20.8

Eve sat within her reclusive room in the Silver Bank viewing the world through the enormous mirror created by her magic.

As the days turned into weeks and the weeks into months, the North underwent a profound transformation. The rune farms took root, their magical essence seeping into the very fabric of the land. The once-barren fields sprouted with an abundance of crops, defying the harshness of winter and promising a bountiful harvest.

Under the guidance of the council of consultation provided to King Brandon by the Silver Bank, the people of the North eventually embraced the knowledge and techniques. The commoners toiled tirelessly, dedicating themselves to the cultivation of the rune farms. Scholars relentlessly learning the intricacies of rune magic, and witnessing firsthand the remarkable results it yielded.

King Brandon consulted with the other Houses reaching an agreement of Empire. The Houses that supported him rose up as pillars of the new Empire. From the Ironman’s Bay and The Bite all the way to the Bay of Ice and the Bay of Seals the newborn North Empire spread. Lady, now Duchess, Madeline gained access to both sides of the ocean through the river cutting across the land in the Bay of Ice. Carving the river deep enough to provide access was trivial with Rune magic. With that project, King Brandon, now Emperor Stark, watched with a mixture of pride and amazement as his kingdom flourished. The rune farms not only provided sustenance for his people but also a surplus that allowed him to extend aid to neighboring lands. He withheld his hand from touching the Southern lands, but suffered no loss of sleep cutting them out of the North’s economy. With each passing season, the North grew stronger and more self-reliant.

Anyone who watched knew war was coming.

As prosperity bloomed, so did the envy of those who coveted the North's newfound abundance. Rumors spread across the realms of Westeros, and greedy eyes turned toward the rune farms, seeing them as a source of immeasurable wealth and power. Emperor Stark well knew that conflict was brewing, not against the undead, but against human avarice, just as Lady Eve had foreseen.

It would fall to Steel to cut the throat of Greed.

Preparations were made. The armies of the North were bolstered, not only with soldiers but also with the knowledge and resources to defend their lands. Emperor Stark worked tirelessly to fortify the borders, erecting defenses that combined traditional methods with rune magic.

A de-militarized zone of tens of thousands of mines sliced the North from South. Emperor Stark had taken to the introduction of runic land mines like a fish to water. It was a method to both be eternally vigilant, and kill without risking his troops, brilliance on par with the creation of crossbows!

Emperor Stark, took the lead, his Art of Steel honed to perfection via the silver seed. His banners rallied behind him; their resolve unyielding. They knew that their survival, their prosperity, and their future depended on their ability to defend what had been built.

Lady Eve, ever watchful, supported them from the shadows, her influence extending beyond the boundaries of the North. The Silver Bank, too, played its part, ensuring that the necessary resources and funds were available to sustain the defense of the realm.

And so, the clash of kingdoms began. The armies of Southern avarice marched upon the North, seeking to seize the power and wealth of the rune farms. But they were met with an unyielding force, a united front of Northern resilience and determination.

Battles were fought, lives were lost, and sacrifices were made. But the North held strong. The rune farms, fortified by both magic and the unwavering spirit of its people, continued to thrive. The armies of avarice were repelled, their ambitions shattered.

Eve watched it all eating popcorn through the tense moments and drinking amberwine. She witnessed Emperor Stark, standing amidst the aftermath of the conflict, looked upon the scarred landscape with a mix of sorrow and pride. The cost had been high, but the North had prevailed. The rune farms remained standing, a testament to their resilience and the power of innovation.

Time passed, and in the years that followed, the North rebuilt, stronger than ever before. Emperor Stark forged alliances, united the realm of Westeros, and ushered in an era of prosperity and peace.

The Silver Bank, too, prospered. Its influence extended far and wide, its coffers overflowing with wealth and power. But Lady Eve knew that her time in this realm was drawing to a close. The Fae watched, waiting for any sign of imbalance, and the influx of draconic mana would be a temporary reprieve at best.

And so, as the North stood tall, Lady Eve quietly prepared for her departure. The silver seed of Emperor Stark, fulfilling its purpose, returned to her, carrying with it the knowledge and potential of Steel. With this seed, Eve would continue her journey, exploring new realms, and unraveling the mysteries of the universe.

Eve’s eyes glowed in the darkened room from which she had watched the last few centuries pass.

Stark’s heirs had all been trained in the undead threat. Runes had been set to seal the ocean when the Night King invaded cutting him off from easy victory. The Wall had been built and forged in magic. The dragons had been hatched by fire and steel. Draconic mana filled her veins like liquid divinity. Each second that passed pushed her grip on space further as the Fae actively sought to remove her.

“It is time.” Eve said releasing the bonds Stark’s silver seed had provided to draconic mana. She could no longer resist the Fae’s pressure to depart.

Calling her Faceless, Eve bid farewell. She knew though she would soon be banished from this realm, her impact would forever be felt.

The Age of Heroes ended quietly with a whispered benediction.

Exiting the world was like releasing a long-held breath. Eve phased effortlessly back into Charlotte’s world. Within minutes she flickered around the Aiqen continent collecting the necessary recipes for the Dremora Prince. She couldn’t collect the silver seeds of Blood or Faith, as those would take time. No longer being in a world out of phase with time had detriments to be sure. Transfering back Iantha was the work of a moment of Reverse Summoning.

With that task completed Eve released her grip on the construct causing it to disintegrate. Reforming on the Prison Plane, she entered the Dremora Prince’s world and passed along the recipes. A lazy hand wave poured a surge of foreign mana into her that she stored in the Librarybefore departing. The Dremora Doorway closed with a solid crunch, making it clear the System had only kept it open for her.

Wilson was a kind soul after all.

Once that task had been completed, Eve deconstructed her construct awakening in the Prison Plane once more. Unlocking the silver box, she had contained herself in. Eve’s physical body floated out and took a long stretch.

Finally back. Kudzu sent.

Indeed. Eve returned.

Was it worth it? Felix asked.

Eve looked at her Library filled with Draconic and Dremora mana and nodded. Worth it.

Will you be taking them with you? Kudzu thought.

Eve shook her head negative. Iantha was the only one that she would take with her going forward. Bennie’s choice had hurt, even if she didn’t let it show. She wasn’t going to expose herself to such feelings again for a long time. Iantha was an exception because she had lived for a very long time.

Her plan for minions had disintegrated after the Crystal Core demonstrated it was more effective for her to fly solo. Flying solo meant cutting all weight except the most necessary. Eve would handle space. Kudzu would handle Alchemy. Felix would handle Time. Nota would handle Knowledge. Hut would handle Dust.

There isn’t a need for more. Eve thought. Her grand plans had been smashed on the rocks of multiple realities.

Good. Felix said.

Eve sighed and sent a letter to the Adventurer’s Guild. It would handle distributing her monies. With the lack of others flexibility was much higher. Crystal Core provided a plan that was easy to execute.

It is almost effortless to plan now. Eve said. She would head into the depths. Locate a relic that would let her pierce Dust, and leave Take trips to two or three more worlds to provide a fix of coordinates via Kudzu’s seedlings, and then exit the Prison Plane using the relic taking the succubus with her. Upon return to Tal Mor she would wake everyone Sleeping up, and give them money, and set them up for life. Then she would depart into the Void taking only Sarah.

Sarah would handle business so Eve didn’t have to!

The reason for her change of plans was basic. Mana was levels. Levels were far easier to gain solo. Far easier. Sarah was considered part of Eve due to the contract they had formed so she technicallydidn’t count as a second.

The experience with the last few worlds had hardened Eve’s decisions. She had chosen to restrict her family’s size to an easy and manageable amount.

Only immortals can live with immortals. Hut said sagely.

Eve’s eyes flashed silver as she looked at the World Tree and replied, True. I won’t spread myself thin anymore. Child, Maiden, Mother, Crone. Hut, Nota, Felix, Kudzu.

The synergy fit. Sarah was technically part of Eve so she didn’t disturb the synergy.

A ritual? Nota asked.

Indeed. The closest way to link everyone to me and extend lifespan that I could think of. The goal isn’t to provide immortality, but enough time to reach it. Eve thought. Also, she had no skill at some things and it was nice to have allies that did!

How will we handle the depths? Felix said as the new plan spread among her allies.

The same way I handle most things. Eve thought.