The crisis in Elusis had been averted. While the great city's many spires were still standing, the flood displaced tens of thousands across the basin. But despite their loss, it wasn't a disaster they were going to face alone going forward. At the cost of a civil war, Savir united to become whole again. And although it would take time to smooth over old grudges, many were willing to take the step towards peace.

Now, having returned to Radevic, Kanae stood tall and proud side by side with the leaders of Savir. Sultana Dudula of Bravost, Sultana Rasheena and Sultan Cerberus of Avanesse, and Mystic Jahree of Elusis had accompanied the Commonwealth and Radevic army north to make history.

In the main worship hall of the Basilica of Saint Rue, the representatives of their nations surrounded a round table with King Turren heading the gathering. He held high two pieces of documents, one in each hand. Meanwhile, Archbishop Patrice Starborne watched from the pulpit, shuddering with uncontrollable excitement.

"And so," King Turren began with the document in his right hand slightly higher than the other, "the Eastern Continent Accord has been signed. Artaggon, the Commonwealth, Radevic, and Savir are henceforth tied together in an alliance. And…" He lifted the left while lowering the right. "This, signed by the leadership of Savir and Queen Kanae, marks the birth of an empire. With myself and Archbishop Patrice as witnesses, we bid prosperity and good fortunes to the Empire of Sin!"

A round of applause erupted from the leaders of Savir. No one clapped louder than Archbishop Patrice, whose glistening eyes witnessed history being made.

Two members of the clergy emerged with a bottle of wine and glasses for each of them. They toasted to their newfound alliance and the end of a civil war. Memories were shared, the dead were mourned, and the defeated were laughed at.

"So, Exalted Mystic. You're going to have your hands full," Rasheena teased.

"Don't remind me. With the Harpy King dead and Nawan abdicating the crown, I have a mountain of work to do. As such, I unfortunately won't be staying very long. Queen— Excuse me, Empress Kanae. I trust we can rely on your support? Much of Elusis' farmlands are underwater now," Jahree said worriedly.

"And Bravost can't provide for much longer. I have my own to look out for. The Harpy King's razing and pillaging of Sala'vir left many of our farms scorched for the rest of the harvest season. Even the East Saviran Trading association is struggling." Sultana Dudula frowned.

"I'll do whatever I can to help. I've already chartered Rown Company to ship food to Savir. It's just… they have to go through Kandis first." Kanae sighed.

"They could have entered through Sultan's Wake. But someone had to go and destroy the docks." Sultan Cerberus glared at his aunt.

"I didn't destroy it!" Rasheena exclaimed in defense of herself. "Besides, it wasn't as if we could have foreseen this alliance. We were busy preventing the one you had with the Empire of Ortesia. But fear not, Jahree. Our edirashems can easily move resources between the Arkesian Wastes and Elusis by the tons."

It took a load off Kanae's chest seeing everyone lending a hand. A year ago, seating the leaders of Savir together would have been impossible.

"Well, I think that's enough politics for me. It has never been my forte. I will take my leave here. Be well, everyone. Empress." Jahree bowed in Kanae's direction.

"Allow me to see you out the palace. The rest of you, please enjoy your stay." King Turren rose to escort him.

"Good thinking." Rasheena stood up and cracked her neck, then grabbed Cerberus' hand. "Come, my love. I'd like to feel the sun against my fur for as long as possible before we return to ours. Radevic has so much to see, too!"

They left the cathedral, and Sultana Dudula departed to do the same. The clergy were already cleaning up and putting things away. Archbishop Patrice descended from the pulpit. The burn scar on half her face couldn't be healed any better, but she wore it as a badge of honor. Her real reward was the two documents left on the table, which she picked up to admire.

"Incredible how much weight and power is contained in these mere parchment. They are made of animal skin, you know? They cannot speak for themselves, yet command the attention of nations. Well done, Empress Kanae Toyomi." The archbishop offered a nod.

"Thanks, but I still don't understand what you got out of all this. You just… wanted bragging rights about moving history?" Kanae asked.

"Not to merely boast, no. To affect it! Next on the list is your ascension. Though, I doubt the Mistress of Desire will make it very easy for you," she said.

Definitely not. Kanae didn't want to fight Ambrosia if she could help it. But she made it very obvious about creating a succubus ethnostate and enslaving everyone else.

Archbishop Patrice took her leave to stow away both documents. They were going to be held in the Royal Stronghold for safekeeping. Kanae felt all the exhaustion hit her at once in the peace and quiet of the basilica. The meeting and signing took place as soon as they got back. She hadn't even reported to Grand Eye Analise yet, who was on her way back after ordaining a bishop to establish a Church of One in Ehmvier. Arenade's idea, it seemed.

Tired, Kanae made her way to Amethyst Hall to finally get a little shuteye first. Even if it was only the middle of the day, after all that happened, she needed to… sleep on it. The kids were still in classes anyway, and they had exams and tests to focus on. She hadn't seen them in a little over a year. They must have grown plenty.

The great hall came into view, and as Kanae entered, she found some of her members playing cards in the main chamber.

"Royal flush, losers!" Claudia revealed her hand on the table and smirked. "It feels good to win, and all it took was Edina not being around!"

"This is bullshit. You're obviously cheating!" Aisha threw her cards.

"Rog not having fun…" The resident blacksmithing orc frowned.

"I side with Aisha. I think you're pulling a fast one on us, sister!" Hilde pouted.

"Oh, don't be sore losers. I'm just—" When Claudia reached out to grab the winning pot, a hidden card slipped out from her tunic sleeve.

Everyone saw it, and they shot her a dirty look.

"I knew it!" Aisha grabbed her by the collar of her shirt.

"Wait, wait, wait! Let me explain!"

Kanae stepped in and made herself known before Claudia got an ass whooping she might end up liking.

"I come back, and what do I see? My hall slacking." Kanae entered laughing.

"Kanae?!" Everyone gasped.

"When did you get back?" Claudia raced up to her first.

She yawned into her hand. "This morning. King Turren didn't want to make a big fuss out of it, and neither did the Saviran leaders. Everything's pretty much been resolved. I'll tell you guys more about it later, but I'm going to hit the sack for a nap. Oh, Aisha. Could you get working on a fertility potion? I promised to help a beastman tribe fix their population."

"For fertility? I suppose it can be done. I may need assistance in acquiring the reagents though," Aisha explained.

"Ask Meidina for stuff. Anything she can't get, I'll help you find later." When Kanae walked past them, she thought that was going to be the end of it.

Instead, Claudia and Hilde followed after her upstairs.

"I'd like to remind you guys, I'm going to bed for some shuteye. Not sex," Kanae said.

"Oh, that's fine. We're just coming along to see your reaction to something." Hilde smiled mischievously.

What? Kanae brushed it from her mind. There must be a prank waiting in her room or something. When they finally reached the Knight-Commander's quarters, she opened the door to find that the surprise was Alicia, who was pregnant. The succubus was seated at the desk, dressed in a light white maternity dress. Her baby bump was really showing and was likely a few months or less away from giving birth.

"Kanae!" Alicia got to her feet and beamed.

"Alicia, you're pregnant! You got busy when you got back. Who's the father?" Kanae asked.

"The father? You're so silly. There's no father, because the baby has two mothers. This is our child." She giggled into the back of her hand.

The smile faded from Kanae's face as realization dawned on her. They did start having a lot of sex while in Savir, and the timing lined up.

"Congratulations, Kanae!" Claudia and Hilde cheered.

"Oh, no. I'm turning into the Queen-Mother! I never meant to have this many kids!" Kanae groaned.

"Are you not… happy to share this with me?" Alicia's shoulders drooped.

"That's not it! I'm really happy! You're going to make a great mother, and I can't wait to welcome the baby into the family. It's just… I need to stop having children! Ahhhhhhh! Suddenly, I don't feel tired anymore. I'm going to take a walk outside and clear my head." She grabbed Alicia by the face and pulled her in for a deep, reassuring kiss.

When they parted, Kanae jumped out the nearest window.

"Hey, wait! Get back here and impregnate me, too!" Claudia shouted.

Kanae was long gone, descending to Aidenhall's training fields. Luckily, indoor classes were in session, so only a few people were out and about. She did notice, however, Edina walking with Esta and followed them from above for a little bit.

The pair were just about to enter Silver Hall when Kanae caught up from behind.

"Greetings, Master." Esta bowed. "Did your audience with the others go well?"

"Yep. The Commonwealth is now an empire, and it's going to start seeing a lot of change soon. I also just found out I got Alicia pregnant… Anyway, what are you two up to?" Kanae asked.

"Sheesh. Well, it ain't as interesting as your day. We're just going to stuff the Necronomicon into Silver Hall." Edina patted her bookbag sling, causing something inside to thrash around.

"Wait, are you really going to give up the Necronomicon?" She gasped.

"I'm not giving it up per se. It's going to be here if I ever change my mind. But after seeing what it did to Riben Crow, I'm thinking Necronomicon needs a time out," the necromancer said.

The three of them entered Silver Hall, and the Knight of Silver ordered Runald to make an announcement into the brass speaker. His words echoed all over the hall, calling for a code yellow.

Kanae recalled the last time she was here. It was to put away the Sceptre of Want. At the time, Runald announced a code red. Things seemed more relaxed for this one, and the knights of Silver Hall were a lot less tense. No lockdown either.

"Containment mages, please report to the main chamber for the vaulting procedure of a level 4 dangerous magical item. I repeat: Level 4 dangerous magical item, living grimoire, Necronomicon." Runald peeled away from the speaker, and twelve crowned mages rushed out from different directions.

"Alrighty. Get out here." Edina pulled the book of the dead from her bag.

"You mangy little rat. I will not be contained!" Necronomicon bellowed.

"You're going to accept being contained, or I'm giving you to an ogre to use as toilet wipes!" she threatened.

The living grimoire's cover shriveled up a bit in what appeared to be a disgusted wince.

"You… wouldn't dare…" Necronomicon said nervously.

"Try me." Edina didn't need to put on a poker face, because she was just that cruel enough to do it.

Necronomicon willingly surrendered himself to the mages, who carried it away into the depths of Silver Hall to be vaulted.

"If you two will excuse me, I'm going to oversee that it is vaulted properly. And Edina, if you plan to visit the Necronomicon every once in a while, please go through the proper channels with Runald," Esta explained before leaving to follow them.

"I still can't believe you guys unearthed the book of the dead. I don't feel very safe around it, and Silver is one of the strongest people I know!" Runald threw his hands up.

"Sign me up for weekly visitations, bucko!" Edina smacked him on the back.

After filling out the proper paperwork, Kanae and Edina walked out of Silver hall to let them get back to work. The sun was coming down. It felt nice being under the mild climate again. Summer was upon them, but it wasn't blazing hot like in Savir.

"So, what's next? You headed back to Ehmvier soon, Miss Empress?" Edina teased.

"I think I'll stay for a few weeks. Spend time with the kids. Wait until the Grand Eye gets back. Really, I just want a break. Hopefully, she gives me an extended vacation… I still have the demands of an elemental lord to meet." Kanae groaned.

"Oh, yeah. You still gotta give her a succubus, huh? Sucks to suck. What say we take your mind off things and grab some drinks over at my bar?" the squirreling offered.

"Only if I get to order. The stuff you've been drinking is way too strong!" She shuddered at the thought of Edina's increasingly high tolerance for alcohol.

"Psh. Weak!"

They unfurled their wings and flew for the Bonelands district.