476 An Old Friend Made New

I leaned towards him, and my curiosity piqued.

"Then what is driving you this hard?"

Florence met my eye, disbelief splattered across his face.

"Must you ask?"

I answered with silence. He grinned.

"Because we're helping people."

Chapter Begin

I leaned back, a bit surprised by how differently he acted based on circumstances. After mulling it over, I leaned forward.

"You could've helped people before. Why is this so different?"

Florence waved his hands back and forth.

"It's a matter of effect. No matter what course I took before, Obolis wouldn't have abolished the indentured servitude he enacted since the beginning of the albony's rule. He had established a situation where the growth of his empire was a cancer, and anyone with a conscience understood that fact."

Florence turned a palm to me.

"That's why it's been so liberating to work under your empire. You actually help people. I don't have to drag myself out of bed every day. I leap because I can do something worth doing with my time. After all, what is life without a purpose? I find it to become a chore, perhaps a drab monotony."

I put several minds onto the conversation, and I found no indications of a lie. I'd chosen the right person for the job. I leaned back in my chair.

"Good. We'll keep it that way moving forward. Just as well, hearing all of your progress makes me embarrassed to share what I've been working on."

Florence leaned forward.

"I glossed over a few of the reports you sent, but I never read them in detail. They weren't really my cup of tea. No offense."

I raised a hand.

"None taken. The gist of it was this-"

I explained what I'd accomplished on Rebirth and the fractal language I found. As I finished my recollection, Florence's eyes narrowed. He murmured.

"Ah, yes, I assisted a few businesses and established trade relations. You conquered a planet by force and learned a forgotten language from a pre-Schema era, one that carries a legacy and implications that could change magic in its entirety. Did I get it right, or have I forgotten something?"

I shrugged.

"I doubt many people will use the fractals, and besides, I haven't made anybody rich either."

Florence rolled his eyes.

"You know, I am one to brag. Quite a bit whenever I find the chance, but I'm not so foolish as to assume I made this all happen on my own. You set me up for success, and a lot of people helped me as well. On the other hand, you've taken time out of your training to develop new technologies, ones that could result in sweeping changes across your entire empire. It's incredible, and I say that without a shred of sarcasm."

I scoffed.

"To me, it always feels like I'm doing background work while you, Althea, and the others are on the frontlines handling the gritty, real problems for my guild."

Florence leaned against the glass table while steepling his claws.

"I can assure you that perspective isn't shared by many under your purview. Most people understand that you've established a firm foundation for their current lifestyles, and your golems are seen as a benevolent if slightly tyrannical governing system."

I raised a hand.

"Wait a minute. Tyrannical? How?"

Florence scoffed, an uncharacteristic unease leaking into his voice.

"Ahem, it's due to the sheer physical power of the golems. They are akin to policing your prior world with tanks. To my knowledge, that only occurred during uprisings or to make a point. Your golems simply do this all the time. Ergo, your rule is defined by that power imbalance."

I shrugged.

"If there weren't eldritch spawning out of every nook and cranny, then maybe I could take a lesser stance. As is, this is my best option to save lives."

Florence sharpened his gaze.

"Personally, I agree. However, most of the social standards for your planet are still based on the remnants of your old society. Just as well, many people will take an incredibly surface-level analysis of our complex situation. They'll then construct an entire worldview on that shallow thinking."

Florence sighed.

"Immersed in that self-delusion, they'll hold you to impossible ethical standards, all the while being idle hypocrites. In many ways, a simple inspection of alternatives would dissuade most of that thinking, but self-reflection isn't always a strong suit, as you've no doubt noticed in many."

I frowned.

"Remember, those old-world ethical standards are why my empire differs from most guilds. It's why you're helping them instead of enslaving them in the first place."

A genial smile traced Florence's lips.

"That's certainly true. I suppose you have to choose your poison then?"

I took a bite out of a pastry. A flavor explosion almost gave me whiplash. The medley of flavors continued assaulting my senses, the bite more like a feast than a nibble. I leaned back.

"How is this so good? It's sickeningly delicious."

Florence smiled.

"It's a matter of baking with the right ingredients. Your planet retained most of its old-world customary knowledge regarding the culinary arts. That has enabled a sturdy foundation for magic and the previous cooking system to build on. This is the result of those pursuits by many impassioned individuals."

I nodded at the baked goods, my mouth watering as I took another bite. Well, it wasn't really watering. Like my blood and tears, my saliva was silver. It had a neutral taste to me, so it didn't affect the dish's flavor much. Florence tilted his head.

"It's been a long time since I saw you eating food. Actually, I don't remember if I ever have. I thought you'd given up on eating or drinking since your bodily transformation."

I took another bite, the sensation akin to nirvana. I relished in the moment before blinking.

"I pretty much have, but I need to change that. This is too good to give up."

Florence took a bite of his own pastry.

"I have a long list of restaurants you may try if you wish. I've been to them while politicking or simply enjoying the company of friends."

I recalled Joshua's bar.

"I actually have a suggestion as well."

Florence raised a hand.

"Before we discuss casual matters, let us handle the business details. Which were...Ah, yes, methods of governance. I see it as thus - by virtue of your existence, you impose your will onto others via potential. At any moment, you could destroy any city on Earth without a care in the world, should you choose to do so."

Florence took a swig of his coffee.

"That silent threat of force is nested as your hidden ace. Your people are well aware of it, given your level, prestige, and the streams that Torix showed so long ago on Giess."

Florence leaned towards me.

"Your golems wield it as well, and it has left a small portion of people filled with anxiety."

I shrugged.

"There's nothing we can do about that. Power discrepancies will always exist, and Schema's system makes it far more palpable."

"They have always persisted, though in presystem eras, groups of people were needed to overcome an individual with certainty. During those times, it could always be done. That is no longer the case, and your world's social systems have yet to catch up to that new reality."

He swiped his hand.

"But enough of that. Those dissenting opinions are few, far, and in between. If they wish to live outside your golem's protection, then they may leave our protection. If enough protest is put forth, then we can exile them outside of our territories. They oftentimes come back within weeks after a scare or two."

I frowned.

"That sounds harsh."

Florence waved his hand.

"We have guildmembers who traverse the outlands, clearing the eldritch that infest the countryside. While not a perfect protection, those radicals still benefit from our presence even in exile. They do well enough."

I shook my head.

"Personally, I'm fine with dissent in my empire. I want voices that conflict with my own, even if they're absurd at times."

Florence frowned.

"Is there any reason that there's a need for noise amongst civil discussions?"

I smiled.

"Sometimes, something we consider absurd is the source of a painful truth. Obolis looked at your approach in much the same way, didn't he?"

Florence paused, and he was actually stumped for a moment. He took a sip of his coffee before wiping his hands.

"I'll have the practice changed then. I didn't mean to overstep my bounds, guildmaster."

The uncharacteristic formality stung. I waved my hand.

"That whole dissenting voices thing applies to you, too. You know that, right?"

Florence coughed into his hand.

"Ahem, uhm, then I am sorry for that as well."

"That's just it, you don't have to apologize."

"Then, er, I'm remorseful towards my other statement as well?"

I laughed as Florence floundered for once in a conversation. I turned a palm to him.

"Look, I've taken a hands-off approach to this entire situation. I haven't set any expectations or ground rules for many aspects of my guild, so everybody's kind of doing their own thing. So far, it's working out better than I expected. All that being said, I expect friction in certain places."

Florence let out a relieved sigh.

"That's good. Excellent, even. It's something you don't consider, but you can be rather intimidating without even trying to be. It has thrown even me off in this conversation."

I pulled several minds from the conversation. They had lingered from earlier. I murmured.

"Ah, sorry about that."

Florence gave me a shy smile.

"Your gaze has changed. Something is different, and I can't quite place it in words. It's...Unnerving."

I put several minds back on the conversation.

"Is it worse now?"

Florence blinked.

"Absolutely. It's as if I am laid bare before a crowd."

"That's oddly specific."

Florence smirked.

"It's an oddly specific feeling. Putting that to the side, for now, let's talk about the allies from the lottery."

I leaned back, putting only one mind on the conversation.

"How many did we make?"

"Thirty-two empires are allied with us, and twelve cut ties."

I furrowed my brow.

"I would've expected nearly everyone to start a relationship of some kind. I saved their rulers after all, so why did they burn the bridge we offered?"

Florence waved his hand.

"Not all of the empires wanted their old rulers back. Some were bitterly hated and executed after returning."

I winced.

"Ah. Well then...That's my bad, I suppose."

"You had no means of knowing whether they were tyrants or not unless you peeled their minds apart as if revealing the inner layers of an onion. Aside from that, we lack the intrigue or informational gathering to truly assess their situations well. The rulers are a singular perspective in that regard, making them more than a tad unreliable."

Florence rolled the fingers on his hand, one appendage following the other in a smooth wave.

"That wasn't the only cause. Two of the empires didn't join due to our lack of development. To them, you only own the world in name but not in means. It's their foolhardiness in assuming you're only a military leader. Also, to be frank, that enrollment rate was superb by nearly any metric. Personally, I think the mana crystal business I started was a large part of that."

I crossed my arms.

"I'd imagine with the advent of mana, energy in general wouldn't be as expensive a commodity. Why is everyone drooling over this stuff?"

"It's explosive potential, of course. Your mana is of a high purity, and it tends to lack as much toxic intent as other mana crystals."

I let out a laugh.

"You know, Torix warned me about becoming a mana battery and how horrific a life it could be."

Florence chuckled.

"Ironic, isn't it? What you feared has now become a boon you embrace. In fact, we're thinking of instating the mana as a currency for your empire."

I took a breath.

"That sounds dangerous. People could use money as a bomb at any time."

Florence shrugged.

"It's far safer than you'd imagine. You'd need only a few chips of the stuff to buy this meal, for example."

I blinked.

"It's that valuable?"

Florence flicked his fingers, and a coin made of crystallized mana appeared in his hands.

"I'll answer your question with another. Tell me, Daniel, what do you think is the most important aspect of a currency?"

I thought for a moment.

"That it has value?"

He smiled.

"You would think so, but that isn't it. Fiat currencies have existed across cultures for millennia. They hold no value, yet they are fought for with blood and tears alike. Any other guesses?"

"Nope. I'm stumped."

"I was as well before I took quite some time to understand the topic. From my research, the most important aspect of a currency is time. In essence, any currency's greatest utility is the exchange of two individuals' lifespans. This enables the exchange of skills without the need for a physical transfer of goods or services."

I furrowed my brow.

"You use money for necessary parts of life too, not just time saving ventures. You know, like food and shelter."

"The currency you exchange for those necessities becomes a measure of how difficult the utilities are to obtain in the first place. What dictates those prices depends on whatever the skill is, its scarcity, and the time it takes to develop said skill as well. The same principles apply to harvesting a material or developing a product."

Florence rolled the coin between his fingers.

"Depending on the overall economy's efficiency, a person's needs can be met easily. At that point, economies revolve more around how to spend excess time. In the end, you're still paying for someone's time or the time it takes to get whatever it is you need."

Florence held up the crystal coin.

"That's why we've been thinking of using this as a currency. The latent energy within each of these is enough to represent several hours of dedicated energy channeling from an average individual. That means they act as potent replacements for a menial task that no one enjoys, yet everyone needs to do."

Comprehension rushed into my mind like a thunderclap.

"Ohhhh. Everyone needs to channel mana to power machinery, runes, or their gear. That likely takes up quite a bit of most people's time, doesn't it?"

Florence rolled the coin in his hand from finger to finger.

"If something isn't certified by Schema, then it is powered by mana that way. There are entire professions dedicated to generating usable forms of mana or energy for average individuals to take advantage of, and the legality behind it can be tenuous at times. Schema tends to get in the way when using less pure mana as the intent can lead to-"

I nodded.

"Insanity."

Florence spread his hands.

"Precisely. We think that if your golems are given a certain kind of runic configuration, they should be able to make even more stable mana in the form of coins, and they can act as a premium, literal currency. Inflation and the like won't be as much of a concern since the currency is useful by itself. It's innately useful in magic or when needing energy."

I mulled over it for a while. I peered outside, the night lights like stars.

"Huh. I never thought that mana crystalization would trickle down so much. It feels like something I randomly did one day without meaning to, yet it's become one of my most useful talents."

Florence scarfed down another pastry.

"You never know where an ability will lead you. I never anticipated my penchant for talking too much to take me this far, yet here I am, feasting on the delights of a far-off culture after my species' downfall."

"It sounds sad when you say it like that."

Florence gazed at the growing metropolis.

"It is and it isn't. On the one hand, the albony had millennia of prosperity and ruled over an economic stronghold across our sector. On the other hand, it's easy to see that we used anyone we could while hoarding our wealth. Where did that leave us? As despondent imperialists who lived on our subject's suffering."

Florence shook his head.

"We can argue ethics with ourselves all we want, but we albony understood what we were doing. What we did for thousands of years. It was a fault all our own, yet our people now act as if our downfall was something unexpected and undeserved. The hypocrisy makes my skin crawl at times."

Florence's eyes narrowed.

"The reality is, we were living on borrowed time, and what we loaned finally came to collect interest. It is up to us as a people to pick up the broken pieces and to avoid falling into our hedonistic ways once more."

A calm quiet passed over us as we reflected on what had happened in the guild, the albony, and since Schema's inception. Interrupting our thoughts, a ripple coursed over the silencing magic. We gave the signal, and the waiter walked in before taking the plates. Florence gave them a genuine smile while leaving a tip that far exceeded what would've been the cost of the meal. Florence stood.

"Do excuse me for ruining the ending of our dinner. I've been needing a break from all the politics, and I'll actually be going on a vacation here soon."

My interest spiked.

"Oh, really? Where to?"

Florence spread his hands.

"Blegara, of course. I've worked with a few skeptiles to open resorts in certain safe spots. We've installed a variety of islands in more temperamental waters, and they've been quite successful as tropical paradises."

"Hah, it's safe to assume the eldritch aren't chewing as many people's faces off?"

Florence squeezed his hands into fists.

"It's a shame, really. A few mask shops went out of business because of it. Jokes aside, it's the fruit of our labor. The spirits, the Vagni's newfound autonomy and strength, even the golems tracking down the strongest monsters, all of it has culminated into a potent change across the worlds we've overseen."

Florence walked up and gave my shoulder a pat.

"It goes without saying, but I'll say it anyhow. I'm proud to be a part of this guild and how it handles its responsibilities. You've done fine work."

I nudged him back.

"You're doing pretty well yourself, but you know the work's just begun, right?"

He walked backward while flourishing a hand.

"Of course. But for now, the hm, pina coladas won't drink themselves, will they?"

He made eye contact with one of the waitresses, and she blushed. I rolled my eyes at the guy, but I couldn't help but have a smile on my face. He'd found a purpose in the guild, and it didn't involve exploiting other people. Well, from the sounds of it at least. I'd have to take a closer look through first-hand accounts to guarantee that, but for now, the situation was on the rise.

With a bit of time to myself, I finished the angelic pastries while peering through a series of missives and accounts. I took a breath. Honestly, I wanted to stick my head in the sand, so to speak, yet I couldn't. Having a random bureaucrat take over the entire situation was always an option, but it carried the risk of someone stealing or taking advantage of my empire.

In many ways, managing decisions like this ended up with less of a headache than putting the wrong person in charge did. Keeping that in mind, I took two Daniels and put them to work on handling the data entry work that always piled up. They'd handle the operation without destroying my mental faculties. Probably. Considering it was administrative work, I couldn't guarantee my sanity, but alas, someone had to do it.

So why not a different Daniel than me?

It also helped prevent issues from piling up all the time. Speaking of, one missive immediately caught my attention. Occasionally, a strike team struck out to find and check on Torix. Apparently, he had conquered the pillars of his magic operation and was finally ready to break out of his chains. Taking a moment, I left the towering skyscraper and flew toward the sky.

After ascending for several minutes, I surged across the upper atmosphere like a bullet. Wielding a portion of my full potential, I created vast ripples across the thin air and swirled the clouds below. After several minutes of absurd speed, I found the brutally harsh and hauntingly beautiful landscape of Antarctica meeting my eye.

Slowing down and landing at the pinned coordinates, I found the ritual site tamed. Snow filled in the previous cataclysmic explosion site, and torrential hurricanes of ice bombarded the region. In the center of the storm, a radiant pillar pierced the heavens. I flew up beside it before heading down. At the bottom of the light stream, Torix kneeled in front of a darkened pool and the twelve pillars.

The rainbow liquid all succumbed to the darkness of Torix's mental will, though dollops of dominion mana radiated off of it. Unlike most dominion magic, this held a certainty and conviction behind it. It was as if Torix understood his goals and objectives far better, giving his magic a force of will he had once lacked.

The more I gazed, the more uncertainty came over me. Maybe that mental strength had always been there, slumbering under the surface, yet never as potent or pressing. I couldn't guarantee where it came from, but the sensation was palpable as I stepped closer. That pervasive dominance resonated as the twelve pillars reverberated.

Atop each monolith, a hollowed primevals rested, its essence imbibed into the pool below. Torix's melancholic gloom enveloped the last pillar as I landed, and it unleashed an immense shockwave. The visions no longer showed distant worlds full of many elemental storms. They echoed a vision that Torix put forth to the world, one where the living walked beside the dead.

Under a banner of dimensional fabric, myriad soldiers marched across skies darkened by their flying wurms and wyverns. Outside the visions, the icy landscape wailed in pain. For miles in every direction, cracks in the frozen land spread as crags of white erupted forth. The wind howled out in agony as a droning voice rose through the atmosphere, mana manipulating reality in Torix's image.

The darkened liquid seeped into his body, and his fiery eyes ignited. Blue and deep as an ocean, he turned to me, and he spoke, his voice like aged metal.

"Ah, disciple. There's much I learned over the past few months."

I smiled.

"I'd love to hear about it."

He raised a palm, and the runes across him dimmed, all light siphoning into his body. He fed on it while squeezing his hand. A ripple raced across reality. It coursed over my dimensional wake, and my eyes widened. The magic carried the depth of laws within. Torix stood, his body imposing and regal.

"You wish to hear of it? Hm, a lecture. An astute idea."

Dominion oozed from his body, drenching his surroundings in the dark ichor. Lightning of several elements arced from the puddles of darkness, each cackle humming with hidden danger. His eyes carried the depth of worlds and the weight of secrets. Each step sent a tremor across reality, and he raised his hand.

"I believe a demonstration is in order."