Harmony. Once a rare sensation that Aerona could only apply to certain individual ces on a temporary basis, even at the point that Udre had been unified for some time. It was something beautiful, and merely being surrounded by it did not dull Aerona’s appreciation one bit. Indeed, as she grew more in tune with the world and people around her it became ever more appreciated.

    Harmony was abundant throughout the lower realms. The Alliance was imperfect- it was unlikely anyone or anything could ever embe/em perfect- but it still had grown into a wonderful state where harmony was the norm rather than the exception. Aerona saw more harmony and discord than most, as she traveled betweens to bring them back into alignment with each other- though she was so rarely emneeded/em now that she was quite content.

    If the lower realms had no need of her, however, the upper realms needed people like her in abundance. On either side of the Scarlet Alliance were ancient enemies of both each other and now them. However, that situation was not one where it was appropriate for her to get involved. There were plenty of other social cultivators who could take on diplomatic efforts in various ways, and they would be more in tune with the local necessities.

    To the west, the Chaotic Conglomeration had little interest in interactions. She certainly wasn’t going to go where she was unwanted. However, there was one area where her presence was appropriate. To the east beyond the Trigold Cluster were various loosely organized minor powers such as the Prosperous Congregation and Steadfast Union. Though they were indeed part of the upper realms, the only way for the Scarlet Alliance to safely ess them was through the lower realms. It was a long way around, even when the Shining Cooperative allowed them to skirt directly along the border.

    Living in the lower realms could save a couple hundred lightyears of the journey. Furthermore, as they were just across the border and emused/em to interacting peacefully with the lower realms- even if it had at first mainly been Lantilwe- it was appropriate for a representative of the lower realms to be there.

    Both harmony and discord were present in abundance. Aerona visited some of the worlds that had been devastated by the Swirling Swarm, though it was always depressing. There usually weren’t even people to be against each other- in some ways those that had been the final stop for the Swirling Swarm as they copsed were worse off, as they had to survive and struggle for resources.

    By the time Aerona was present in person, repair efforts were already well under way, but it was impossible to conceal the effects of a systemwide tragedy. A decade or two wouldn’t fix anything, but the Lower Realms Alliance had already shared what they felt were their most useful methods for developings. She could already see the signs when she arrived, which made her job much easier. However, she could still feel the bitterness of the people- some of it deserved and some of it misdirected because there was nobody else left to be angry with.

    The eruption of the Swirling Swarm had indeed been triggered by the actions of the Alliance in the upper realms, but it was not a result they could have anticipated. It wasn’t at the will of anyone- likely not even the Swirling Swarm. But if people needed someone to me, at least for a while, protesting overly much wouldn’t help with the healing process.

    Further from the front of devastation, Aerona found harmony. Not quite as profound as many of the ces in the lower realms, but it seemed foolish to think that a flower was less beautiful simply because it was not surrounded by a field of the same. Each should be appreciated on its own. The people had been doing their best- they still were, even in times of trouble.

    -----

    Diederik was angry. That was known to Aerona before she even met the man. The representative of the Prosperous Congregation emdid/em do his best to restrain himself, but the underlying emotions were still there. Previously, he had yelled at Anton across a vast distance as if that would somehow be beneficial. Funnily enough, Aerona was probably less of a threat in person than Anton had been at that moment- but she was able to do more than simply allow emotions out.

    Anton would have been a great choice if Diederik needed a grandfather in his life, but the man had enough responsibilities that he no doubt thought there was no value to be gained from such a thing. A different route would be more appropriate.

    “Thank you for your time,” Aerona said. “I appreciate you allowing me a chance to roam around. I simply needed to make an assessment.”

    The man frowned. Of course he did. Aerona didn’t want to sound like the Alliance was bigger and more important- even if they emwere/em- but other routes wouldn’t lead to better reactions either. “What emsort/em of assessment?”

    “One of your people. Specifically, yours and systems as a whole. Personally, prosperity is a secondary factor for my assessment. I was assessing harmony.” Not quite emUnity/em. That was a step further. She had a good grasp on the concept, but an actual advancement of her cultivation might still take some time. She still had a chance to be in the top handful of Unity cultivators. Lev would likely achieve that state before her, but her particr path was well suited to the advancement. Even if she might not be as powerful in terms ofbat as others. “We have more to offer than seeds and farming knowledge. Far more than you have seen already. Your people need a certain sort of state to ept it, and for us to trust you with it. I believe you have met this burden.”

    “Is that so?”

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    “As soon as you could, you rallied against the tides of the Swirling Swarm. Most were too close to save, but you did your best with the rest. It was unfortunate that emyour/em particr style was well suited to a longer campaign, but you still participated at the risk to your own life. We have little regard for high ranking cultivators that don’t fight for their people, instead of sacrificing their people for emthem/em.”

    He nodded, satisfied. “What are your goals?”

    “Eventually, I wish to meet with those further into the region. The lower realms mainly has business with those on the border, but the Scarlet Alliance will likely establish permanent envoys here. It is of our general concern that the Trigold Cluster not expand further.”

    “Is that all?” he asked. “I imagine the Scarlet Alliance would prefer if we were entangled in battle with them.”

    How cynical. “Merely holding your own positions provides sufficient deterrence,” Aerona exined. “And even if you were militarily superior, any conflicts need purpose behind them. Something beyond mere expansionistic tendencies, as there is quite a bit of room forteral growth regardless.”

    “Mainly to less valuable worlds,” Diederik said.

    “Only if you allow them to remain that way,” Aerona said. “It is not just soils that can be enhanced by energy, but minerals as well. You already know a general overview of our techniques and could doubtless develop further on your own, but when we share specific information to maximize your performance we only ask that you not share such knowledge carelessly. That includes not selling it. If a group truly has the responsibility, freely sharing it is the only appropriate action.”

    Diederik wasn’t fully convinced. Aerona would have thought it odd if it could be resolved in a simple conversation. “Yet you still have things you wish of us.”

    “Only what we want of everyone. We hold ourselves to the same standards.”

    If the Trigold Cluster were responsible neighbors, the Scarlet Alliance would be much happier. And that would extend to the lower realms, because they wouldn’t have to spend so much effort building up war potential that usually only was needed every six centuries or so. Those resources could be better spent elsewhere.

    -----

    The S.A.S. Starstriker had returned once more to Niont. After their first visit ended in unfortunate circumstances- just short of disaster- Ads had not pressed for their quick return. Now, however, the crew liked to make regr visits. Ylvali understood why.

    It was a rather unique world with great oceans buried beneath a shell that formed the surface. Mosts they went to might have oceans and beaches, but none possessed the same exact qualities as Niont. Then again, mosts emalso/em didn’t have great entanglers that stood out only as ckness among the undersea lights.

    Time and experience had made the crew of the Starstriker more secure in their own strength, such that they had greater confidence in facing against one should it show itself. Without their ship, of course. With their ship? Well, they could take on an entire ocean full of them.

    In a way, the enjoyment they experienced looking at the points of light undersea were better precisely because of the danger. The great entanglers were difficult to detect with scanners or normal energy senses, but it wasn’t emimpossible/em. After a number of repeated visits, the locals had developed new methods for detecting the beasts so that they could roam further from their undersea domes. It had happened through their own determination… and perhaps a bit of help from the Scarlet Alliance.

    Niont was just one of the ces along Ylvali’s regr route, but it almost didn’t feel like part of the Trigold Cluster anymore. No, perhaps its actual loyalties were unclear. They still would pay taxes to the great sects overlooking the region, but they were friendly with the Scarlet Alliance.

    In various ces the Trigold Cluster had pushed back, but the locals would have none of it. The whole reason that the Scarlet Alliance was growing in their esteem was because they were exposed to how reasonable they could be. Nobody liked being told to stop trading with their best partners just because someone higher up the chain said so.

    Not that it happened terribly often- some were afraid the Scarlet Alliance would act against them. The Trigold Cluster wasn’t emthat/em unified after all. A few systems near the border could be eaten up and they likely wouldn''t even blink. Not until it threatened someone emimportant/em enough. These days, the great sects generally had more to think about- like securing the former territory of the Swirling Swarm. Or if they weren’t close enough for emthat/em, pushing their borders towards some sects that were distracted by that very same thing. And so on and so forth in ripples throughout their territory.

    Ylvali was d to see that her task was so sessful. It had taken time, of course, but that was what they hadmitted to from the beginning. Besides, as cultivators their time could be quite long. Ylvali would be disappointed if each member of her crew didn’t reach Life Transformation and live a few centuries. Integration or beyond came with significantly longer lifespans. Augmentation seemed emnearly/em unlimited, and Domination might emactually/em be unlimited. It was on the order of millennia, at least. Otherwise, the great powers would have had even fewer, as they only rarely produced new ones.

    The Starstriker didn’t just visit their favorite vacation spots, of course. They had trade requests to fulfill and new systems to add to their rotations, at least temporarily. Sometimes, the locals were not so friendly. But at least if that was the case they usually attacked the ship itself, even if that was the worst option. It was still themon sense of the region that cultivators were stronger individually and ships merely carried them- but that had rarely been true of the Scarlet Alliance, and it was emnever/em true of ship focused cultivators. To Ylvali and the crew, the ship was their weapon and armor. Actual weapons and armor were just backups.

    If there was any intrigue, they had Ads to help them out. Once or twice people had tried to poison them, and Ads had calmly dealt with it. Some incidents ended with that, others seemed to think that not immediately killing them for something like that was a sign of weakness. But the Starstriker was ready to take a shot when they acted. Avoiding conflict once was reasonable, but constantly staying on the defensive was pointless. Some people just wouldn’t ever be friends.

    The rest would eventually be won over by realizing that the Starstriker carried reasonable people, and that the Scarlet Alliance was full of more like them.