CHAPTER 404: CHAPTER 404 - NOT FOUND, THE HERO REQUESTED COULD NOT...

Taking in the familiar and unfamiliar faces and names of cultivators who had distinguished themselves in the war all across the continent, Qatrand was given time to peruse them. Some bore goldenrod ink seals indicating highly successful operations. Others carried black marks in a box on their first page, for tallying the number of confirmed Intermediate and higher kills.

But too many bore the white wax seal in a corner that marked their lives as cut short. Her fingers paused over one particular file like that - a warhammer wielder from the Ironclad Order. A man whom she remembered from the competition duels, that had made it to the finals for their region.

He apparently maintained his impressive capability throughout the length of the war, according the achievements listed. Even having been listed as the second place candidate in their home region, should Qatrand herself fall in battle. Slowly, she turned the few pages tied together to the last page... where the death incident report would be.

’Defending a Guild outpost when the sigil fortifications failed. Failed?’

Pigeon blues narrowed at the wording in the report, feeling like something was off. But Kwared’s voice drew her attention back to the five officials watching her study and react to the types of things she was reading.

"Do you understand the situation we face, now?"

"...I’m afraid not."

He stabbed his finger into the table surface, then gestured towards the papers placed before the teenager. Amidst those still alive or not missing - Elua er Goltbred not being the only one to disappear in some way or another - the raven-haired cultivator was head and shoulders above any other individual’s results so far.

"Accomplishments we have tallied in your name now stand for what would normally be distributed across a dozen different regional heroes - at the end of a war period. Concentrated into one person’s record."

"Methods and effectiveness too exemplary have made your worth as a symbol of hope and bravery so high... that those who would prefer it to topple will grow bold. Enemies of the Yecine, the Ironclad Order, and of our continent in general."

Qatrand kept her expression intentionally neutral, though she sensed where this was leading based on conversations with Ondua. He had gained a lot of fame quickly when the reports of his success began to circulate - and that was no different than what was happening to her, though scaled up.

"I fight because it is my duty. Which is to say, I’m not seeking recognition beyond what serves the defense effort. If my deployment is the most effective way to save lives, then-"

"It is. By far."

Kwared interrupted firmly before the woman beside him took over. She hunched forward with her hands steepled, looking every bit the sort of schemer that her wife had told her to either trust... or stay away from.

"Which is precisely why we need to address the complications it creates. Regional leaders are already facing questions from their local guilds about why their heroes haven’t achieved such vaunted results."

"Some are questioning whether their greatest defenders are adequate. Others are demanding to know why you aren’t deployed to *their* critical situations instead. You’re becoming a commodity that they think can be bought from us."

"Meanwhile, your fame is drawing the wrong kind of attention in other directions. Three separate and unrequested intelligence reports suggest that there is a correlation to the greater shape of Voidling forces when you move between regions."

"Meaning?"

Not getting caught up on each new speaker of the five that added their part of the problem, Qatrand merely asked for clarification generally to the room - to let whichever one wanted to answer do so.

"Meaning that they are beginning to coordinate specifically to target or avoid you depending on the overall situation."

Teeth clenched down as what she had suspected was coming to pass. From the increasing complexity of the attacks her force faced, it seemed that the Hivemind was working on ways to minimize the effect of her taunting Aspect. Or increase the information being shared between groups.

"What is it that you actually expect to propose by bringing me in today?"

"A number of compromises that maintains your effectiveness while safeguarding against the changing realities. First, we implement a detailed shared credit initiative. Future victories will be officially attributed to joint operations with local commanders with your involvement listed as a special footnote. This eases some small amount of tension while maintaining accurate records for those who need to know."

The plotter of a woman slid a set of documents across the table after explaining. It certainly made it seem like she was the one behind all the details, though either Kwared was willing to follow her lead... or he was more involved in it than his arm-crossed silence suggested.

"Second, we’re offering you the same support structure your father-in-law received during his early active period as a Hero of the Last Descent. Dedicated intelligence assets, counter-surveillance, and backing against any... pressures that might interfere with your operations."

Qat glanced at the papers, noting the official Guild seals and legal language. It didn’t seem to say anything very different than she’d said so far, except the main point they hadn’t said out loud yet. Another of the members of the group took a chance to speak when she was looking at the last page.

"We’re also assigning an attachment of our members to your strikeforce. An intelligence specialist, logistics coordinator, and a political liaison who can help target and smooth your deployments more effectively. To handle the administrative complexities that your success has created."

’Three more to deal with. I can only hope they don’t get in the way.’

Things had grown a little awkward between the strikeforce ever since meeting Nysoi Valmenf. The Ironclad Order member which Anper seemed to have some string pulling connection to had grown more reserved. It felt like he was on the edge of changing his mind because of the level of momentum the young heir had behind them.

Or perhaps, was seeing that there was more benefit from keeping out of it than not. But she still didn’t want her family to be placed under excess scrutiny just because of any ’small’ unwise choices like hiring someone to verbally manipulate her thoughts.

She still had yet to be informed by Lirades of the depth of the plot to turn public opinion against the Goltbreds. Qatrand still did not know her father was the source of that - that the people who trained and raised her in the faction had been planning all this time to use the Realmshard the way they had been.

And she was missing details on so much more... like why multiple Guild locations had been breached and destroyed this Descent cycle.

"And finally, we’re conducting your official hero recognition ceremony immediately. Private, with just this council and other select witnesses. The public ceremonies are planned for later in the year."

The Void Defense Society Continental Guild Master Kwared concluded the main point... one that she knew was the reason she had been called back. As things began to wind down in the war, this often happened. The chosen candidates from all corners of the continent were carefully brought in to receive the early news.

’Staggered and in between operations, so that their absence does not dull the sword or thin the shield of our forces too far.’

Qatrand studied these people’s faces, weighing the offer that some of them had given to others across two or more Descents. Support would undoubtedly help her save more lives more effectively... she knew this because she often felt she was missing her wife’s support. But the timing...

"...I have conditions."

"We expected you might."

Kwared nodded and the woman tapped on fresh parchment, ready to list them. Despite what the Yecine heir said earlier, she fully expected some of the outrageous demands that so many raised up to the position seemed to make in these moments. She enjoyed denying them!

"I retain full authority to respond during emergency situations regardless of any... ’symbol’ preservation concerns. If people are dying and I can save them, I will not be held back by bureaucratic risk assessment."

’...Well, some of them start out reasonable...’

"Agreed. Your surgical deployment will continue as the priority."

"And my team remains under my command. I’ll work with your new attachments - and I even hope to get along with them - but my core group answers to me inside and outside of fighting."

"Also agreed."

Writing the two points down so far, the woman was holding back a frown while tapping nervously with the quill point. It wasn’t as if this was the whole reason she enjoyed her work - things go smoothly for a bureaucrat was as glorious as giving those who didn’t do their due diligence the runaround.

Qatrand er Yecine looked down at the hero dossiers with her pigeon blues. She thought of fortifications that should have held, of defenders who should have survived, and of the sometimes thin margins that separated her victories from others’ defeats. A line of goldenrod seals might look good on paper, but they spoke of nothing by themselves. The white wax said much, much more.

"When would this ceremony take place?"

"This evening, if you accept. We have Guild witnesses standing by and the documentation prepared. The official version is not as impressive as you might expect, so don’t get your hopes up."

Hesitating only briefly before signing the documents, the Yecine stood up and placed her grip on her sword hilt. She paused before lifting it and leaving, thinking of Elua’s guidance and the advantages it had provided.

"I want it understood that I think this sort of recognition belongs to everyone who has fought and died in this war. I’ve simply been fortunate enough to have the training, the team, and the... circumstances that let me make the most of those opportunities."

The other officials stood and extended a salute, before Kwared spoke once more.

"Commander Qatrand er Yecine, it will be our honor to officially recognize your service to the continental defense. The small ceremony will formalize what we all already know - you are more than one of this cohorts successful fighters. You are one of this century’s true heroes."

The weight of the title and the praise felt like she had increased the Gravity around her shoulders. With all its privileges and burdens. It was what her wife had wanted for her - what Elua thought would help most with Qatrand’s goals.

’I hope I’m ready for what comes next.’

As she was escorted out through corridors still bustling with urgent activity, Qatrand’s thoughts turned to the talk she still needed to have. Her in-laws had been kept in the dark too long.