THE MORNING AFTER AGAIN

  Everyone pushes back from a large breakfast feast, “Oh my belly, I haven’t eaten so much in my entire life as I have this past week.” Tanner says, leaning back, patting his stomach.

  “There is plenty more if you want,” Harold says to him, also leaning back in his chair.

  “No, I’ll burst if I eat any more. Thanks though.” Tanner smiles.

  “If everyone has finished eating, we need to discuss Claire and Tanner’s Attunement.” Bree states.

  “Yes. Rhys, activate the privacy wards, please.” Harold asks.

  “Sir,” Rhys acknowledges. Hearing a small popping sound, Rhys reports. “Harry, we are now warded and ready.”

  Harold smiles at his old friend and speaks to the room. “First, Claire, Tanner. None of this is your fault. Your Attunement is nothing you control. So do not blame yourself, I thank the Goddess it has happened to you two, and not some impoverished Noble or even worse, a Commoner. You both have protections that they don’t. Chances are we could not intervene before the damage started”

  “Damage Sir?” Tanner asks.

  “It is regrettable, but some individuals disregard Commandments and Imperial Law. If they think it will give them a leg up on advancement. Certain individuals persist, even in the face of death. Consider the dean’s words regarding your future. I am not sure you realize just how powerful you can become. If someone kidnapped you and threw you into a cage to learn your secrets. Add possible abuse, feelings of resentment for unfair treatment, anger. What impact would it have on you if you attain the power I believe you will and escape? What do you think could happen?” Rhys asks him.

  “Oh, I didn’t think of that. That could be terrible. It would be Volks Harbor all over again.” Tanner reflects.

  Harold speaks up. “That’s the reason for the Imperial laws about Affinities and Delvers. The Church maintains similar strictness towards individuals such as ourselves. The job of delving is demanding and takes a significant toll on us. Not only in our physical state, but more importantly, our mental condition. Before the Church stepped in, abuse ran rampant. Those more powerful experimented on, enslaved, or abused those without the power to protect themselves. Commoners were sacrificed in the dungeons by the thousands to upgrade them. The situation escalated to the point the Universe Split. It divided into fourths, and the Worlds of Ascension came into existence. We now have higher realms to ascend to.”

  “This keeps a separation for the higher Tiered individuals, but the cost was high. The destruction destroyed cities and entire countries. Wars were fought, kingdoms formed overnight, taken over the next day. Chaos and anarchy were the norm, the strong ruled over the weak. Despite sending the higher Tiered to other worlds, our problems persisted. Only now the individuals with less power imitated the behavior of those that just left our world. This allowed us to fight back and regain a sense of justice. You may be a Tier 4 at level 399, but if 10,000 Tier 1’s attack you. You’re in for a rough day.” Harold smiles at Tanner. “With the Split and Chaos years after. The Goddess and her Pantheon became enraged, and commanded the Church to step up and put it all to a stop. That was the primary reason the Contigo Family conquered the other Thirteen Kingdoms with Church backing. The world needed stability to recover. It’s the primary reason the Church and Imperial Law stress mental health. A return to the chaos years would ruin everything we have rebuilt. Unfortunately, some are very shortsighted. They see only their own ambitions or feel they can justify actions taken for the what they see as the greater good. Funny how their ‘greater good,’ often turns out to be self interest. Even if the Goddess has spoken out against it.” Harold sighs. “Does anyone have anything to add? The floor is open. Thoughts or suggestions, or even questions from our new Ascended, anyone?” Harold asks.

  Penelope looks at Rhys. “Well, Darton Academy will hire two new instructors. Think your robes still fit?”

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  Rhys smiles and nods. “We will ensure Tanner and Claire have a class with one of us. Anything suspicious happens. You let us know as soon as possible, regardless of the circumstances.” Both new adults nod their heads in agreement.

  “We will get the Church involved too. Just in case this goes deeper than we realize. The Deacon corps is present in all the academies. This will give us more eyes on Claire and Tanner.” Bree says.

  Harold’s eyes light up with inspiration. “We should have a church council as one of their formal mentors, along with the rest of us. You both could be junior members of the Imps.”

  Bree smiles. “That is a wonderful idea. Except for the junior member part, they need to go out on their own and succeed.”

  “What about Eunice? Can she help train us?” Tanner asks.

  “Eunice may be problematic, I’d rather not say why.” Bree says.

  “She is still here in the City. Want me to fetch her?” Penny grins with mischief.

  “Penny, One does not ‘fetch’ the Voice of the Goddess,” Harold rebukes her.

  “Oh, please, ‘Eunny’ and I grew up together, we had our Attunement Ceremony together, we went to the Academy together, we even joined the Imps together. When she’s informed, she’ll rush over.”

  A loud knock on the chamber door interrupts the conversation. Connor, the Majordomo, steps into the room. “Sorry to interrupt. The Voice of the Goddess is here. She wishes an audience.”

  Eunice walks into the room. She bows her head with a graceful movement. “Morning, your Imperial Majesties. I thought I would pop by since I was in the neighborhood. I hope you do not mind.” The startled gathering at the breakfast table, realizing that Eunice is here in her official capacities as the Goddess’s Voice, all stand and bow, except Tanner. Claire, realizing Tanner is staring in Starstruck astonishment at once again meeting the Voice, gives him a nudge and whispers. “Stop staring, stand up and bow.” Tanner, coming out of his stupor, stands, and bows to the Voice.

  Harold clears his throat and replies. “Morning, Eunice. This is an unexpected pleasure. Can I offer you hospitality?” Harold shows the table and continues, “I thought you would be occupied with church matters,”

  “No, thank you. I’ve been up for hours. I hope everyone is well? Bree, it is so good to see you again.” Grinning at Penelope. “Rhys, I trust you are keeping my cousin out of trouble?”

  “Full-time job, I’m afraid.” He says with a loving look at his wife.

  Harold waves everyone to chairs and asks everyone to be seated. Penny walks over to her cousin to give her a hug. “‘Eunny’, good to see you.” She says to her.

  “I wish you would stop calling me that. It makes me sound like a baby unicorn,” she sighs.

  “Oh, that reminds me. Carrot?” Penny says, holding out a carrot.

  Eunice narrows her eyes at Penny. “Stick?” she threatens, holding a staff. The cousins laugh, then hug for longer. They utter, “I miss you,” they say again, both laughing. The two turns to take seats at the table, Penny notices Tanner still standing, looking at Eunice. “Hey, Tanner, at least try to keep up with the rest of us,” she teases him.

  Mortified, Tanner plops back down. Harold reaches over and places a hand on Tanner’s shoulder. “Do not worry. You will get used to her.”

  Bree sighs, giving a pensive smile. “If I had her blessings, I could rule the entire world.”

  Harold looks at his wife and tells her with a flirty wink. “You do just fine. My Love.” Bree’s cheeks flush.

  Eunice smiles and says. “The Goddess blessed me and I am grateful, but sometimes it can be a trial.”

  “Ha.” Penny exclaims. “You can’t blame it all on the Goddess. Growing up in your shadow was terrible. I couldn’t get a boy to pay attention to me when you were around. I would be in mid conversation with a boy. Then you walk up and bam. They would look at you and I’m talking to the wall.”

  “Believe me, that was a pain in the butt then, too.” Eunice says.

  “Penelope, while I agree Eunice is a vision of dark-haired loveliness. I much prefer the beautiful blonde goddess of light and love. I married.” Rhys speaks up, taking hold of Penny’s hand and looking into her eyes.

  Penny flushes. “Wow, am so going to reward you for that remark later.” She tells him with a wicked smile. Now it’s Rhys’s turn to blush.

  “It seems we’ve moved away from the reason I came here.” Eunice says, taking back charge of the conversation. “I need to speak with you all about Tanner and Claire. I also need to speak with them in private.” Eunice continues. “The dean’s behavior is troubling, but it could also just be excitement from Tanner and Claire’s Status Sheets. I had the archivists here investigating their copies of the older records. They gave me everything they have found. The Head of the local repository put together a report of what she and her people have found and what she has surmised from her research. She worked all afternoon and through the night, until just about an hour ago, poor dear, is exhausted.”

  “I will send her and her team a note of thanks, both personal, and official.” Harold interjects.

  “I am sure she will be thrilled. She loves her job, but Imperial thanks will make her day.” Eunice smiles, looking over at Tanner and Claire. “Can we meet in private before discussing this with everyone? You two are the ones that have to deal with your Affinities. Now the rest of us can give advice or our opinions. The decision is yours.” She says while observing the two Blessed.