Deus Necros

The return to the citadel took considerably more time than the journey away from it. They no longer got to use the treadmill made of cubes that sloth allowed them to use getting here.

Still with the destruction Wrath caused, most of the winding paths through the canyon had disappeared. Several sections had suffered so much damage that they could barely be called canyons anymore.

Ludwig walked at the front of the group, occasionally glancing down at the thin fractures still visible across his hands. His Living Vessel had recovered considerably since the battle ended, though it clearly remembered what he had forced it to endure. The cracks now resembled faint scars beneath his skin, and one of his fingers still twitched without permission every few minutes.

Celine noticed each involuntary movement and remained silent. Her refusal to comment somehow made Ludwig feel worse than any lecture would have.

When the White Citadel finally appeared in the distance, Ludwig slowed. Kaiser came to a stop beside him while the others gathered behind them.

”So...”

The city stood exactly where they had left it. White towers rose above the green landscape, broad roads curved between gardens and enormous buildings, and clear water continued moving through the canals. The immense palace remained visible at the center of it all without any obvious damage.

Ludwig frowned. ”I was expecting more rubble.”

Kaiser tilted his head. ”So was I.”

They continued forward, but the citadel only became stranger as they approached. Sloth was gone, yet the White Kingdom showed none of the damage they expected from the disappearance of the Authority that had created it.

The city looked untouched. Every tower remained upright, the walls and bridges were intact, and even the vegetation surrounding the citadel appeared as healthy as it had before Sloth’s death.

Kaiser stopped beside one of the white structures and tapped it with the bottom of his staff. The material produced a solid sound beneath the impact.

”Hm.”

Ludwig looked at him. ”What?”

”Interesting.”

”That word coming from you usually means I’m about to regret something.”

Kaiser ignored him and pressed one hand against the wall. He examined the white material for several seconds before speaking.

”The structure is no longer being actively maintained.”

”But it’s still standing.”

”Yes.”

”So?”

”So Sloth did not continuously hold this city together through Authority.”

Kaiser dragged one finger along the white surface. ”He changed the material itself.”

Ludwig looked toward the towers. ”Meaning?”

”Meaning killing the one who made a brick does not cause the brick to forget it is a brick.”

”Ah.”

Kaiser stepped backward and surveyed the citadel. He remained silent for several seconds before turning toward Ludwig.

”You know...”

”No.”

”I have not suggested anything yet.”

”I know that face.”

Kaiser pointed around them. ”Instead of returning to Bastos, why not stay here?”

Ludwig stared while Kaiser spread both arms. ”Look around.”

Ludwig followed the gesture and found it difficult to deny what the lich saw. The land surrounding the White Citadel was unusually fertile for the Dark Continent, with thick forests stretching beyond the gardens and several rivers feeding smaller streams that passed directly through the city.

The soil looked rich, and vegetation grew everywhere Sloth had permitted it. The surrounding region also appeared almost completely free of monsters because Sloth had driven them away.

His armies, Authority, and the reputation of the White Kingdom had transformed this part of the Dark Continent into one of the safest places Ludwig had seen since crossing Solania. Kaiser tapped his staff against the fertile earth.

”Unclaimed territory.”

”That’s generous.”

”Who claims it?”

”Sloth did.”

”He is dead.”

”Fair.”

”The tribes?”

”They were mostly hiding from Sloth.”

”Then they can hardly object.”

Ludwig looked toward the city again while Kaiser continued presenting his argument. ”You have fertile land, fresh water, enormous structures, natural resources, and an entire region monsters have learned to avoid.”

He pointed toward the palace. ”And that.”

”You want the palace?”

”I want everything.”

”That sounds dangerously close to Envy.”

”I am a lich I don’t Envy. If I want something I work hard to obtain it.”

Ludwig laughed as Kaiser leaned upon his staff. ”Your thieving tendencies are showing.”

”It’s not stealing if no one owns it, Ludwig.”

Ludwig considered the idea and found it extremely tempting. The White Citadel already contained more infrastructure than Bastos Marsh likely possessed after centuries of neglect. Houses stood ready for occupation, fields could be cultivated, and fresh water flowed everywhere.

The distance from the Empire made the offer even more attractive. Ludwig doubted Imperial officials would travel across Solania and the Dark Continent merely to wave legal documents at him and demand taxes.

Even with those advantages, Ludwig shook his head. ”You may be right.”

Kaiser waited for him to continue. Ludwig glanced toward the distant palace one more time.

”But I still need to go back to Bastos.”

”Why?”

”Because I already have things there.”

”Things?”

”People.”

”Ah.”

”And I literally just agreed to take a break.”

Ludwig pointed toward the White Citadel. ”Taking ownership of an entire city in the Dark Continent doesn’t sound like resting.”

”That depends entirely on how much work you personally perform.”

”That is exactly how Sloth started talking.”

Kaiser went quiet. Ludwig looked toward him until the lich slowly nodded.

”An excellent point.”

They resumed walking, but Kaiser spoke again after several steps. ”Then leave me here.”

Ludwig stopped and turned toward him. ”What?”

”You return to Bastos.” Kaiser pointed toward the city. ”I remain.”

”For what?”

”To take it.”

Ludwig stared, but Kaiser gave what Ludwig had learned to recognize as the skeletal equivalent of a smile. ”Before the Empire discovers an untouched city beyond Solania and decides that its banners have somehow always belonged here.”

Ludwig laughed. ”You really don’t trust them.”

”I have existed around governments before.”

”Fair enough.”

Ludwig looked toward the White Citadel. ”And how exactly do you plan on making this useful to me if I’m all the way in Bastos?”

Kaiser lifted one finger. ”Teleportation.”

Ludwig’s expression changed immediately. ”You can build a gate?”

”Of course I can.”

”A permanent one?”

”With sufficient time.”

”Leading where?”

Kaiser stared at Ludwig without answering. Ludwig stared back until he understood what the lich intended.

”To Bastos.”

”Precisely.”