Space shattered in the middle of Fort Alpha as Lee tore space asunder once more. It wasn't necessarily good for the fabric of space to be constantly abused like this, and with every portal he opened he had to work harder to repair the damage he caused, less they start another shattering.

But as he delved further down the path of evolution, it became a less arduous task. It was also, unfortunately, a necessary task.

Convoys couldn't be attacked if they moved through portals. It would be impossible to seige any fort that could teleport food directly to them. It was simply the cost of the war, and one he bore on his shoulders, like many others.

First through the space straining portal was the Lord himself. The air seeming to chill around them and the shadows growing deeper as soon as his boot hit the ground. It sent shivers down the spines of many, and even those who had never been believers within his religion muttered softly to themselves words of reverence.

Unknowingly, their small amounts of Worship started to ooze out of them, running wild in the world around them and only amplifying his effect on it.

Following closely behind the Lord in Black was a man the complete opposite. He held no presence, as if the world had completely forgotten about him. Seth's white ghost ant armour was summoned and cocooned his body as he diligently followed behind his master.

He kept his helmet dismissed, and important part as he wanted everyone to see his face present in this armour, so that when he needed to swap no one would suspect anything. Not that they even bothered acknowledging his existence for long enough to suspect him.

Lines of priests, Unkindly guards and even more forces from Ravenkeep followed him through. Only when the last members, tamed beasts dragging carts full of fresh supplies, had entered the fort did the portal finally close.

Reinforcements had arrived, and many of the men stationed at Fort Alpha were whispering prayers of gratitude. "Thank our Lord" was on the lips of many, all of their Worship directed to the man in black.

Guards, human and puppet, moved to relieve those currently on duty, while the priest collected food and medicine from the carts and started to hand them out to those in need. With every gift they gave out, they made sure to add that it was in fact such a thing, a gift from their merciful Lord.

As for that Lord in question, he had retreated to private chambers with his most loyal companions to discuss the future plans, leaving his fateful assistant to oversee the proceedings.

Seth had positioned himself on a balcony overlooking the main courtyard of the Fort, his puppets following his every command as they started to pile together rocks in the centre. These rocks were lifted into the air and moulded like simple clay by a black robed priest, who started to form them into a monument of his own.

A statue of a Raven with its wings spread, a monument to their Lord.

"Are you sure this is a wise idea little brother? You've seen what happens to people in communities like this."

Ophelia leaned against the stone railing beside Seth, letting out a low sigh as she watched everyone work. He glanced at her briefly, mainly to check that she was still in one piece after her mission, before looking forwards again.

"Wise? No. Not really. It repulses me, in all honesty. I keep thinking about life back then... what I remember of it at least. The glassy eyed looks, the wide smiles that overflowed with hidden evil. The blood rituals...

And I'm the lucky one. You got me... got us out of there when we were young enough. I'm sure what you remember is far worse."

"So then why? Why do all this?"

"Because... It's necessary. I hate it. I hate the person I need to be in this world. The murderer with blood on his hands and a cult worshipping a false idol. But it is what is needed, not just to survive but to thrive.

And if it isn't me, then it's someone else. Someone like him."

His expression soured and a dark air started to flow off of him, his blood wriggling energetically within his veins as it begged to come out and wreak destruction. But instead, Seth simply let out a deep sigh and forced it down, keeping his growing anger held tight inside for when he needed it most.

"People need something to hold onto, they need something solid to clutch while the world shifts around them constantly. Something that doesn't falter, doesn't change. Which stands tall against the storm of chaos and tells it 'No, you move.'

For many people, that was him. Lord Corvus. So if that's the person they are going to need to make it through to the next day, then that's the person I need to be. If they want to worship him, then that's what I will let them do.

But I won't deny. The worship it's... intoxicating. It has power, true tangible power. It's why the Lightbringer does what he does. It is amazing.

So while Lord Corvus is the rock for all of them to hold on to, I need a few rocks of my own. Something to keep me anchored and to stop me drifting away in the storm of that power."

He tightened his fist, taking a deep breath as his mind drifted away. He gazed through Corvus' eyes, who was currently in a strategy meeting. His mind had developed to the point that having two conversations, with two different bodies, was as easy as breathing. He couldn't even fathom that he used to struggle with simply speaking through another body, nevermind talking through it like this.

Through Corvus' eyes, he gazed at the faces surrounding him. He took in the sight of the few that knew his identity, knew his burden, and stood by him nonetheless, until his eyes finally landed on his strongest anchor.

Astra stood beside him, her hand leaning on the table next to his. A soft smile tugged at the corner of her lips when he looked at her. Not stopping the briefing his puppet was giving, he wriggled Corvus' hand closer, so that his pinky finger was brushing against Astra's index, and then let it crawl ever so slightly closer again.

Astra in turn moved her hand closer, inch by inch. If the others in the room noticed, they decided not to comment on it. But considering the coy look Fox was giving him, and the way the little blob of slime currently resting on Alexandra's shoulder was wriggling.

Yeah, they noticed.

Seth turned to Ophelia, a soft smile on his face.

"I have a few rocks like that already, especially one that I trust my life to. But I need you most of all.

I need you not just to anchor me, but to anchor the people. You know most of all what these kinds of situations do to people, how they can egg themselves on to do terrible things to themselves and others.

Things I fear they might be already doing. I need this to fight against him, to survive. So if I continue with this work, can I count on you to help me?"

Ophelia smiled at him, standing up straight and putting her hands on his shoulder. She gazed into his eyes, which were mirrors of each other and would have been identical if not for the unnatural, black colouring of Seth's sclera.

She cupped his cheeks, looking at him less like a sister and more like a mother, as that was the role she had filled for most of her life.

"Of course I can help you. Whatever you need, I'll be here to help."

"Thank you Lea. I know you'll make a wonderful high priestess of the church and lead them well."

Seth pulled his sister close, hugging her tight. An easy feat to accomplish not just for their differences in strength, but because Ophelia was completely frozen. Her figure utterly still and a look of absolute shock and horror plastered on her face as she tried to process his words.

'H-high priestess?!'

***

"So, are we all clear on the plan? I expect that once we carry this out, that the Lightbringers ego won't be able to handle any more losses, especially not to his power source. It is imperative that we take down the objectives simultaneously."

Corvus glanced around the room once again, looking over the individuals who anchored him to reality, who nodded to him when his gaze landed on them. Alexandra, Cynthia, Fox... and Astra.

He squeezed her hand softly, and she nodded in response, tightening her fingers around his.

"Alright then, you know where you are needed."

With a wave of his hand, and a small laugh from Astra at his show boating nature, the clay figures standing on the map before them began to move, marching across the land in different groups towards the Lightbringers forts.