Archmage Donnu explained.

"Have you told this to anyone else?"

"No." He shook his head. "I considered informing your Archbishop, but my conversation with Bocchiri seemed so casual and unofficial. I didn't want to hurt his station in any way. You're the only other person I personally know here."

A group of mages from afar shouted and waved at Donnu to help them.

"Thanks for telling me. I'll see what Bocchiri's got to say after the tournament. Don't let me keep you from the others," Kanae said.

"Your Majesty." Archmage Donnu bowed lower this time before leaving.

Kanae unfurled her wings and thought to return to Amethyst Hall when an amplified magical voice rang across Aidenhall.

"Amethyst, you're wanted at the Basilica of Saint Rue. Report to Archbishop Patrice at once," the voice announced.

Everyone else around Kanae had heard that, so it wasn't just her imagination. They looked around confused, then at her. It seemed a break would have to wait. She heaved a sigh and flew for the Basilica. The enormous cathedral faced a busy day today. Worshipers, congregants, and the devoted filled the main chamber to pray or seek guidance. The clergy had their hands full lending their service to as many as possible.

Kanae squeezed past amid the murmur of sermons and prayers. An altar boy ran into her, apologized, and hurried off. The crowds finally thinned once she reached the corridor leading to the Archbishop's office. Today, Ulric and Vestrid stood guard outside the room.

"Heya, Amethyst!" Ulric high-fived her.

"Amethyst." Vestrid nodded with a smile.

"Why's there so many people in the Basilica today?" Kanae thumbed behind herself.

"You didn't know? Those are all the people who lost their bets on the last fight!" The dark elven Saint Priest snickered.

Suddenly, everything made sense. Kanae expected more people to come to pray after the semi-finals.

"Archbishop Patrice is waiting for you inside. She's in a chipper mood." Vestrid grinned.

"Somehow, I'd rather she not be." Kanae joked.

Ulric opened the door to let her inside. The archbishop was seated by the open window, book in hand and bottle of wine with two glasses on the table.

"Come, Amethyst! I won't keep you for long," Patrice said, pouring her a glass.

"I'm hesitant to accept your hospitality after you had Aisha spike my food." Kanae sat down and glared.

"We needed to see how it affects you when administered beyond your knowledge. When we face the enemy succubi, they will not wait and allow you to do it. If I remember correctly, the infiltrators had taken you by surprise. We know its effects now, and it will not happen again. I promise you. More importantly, I hear your meeting with the Ortesians went well." She lifted the glass up to her lips but didn't drink yet.

"Surprisingly. But that should've been your job."

The archbishop smiled softly and sipped on the wine. A delighted sigh escaped her lips, which trembled with excitement. It was the kind of fidgeting when something had gone her way.

"Yet you have terrorized them in a way that couldn't have been done if I'd met with them instead. When has the Commonwealth and Ortesia ever sat down at a table together? They will eventually return to their cozy empire and tell of what happened yesterday."

Kanae pursed her lips and stared, trying to make sense of Archbishop Patrice's intentions. She didn't have a poker face like Renya and Edina did. The archbishop always sounded forthright, nothing hidden in either sleeves.

"If I don't choose to go through with Deification, what will you do?" Kanae asked.

"Why, nothing! I'll be thoroughly disappointed, yes. Nothing more. I wouldn't dare try to have you supplanted, if that's what you're thinking. But Amethyst, you know as well as I, that if someone other than you were to become deified, it would spell disaster for this world. You don't want that," Archbishop Patrice explained.

"Ambrosia can't be allowed to achieve Deification. That much we can agree on." She sighed, then grabbed the glass of wine to drink.

They clinked their glasses together, and it felt like the tension between them had finally dissipated. Kanae couldn't stand the stuffiness of the Basilica for much longer and excused herself. The archbishop walked her to the door but grabbed the knob and held it.

"I suppose tomorrow, you will be rooting for Petyr and Edina," Patrice said.

"Obviously. Those two are part of Amethyst Hall. You are definitely going to be hoping for a Bocchiri and Camilla win," Kanae fired back.

"Naturally. I wouldn't count either of them out so quickly, Amethyst. You may see this as a match between fellow colleagues. However, some will regard this as a match between the Commonwealth and Radevic. For that very reason, we cannot afford to look weak or hold back, Your Majesty." The archbishop flashed a smile.

"I don't expect you to. Because neither will we." She winked.

Archbishop Patrice opened the door to see Kanae out of the Basilica. Both Saint Priests followed them from behind. They stopped at the entrance, a little off to the side so as to avoid blocking pedestrian traffic.

"I didn't ask you here just for small talk. We have a smaller matter that needs to be addressed. An outbreak of monsters has been sighted northwest of Radevic. They have grown far too dangerous for regular parties of adventurers to deal with. Normally, the duty falls to Ivory Hall. They are indisposed. I'd like you to take care of them. It will reflect badly on Radevic if departing guests were to be attacked," the archbishop explained.

"What should I expect to face?" Kanae asked.

"Spectral wolves. Undead. I'm sure Edina could use some new minions," she suggested.

"Edina's holed up at one of her casinos in the Bonelands. The rest of us haven't been able to reach her. For all we know, she's psyching herself up for the next match. I'll get Arenade to help. Nothing a quick blast of holy magic won't solve."

Kanae flew to her mansion in Brighton. Around this time, Arenade was probably six-goblins deep into getting gangbanged. Yesterday, they were handing out flyers for Bright Cloister before she interrupted them. She braced herself for the stale air of sweat and sex to burst out as soon as the door opened.

However, the house was quiet. Even the fireplace had gone cold. When Kanae closed the door coming in, Arenade poked her head out from around the corner upstairs.

"Kanae? Don't tell me you need me again for something!" Arenade groaned.

"Unfortunately for you, yes. I want you to help me exorcise some spectral wolves," Kanae explained, surveying the foyer left and right. "Where'd the goblins go? I expected them to be running train on you every second of the day. Honestly, I think you've been having a lot more sex than me lately!"

"I don't want to hear that from you! Th-They went out drinking after blowing their loads in me. I just got done bathing. Let me get dressed, and I'll be right down!" She threw on her usual priestly robe and descended the stairs, staff in hand.

The two of them set off into the sky, bound for where the spectral wolves were last sighted. Arenade's wings, granted to her by Holy Armament, beat with the intensity of real ones. Kanae flew a little bit behind to get a better look at the high elf's ass.

Their fullness. Their roundness. Arenade always had a shapely body, filled in where it counted. Kanae felt a little mischievous. She picked up speed to draw closer, then hugged her butt.

"Wha—?! Stop that, you perverted succubus!" Arenade panicked and tried to shake her off.

"Just let me hold you like this for a minute! I can't remember the last time I held you. Your goblin fuck buddies have had you more than me lately!" Kanae pouted.

"Do I need to remind you that my predicament is your fault! Seriously, Kanae— whooaa… I'm having a hard time keeping steady! Kanae!" Her wings folded, and both of them plummeted from the sky.

Kanae parted from Arenade, veered away, and swooped back in to catch her. The high elf clung tightly. She pinched both of Kanae's cheeks.

"If I had died from that fall and returned to my demigodly duties, I would have made your life a living hell!" Arenade pinched harder.

"I'm shorry… I won't do it again…" Kanae promised.

They landed on the ground, and Kanae gingerly put Arenade down. The forest and wildlife orchestrated a symphony around them. Rushing water from a nearby stream. Squawking birds in the canopies above. The bushes rustled as prey hid from larger predators.

Arenade's Halo of Holy Radiance brightly lit up the surroundings that were only used to filtered light from the sun. Its sudden illumination spooked a family of hares into darting off.

"Can you turn down the brightness on that thing?" Kanae squinted.

"And make myself appear dimmer than I should? Nonsense. I'm Brightwind for a reason." Arenade puffed out her chest.

"I mean, you're as dim as the day we met so— uuuooghh?!"

"Say that again!" She grabbed Kanae by the collar of her cloak.

"What I meant to say is… you're beautiful, stunning, and… the most breathtaking high elf in the world…"

"Much better!"

Spared to live another day, Kanae breathed a sigh of relief. She and Arenade got to work, keeping their eyes open for signs of spectral wolves. They were gray in color, ghostly specters, but very much tangible enough to hurt people. Adventurers taking them on must bring a crowned Paladin or Priest, because the monsters were undead. Adventurer hall receptionists would never sign off on a quest for a party without one. Someone who was holy magic-inclined trivialized them. Without, it could very well be a death sentence.

"How did you come to be called Brightwind anyway? I don't think I've ever asked. Actually, I don't even recall the other demigods having last names," Kanae said.

"It's just a last name I wanted to adopt. Has a nice ring to it, right? Regal, divine, rolls off the tongue. Brightwind!" Arenade uttered the name like tasting an exquisite glass of wine.

"Uh huh… I should have asked. Anyway, I'm surprised you readily agreed to join me. Usually, you'd find any reason to get out of working," she teased her high elven wife.

"And why would you be surprised? You said you needed my help, so here I am. You should be showering me with gratitude! Getting out of the house is also nice once in a while."

Kanae chuckled to herself. She pushed the vegetation aside and came face to face with the head of a snarling ghostly wolf and froze up.

"What's the matter?" Arenade asked from behind.

"Get down!" Kanae tackled Arenade to the ground as the wolf lunged, missing them by a hair's breadth.

A spectral wolf! Its very body looked like it was misting off. Tracks left behind on the ground proved beyond a doubt that it was corporeal.

The high elf jumped back to her feet first and said, "Don't worry. I got this!"

"Wait, what exactly are you going to do?!" A bad feeling hit Kanae with unwanted nostalgia.

"Sacred Exorcism!" Arenade fired a concentrated beam of holy energy straight from the Halo. The spell carved through the forest, toppling trees and burning vegetation to a crisp. As soon as she turned a full circle, the beam sputtered to a stop. She wiped the sweat from her brows, bracing both hands on her hips for a job seemingly well done. "That wasn't so hard!"

The spectral wolf had been reduced to a gray ectoplasmic puddle on the ground.

"You certainly exorcised it. The spectral wolf and everything else around us." Kanae sighed.

"Oh." Arenade finally took in the surroundings and broke out into a cold sweat. "Aha. Oops! I might have overdone it. How was I supposed to know my spell would obliterate it that easily?"

Kanae peered back to where the spectral wolf had pounced from. There were a lot more puddles where it had come. She beckoned Arenade over and pointed her handiwork out.

"Well, your wanton destruction killed the whole pack of them," Kanae said.

"Hehe. I'll take your praises now." Arenade rubbed her nose and grinned.

They collected samples of the ectoplasm as proof of the spectral wolves' demise and returned to the Basilica of Saint Rue. When Kanae informed Archbishop Patrice, she was very pleased with the results. According to her, the harm to wildlife was worth the cost.

Kanae treated Arenade out to some fine dining as thanks, sparing no expenses for her wife.

"Mmmm!" Arenade squealed as soon as she shoved a piece of cake into her mouth. "Maybe I should start doing quests with you again! Just kidding. I can just order these to the mansion if I wanted to. Still, it's nice to be treated sometimes."

"So, all I have to do to convince you to help is the promise of fine dining?" Kanae smirked.

"Yes— I mean, no! Sometimes… As long as it's with you." She blushed and took another bite of cake.