I have a disagreement to bring here: Elven agelessness is the only reason the race has not gone extinct yet. I have always held to that opinion, I will always hold to that opinion. Many talk and try to rationalize that it is their agelessness which curses them with such a lackadaisical approach to reproduction and romance, yet it is simply wrong the moment one engages with these creatures in any depth. They do have emotional capacity and they are indulgent, we are not talking about an entire race that is naturally inclined to stoicism here, that is the fool’s answer.

  In fact, I would argue that they are just as amoral as humans, but simply better at keeping their sins away from the public sphere. It is evident when one talks to any of my elven generals and realises just how well they can embody my philosophy in warfare and follow the principles of Steel & Sorcery. It is a doctrine designed for the masses of humanity and yet they seem to comprehend just as easily as the target audience. In this fashion, I have refuse the point of innate benevolence as well. The commonality of disdain to cruelty is largely the same as in humanity, save for the fact that they are much slower to adapt to social norms than humans.

  Relio, for example, still possesses the totalist and self-sacrificial morality that was common during Worldbreaking. All needed to be given back then, thus all will be given now, the plague animals were his invention. The only reason he has not changed is because there has not come an epoch in which such a mindset is reprimanded more than it succeeds. Tremali, as another counter-example, has been practically forged on warfare. He volunteered at the age of just twenty-four to join the Imperial Legions and frequently bemoans the rest of his family. Now, he wishes I support him in what can only be called a coup against his father to become patriarch. Is this the work of creatures that are naturally benevolent? The mythological notions of Guardianship towards Gaia have proven themselves terribly out of date.

  Their long lifespans naturally afford them extensive skillsets. There are more courts in Epa with family-elves than not, and those amongst those that do, it is not uncommon for the teacher to have centuries of experience. The Rancais palace-culture is at least partly influenced by their elven aristocrats and how many guilds in Doschia seek elves as masters? Any explanation that delves into material causes in this regard is wrong, for to find an elf lacking is to find a speck of dust in a pile of diamonds.

  However in regards to this, I do propose a radical solution. I have said before that elves make excellent soldiers. Thus, If the Empire needs more elves, then I submit my simple proposition: I will take them into the military and I will order them to have children. Ultimately, if a Divine matchmaker is needed, then a Divine matchmaker will be provided.

  - Notes regarding Goddess Kassandora’s, Of War’s, opinion during the strategic meetings on the elven population crisis. Dated to mid-way through the Great War.

  Arascus leaned back in his chair as the meeting went on. Klavdiv and the rest of the Underkingdom was hosting celebrations for the victory of the World-Core, their moment could not be denied. The dwarves had gone through a thousand years of darkness until this moment. To try and not let them have a moment of relief would shatter the world he was trying to build here.

  But likewise, he would not treat them like children. High King Osonev had been summoned to the surface. Forgemaster Vizin, Treasurer Varnus and High Priest Haskov. They would very well be told of how the Empire operated and what was demanded of such positions. They debated with the humans about what should be done. Arascus was only here to make sure the arguments would not get personal. Wilhelm Trosk of Internal Affairs looked as if he was ready to swallow a pill of poison. The war effort had been hard on him, Arascus knew. IA had lost jurisdiction of the police, that had gone to Malam’s SIS, and the Bureau of Transport was supported by the reassigned to Infrastructure, but the Trosk still had the meal with the largest rock in it. There was no way to separate production quotas and break the system manufacturing of the Empire up into smaller pieces without harming its efficiency. So Trosk had been assigned that rock, and he would eat that rock whether he liked it or not.

  By his side were John Adam of the Imperial Treasury and Nicholas Arkinson of Infrastructure. Both needed to be present for dealing with the horde of supplies being shipped into Klavdiv for their celebrations. They sat in dark suits. Each man had brought a half-dozen assistants. Trosk brought so many that most of them had to wait outside in the hallway. General Menith had been pulled back to serve as the connection to the army. Iliyal Tremali was too busy with preparing for the land-bridge right now but Menith had the required intellect to know how many troops should be ordered back up to the surface and how many should be kept down.

  Malam and Helenna were also about, of course they were. They were responsible for the publication of the celebrations. Both would have speeches prepared for the moment, although neither had started writing them yet. Likewise, both would need to be here as the second-to-final agreement on the celebrations. Arascus had the last call. They sat on the other end of the table in black uniforms. Helenna’s hair was brown as she listened in on the conversation. Malam was pouring herself another drink. “It’s done then.” Osonev finally agreed on something and reached out his hand. Trosk leaned over the wooden table to shake it.

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  So then it was settled. “I don’t like it.” Malam immediately said and all eyes turned towards her. Naturally she didn’t like it. She put her drink down, black eyes meeting everyone on the table. Arascus was at the end. Honestly, he agreed with her. “Olephia should play a part in it. She is painting right now.” Menith sighed from the side. Arascus saw him and gave him a nod. Olephia could be there, but only for a while. Malam would most likely… “She could host a gallery or give something for Iniri to read aloud. Iniri should be there too. One time slot is not enough. She helped too.”

  “Well of course.” Osonev quickly said. The rest of the dwarves nodded along. “We can’t not have them there.”

  “There is a problem with that.” Menith said. “Which is the case of the landbridge. The Archdemon was one thing but we may require the Goddess. In fact, we will require the Goddess, Marshal Tremali’s plan relies on it.”

  “Olephia will attend one day.” Arascus said. “And her gallery will be left to for Klavdiv. After, she will do what she sees fit with the paintings.” She would most likely give them to the city itself. “Unless war circumstances change, then she will not be present.”

  “Understood.” Malam said. Where there any other final adjustments to be made? Arascus thought on it. No, he supposed there weren’t. The celebrations had been planned entirely. That was the big meeting schedule for today. Then he supposed it would be minor things to check up on now that everything is here.

  “Then that is everything, we will run the rest of the agenda. Menith, is there any update on the O-Bomb project?” The dwarves all looked to the man in surprise. There was an obvious connotation to the name, especially since they had just been talking about Olephia.

  “We’ve confirmed the release of energy won’t ignite the atmosphere.” Menith said. “A prototype is being built now. Rancais is supplying the uranium. Allian islands in the north will be used. The north of Norje is also a good testing site though.”

  “Use the islands.” Arascus said. “Norje is taken up already.” Baalka’s research base had been moved from the islands to the frozen mountains at the very peak of Norje, the risk of contaminating the ocean would be minimal. Minimal was not certain though and the best way to avoid such spills was certainty. Kavaa would be sent to assist her once she returned from the underground. The work in there would be the final part of the puzzle to win the war against Tartarus. Either Elassa would push back Ashen Skies or the Ashjet project in Iboud would make a breakthrough. That would open the way. Baalka’s work would end it.

  They were not in the business of simply expelling Tartarus from this world. Not at all. Kassandora’s theories were true and correct. If they won this war, it was not a victory but a ceasefire. And it most likely would not be a long ceasefire either. So Tartarus needed to be shown exactly why they were to leave this world and humanity alone. Just as the titans were shown. Just as the dragons were shown. Just as every other threat had been solved, so would Tartarus.

  “Understood.” Menith said.

  “And we…” Arascus trailed off as a phone went off. Everyone in the room went silent and turned to the other end of the table. If it was anyone else, even Helenna, he would throw them out of the room right now. Of course though, it had to be his daughter.

  Malam’s phone buzzed. It was a recording of her own voice: I have received an important message. Everyone in the room turned to it. “I thought you had it off.” Helenna whispered. Arascus just rolled his eyes. He was surprised it hadn’t blurted something else.

  “Didn’t you hear it?” Malam asked with a smile, utterly indifferent to the attention she was receiving around the table. “I have received an important message.”

  “Can’t it wait?”

  “Do you even know what it’s for?” Malam bickered back. “Should I tell you? Hmm? Helenna.” Arascus looked to the humans and dwarves who had fallen silent, a few of them turned to him. One of the men looked down in embarrassment. Arascus knew that emotion.

  “Tell me then.” One of them was worse than the other.

  “When the SIS can’t handle something or when we get something all the way…” She sighed. “My fingers are so fat.”

  Arascus finally ended this farce. “Just check Malam.” That put an end to the show and got her moving again. She unlocked the phone. Tapped something on the screen and…

  “Oh.” Malam’s eyes going wide was all the tell everyone needed to know she had not been simply fooling about. She looked to Helenna and showed the phone without revealing it to the rest of the room. “Do you know who that is? Between them?” Helenna’s eyes went wide with shock, her hair turned white. She leaned forward and put her fingers to the phone, dragging the image to zoom it in.

  “I do.” Malam looked into Helenna’s eyes. There was a moment of silence. And then Malam handed the phone over. Helenna used her finger to scribble out a name.

  “Am I supposed to know?”

  “Oh.” Helenna said. “Right.” More writing this time, by halfway, Malam’s eyes grew wide. She looked to Arascus, then back to the phone. Helenna finished and looked to Arascus. The God of Pride put forward his hand and bent his fingers to call his daughter over. Malam stood and walked around the table. She held her phone in front of Arascus.

  “Taken an hour ago.” It was an image taken from a distance. On the right was Fortia in travelling clothes. A huge backpack on her, shorts, heavy boots that looked as if they were for trekking. Her gold-bronze hair was tied back, the photo had caught her mid-stride. On the left was Maisara, dressed similarly, as if the pair of Goddesses were trying to match each other’s style. Even her hair was tied map into a tail in a similar style. Arascus looked them over. No weapons on either but then these Goddesses could summon their arms from mid-air.

  Between them was a girl. Golden-haired and small and wearing similar outdoor clothes. She was utterly dwarfed by the Goddesses on her sides. But it was the text that Helenna had written with her finger that cemented it to Arascus: Alice.

  And underneath: Leona’s maid.

  Arascus took a deep breath. “Thank you for the meeting gentlemen.” He said and stood. “A matter has come up which must be attended to. It does not concern the war effort but it is a priority.”