Maiya stood stooped over a large wooden table, eyes fixated on the massive map sprawled across its surface. Across from her was an equally weary and haggard Imperatrix Ira Kin’jal, and surrounding them were no fewer than a dozen Kin’jal attendants, handmaidens, and strategists, all talking at once, all debating the best course of action.

  The only one in the room who didn’t seem exhausted was Ashani, but then, she wasn’t exactly a being of flesh and blood.

  It felt to Maiya as though she’d lived this same moment a thousand times before, and she very well might have over the past several years.

  It was getting worse, of course. Where these emergency meetings happened once every other moon, now they were nearly daily occurrences.

  Always a crisis, and usually multiple. All related to the Ash Tears that blighted the land.

  “Rani is requesting immediate assistance,” one of Ira’s advisors announced. “It seems a Class II Ash Tear has opened in the vicinity of Daksin, their southernmost naval trading port. Initial evacuations were successful, but the Tear seems stable enough to spew forth Ash Beasts in the Balar 200 - 400 range faster than the local Mercenaries’ Brotherhood can handle.”

  Maiya muttered irritably, “As if that means anything.”

  Human mercenaries, even at their highest ranks, were all but useless against even the weakest of Ash Beasts. It took dozens working together to bring down just one, and no operation was without casualties.

  “I shall head out at once,” Ashani said. “Shall I create a Gate?”

  Maiya hesitated, then shook her head. “No. Travel to Avi via your existing Gate, then take an Altani Skyship to Daksin. With the realms riddled with holes as they are, we can’t risk opening any more gates. Not until Vir finds a solution.”

  Whenever that might be, she thought grimly. She could only hope his latest meditation bore fruit. She didn’t know how long the realms could hold out without some form of defense against these relentless Fateweaver attacks.

  At least they’d positioned the Altani’s fast-attack Skyships at all the major cities in the realm for precisely this reason. Even to this day, their designs proved quicker than anything Saunak was able to fashion for the demons, though the gap had certainly closed.

  The journey of over a month on foot could now be made in just a few hours. How many Ash Beasts would spew forth in those hours, however, was anyone’s guess.

  “Understood,” Ashani said, preparing to leave, but before she could, a breathless runner burst through the door, heaving from exertion.

  “Urgent news from Hiranya!” he shouted, panting. “The town of Saran is under siege. Multiple Ash Tears have opened with heavy casualties.”

  Maiya cursed under her breath. Why did these Tears always have to open in remote places? Well, she knew why. These were no random occurrences. They were calculated assaults by their enemy, designed for maximum damage.

  “I’m afraid that is not all,” the runner added, his voice trembling. “Matali has also reported an Ash Tear.”

  “Where?” Maiya asked sharply.

  “In the countryside,” the runner said, swallowing hard. “But it’s large. It seems to lead deep into the Ash. Preliminary reports show Ash Biters and Balar 800 threats.”

  Maiya bit her lip. “Just when you think it can’t possibly get any worse…”

  This was the other tactic the Fateweavers loved to employ. Create a larger Gate farther out, where it would take more time to close to allow as many beasts as possible to pour through.

  Maiya had to admit it was a devastating tactic, and often caused more death than Gates in towns.

  Ira frowned, scanning the map. “I suggest we prioritize the other two locations first. It should be some time before the beasts from Matali begin attacking the locals. Enough time to deploy the Asura, perhaps?”

  Maiya nodded. “They’re stretched thin, but I don’t see that we have much choice. I’ll have the Royal Guard deploy there. If anyone can hold those beasts off, it’s them.”

  The Asura Royal Guard were the most elite troops they had, save for juggernauts like Cirayus or Vir himself, and while they might have been created as a bodyguard detail, they were rarely called on in that capacity.

  These days, they were the tip of the spear. The first line of defense against the gravest threats to the realm.

  “That will be a huge relief,” Ira said. “We’ve no direct Gate from Rani to Hiranya, so the goddess will need to return here before heading onward. As for Matali, I’ll prepare a fast attack airship for your Asura.”

  “Good. Then, Ashani? Please return to Avi after closing the Daksin Gate,” Maiya said. “We’ll plan on having you use the Sonam nexus to travel to Daha.”

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  “I shall take another skyship to Saran,” Ashani replied with a nod.

  “I know I’ve said it a million times, but thank you,” Maiya said. “And please stay in touch. If the situation deteriorates, we may be forced to create a new Gate.”

  Which was, undoubtedly, the Fateweavers’ goal with this whole initiative. They seemed to go to absurd lengths to inflict even the most minor of wounds. This was an enemy who did not think on month-or-yearlong timescales. They thought in terms of decades. Centuries.

  “It is my pleasure to reduce the peoples’ suffering, however little though it may be,” Ashani said with a conflicted expression. “I shall return shortly.”

  She departed through one of the Nexus Gates—one of the few they risked keeping active.

  The situation was dire. Every Gate was a liability, and not even every capital city in the realm had one anymore. To say nothing of the smaller towns. When an Ash Tear appeared in a city, casualties were always high due to prana poisoning, but at least it allowed them to close the rift quickly before too many beasts could emerge.

  The worst cases were in the outlying settlements, where Ash Beasts spewed out in quantity, and where help was inevitably too late to arrive.

  Even still, Maiya was thankful they had managed to retain even the handful they did have. The Fateweavers seemed determined to leverage the wounds they inflicted on reality, using the weakened fabric as inroads to create new Tears. Which, of course, only further weakened that spot, allowing larger and more stable Tears to be later created.

  Maiya was in the middle of discussing contingency plans when something shifted across the floor. A figure emerged silently from within her own shadow.

  “Rajni,” Ekat’Ma rasped. “I’m afraid there’s news.”

  The Iksana were never one for theatrics, and Ekat’Ma doubly so. She was always stoic and unreadable, so the fact that she had begun with I’m afraid could only mean something truly terrible had happened.

  “Come,” Maiya said quickly, gesturing for her to follow into a side chamber. “We’d best speak in private.”

  Once the door closed behind them, Maiya turned sharply. “What is it?”

  “It seems the Akh Nara made a breakthrough.”

  Maiya’s brow shot up. “Truly? Isn’t that good news?” It should’ve have been the best news, in fact, which was why the Iksana sky’s concern worried her to no end.

  “It would be,” Ekat’ma said carefully. “If the Maharaja thought to inform anyone. It seems he has begun making preparations for a journey. To where, and for what reason, I cannot tell.”

  Maiya’s face hardened. “He intends to go alone.”

  “Indeed, it seems that way,” the Iksana replied. “I cannot fathom the effect this will have upon the realms.”

  “Have you told anyone else?” Maiya asked.

  Ekat’Ma shook her head. “No. I did not know who else to entrust with this information.”

  “Good,” Maiya said firmly. “Vir’s as reclusive as it gets already. If people find out that one of the only two capable of closing Ash Tears has vanished, the panic would tear apart whatever is left of the hope they have. Where is he now?”

  Maiya couldn’t believe Vir would do something so rash… Not without extremely good reason. Which was precisely what terrified her.

  “In Mahādi, in your quarters for the time being. But I suggest you hurry.”

  Maiya nodded. “Get in touch with Ashani. Tell her that once she’s done closing those Gates, she’s to meet us there.”

  Ekat’Ma hesitated. “Are you sure this is wise?”

  Maiya’s expression darkened. “I don’t know about wise, but it’s necessary. If Vir’s going where I think he’s going, we’ll need Ashani. Yes, the realms will be undefended, but we’ve made contingencies for this. And… we always knew this day would come. If Vir’s truly made a breakthrough, then it’ll be worth the sacrifice. The realms will have to survive without us for a little while.”

  Ekat’Ma was silent for a long moment. “As you wish, Rajni,” she said before sinking back into the shadows.

  Maiya immediately informed Ira of her plan before hurrying through the Ash Gate connecting Sonam to Samar Patag. The only Gate currently bridging the two realms.

  From there, she walked through the network of Gates that led progressively deeper into the Ash, all the way to Mahādi.

  Riding the lift to their suite, Maiya found Vir rummaging through drawers and cabinets.

  “Mai?” Vir said, looking like a child caught stealing from the cookie jar.

  “You didn’t think I’d just let you run off, did you?” she asked, crossing her arms.

  “It’s too dangerous,” Vir said, shaking his head. “I can’t have you come along, and time is of the utmost essence. I've just sent word to Cirayus. He will have to manage while I am gone.”

  “In that case…” Maiya strode to her own dresser and began rifling through her clothes.

  “What are you doing?” Vir demanded.

  “I’m coming with you, obviously.”

  “No, you’re not,” he said sharply, making her stop and turn.

  “Yes, I am,” Maiya said in a tone that brooked no rebuke. “And you don’t have a say in the matter. If you’re going to meet Janak, I need to be there too. As your Rajni and as someone responsible for an entire realm, this concerns me as much as it does you. And don’t give me that load of Ash about being too weak. I can survive Mahādi just as well as you. Prana poisoning isn’t an issue for me, and I can cast S-rank magic faster than anyone alive. If there’s any human worthy of standing by your side, it’s me.”

  “It’s not that,” Vir began.

  “I know,” Maiya said quietly, approaching him. “You want to protect me. To keep me safe. But why can’t you understand that I want the same for you?”

  Her voice trembled. “Do you have any idea how much it eats me alive, knowing the agony you endure? Knowing the burden that plagues you? Knowing about those nightmares?”

  Vir lowered his gaze, unable to meet her eyes. Maiya’s heart ached. No matter how much time had passed, no matter how much he had changed, that core of innocence, that quiet purity of his soul, had never faded. It was buried deep now, but it was still there.

  And she loved him all the more for it.

  Which was precisely why she couldn’t let him do this alone.

  “If something happens to you, Vir, and I’m not there… I’ll never forgive myself. I’ll regret it for the rest of my life. You know that, right? You would do the same were you in my shoes.”

  “Alright,” Vir said softly, shoulders sagging. “I suppose I should’ve known better than to try convincing you.”

  Maiya nodded, relief washing through her. “I’ve recalled Ashani. When she’s ready, we depart.”

  “I was about to summon her myself,” Vir added. “It seems the journey to Janak will be neither short nor safe, but I’ve uncovered the location of the first step. Whether we—or rather I—am ready to make this journey is anyone’s guess. Janak certainly doesn’t think so. But it has to happen. If not now, then perhaps never.”

  Maiya froze. The moment they’d waited years for was finally here, and she couldn't quite believe it.

  “Where is it?” she breathed.

  Vir’s lips curved up slightly. “Would you believe me if I told you Vimana Ashani?”

  Maiya’s eyes widened. “The Vimana above Alt Ashani!?” she exclaimed. “You’re serious.”

  “As ever. It seems the final key to this puzzle was right there all along, hiding in plain sight.”

  Maiya didn’t know whether to be excited or terrified, but her excitement won out. At long last, her dream of traveling to those mysterious Vimana would finally be fulfilled.

  At long last, they would save their realms.