This Ascent to Divinity is Lewder Than Expected

6.32 – The Heiress II

Father analyzed her runes and skills with a critical eye. Her Rune of the Spearmaster was entirely expected. Their entire family used, and had always used, spears as their primary weapon of choice.

Rosalie didn't know what runes Father had, but she wouldn't be surprised if Spearmaster was among them. Though that didn't mean they shared the same abilities.

Her Rune of Trailblazing was the more interesting one, though. Not only was it her superior-rated rune, but Rosalie also hadn't heard of such a rune before.

They held brief discussions on her abilities, their uses, and their implications. Culminating in perhaps the most relevant to her future—at least insofar as immediate planning went.

"A skill that encourages you to fight at the side of a shieldbearer," Father hummed. "I dislike conditionals as stringent as that. But increased damage and you share a portion of their resistances? It's strong, certainly. And I understand you've been the one acting as your team's guardian."

"That's correct."

"Then you'll need to pick up a real front line. That's not your proper role." Father shook his head in amusement. "Not only have you limited me to selecting only a single of your allies, but they must be a shield-bearing Guardian." He sighed. "You do realize how much trouble this decision of yours causes me? I have half a mind to veto it, despite knowing you must have your reasoning."

Rosalie stopped herself from wincing. So. Father still intended to pick the last of her teammates. Was that even all that unreasonable?

She'd have been fine with that if not for the fact that Zoey's brand of wayfaring came with unorthodox requirements. Their team needed someone willing to bond with her else they were leaving massive amounts of power on the table. Their fifth teammate hardly had to become Zoey's girlfriend, but some level of compatibility was required.

That, she would figure out later. She had other things to worry about. Immediately spurning Father by telling him she wouldn't accept even one of his choices would be detrimental to the conversation as a whole.

And who knew? Maybe who he selected would work out naturally. She doubted that, but again, a problem for later.

"Yes," Rosalie said. "I do recognize the political headache it causes. But it can't be helped. As you said, I have good reasons." She gave Father a firm look. "And it's not your decision to veto, even if you disagree with those reasons."

Her attempt at standing firm only seemed to amuse Father. He outright laughed at her. "Your ascension is a long time from coming, Rosalie, and until then, you're just my heir. And I, your Guildmaster and father. I can veto whatever I please."

Not a great start.

"You're young," Father continued. "Yes, I need to have trust in who I one day expect to wear my mantle, but youths need to be guided. Sometimes against their will." He leaned on his spear and appraised her. "That said, I recognize the success you've found in the past weeks. My ears are open." He tilted his head in interest. "Let's begin there. Your success. Explain how you've progressed through three advancements in as many weeks. Frankly, it's a stupid pace. If you weren't my own flesh and blood, and I hadn't tested you myself, I simply would not have believed you."

Rosalie took a breath. It was time, then, to begin the complicated explanations.

Rather than opening with what she intended, something else came out.

"What do you think of Zoey?"

Father considered.

"Sentimental. Timid. Naive. More a civilian than a wayfarer, much less one of your caliber. Even without sparring her, I could tell she wasn't combat-trained. She's wholly unsuited to standing by your side."

Rosalie fought away flinching with every word. Not that she necessarily disagreed…though maybe not as harshly as Father presented it.

"And that," Father said. "Is why she must be the key to all of this insanity. Because she's the odd one out. The puzzle piece staring me in the face. I'm interested in having you slot it for me. Because I can't imagine how you see her as an adequate party member, barring some incredible hidden factor." He shrugged. "She seems loyal to you, at least. Loyal to all her allies. Good-hearted. Which I approve of in some…" he laughed. "Objective sense, I suppose. But not as a wayfarer, and it ultimately changes nothing about what I said."

"She is the key," Rosalie agreed. She hesitated before continuing. "Why did you send Lucinda for me?"

"You're jumping around, Rosalie. Stay focused."

"With intent. Please answer."

"Because it's dangerous for a d'Celestin to gallivant around the Fractures, unguarded? I'm surprised that needs clarification. You dallied too long; I expected you to be back as quickly as you could." Father snorted. "Or, at least, to not take as long, if not longer, than your sisters."

"But there's a specific reason you sent your right hand scrambling across the Fractures to find me. A greater urgency than everyday danger."

He didn't answer for a second.

"Yes, there is," he eventually said.

Rosalie waited, but Father simply stared back at her.

She sighed. Of course he wouldn't share.

"Is it the shard eaters?" she asked bluntly.

Father twitched. Incredulity spread across his face, something Rosalie had only seen a handful of times in her entire life, before it was quickly wiped away.

He studied her. "Well. You're just filled with surprises today, aren't you?"

"So that is the reason."

"How could you possibly have learned of them? I didn't tell Lucinda. As far as I'm aware, a handful of individuals across the entire world know of that threat. At least with enough specificity to call them shard eaters."

Rosalie nodded. While entities like the Church of the Shattered Sphere had some idea of the problem, they hadn't a clue about the source. Her and Zoey's encounter with Mel and entanglement with Ephy had revealed the reality of the situation—or at least the first hints of it.

Rosalie didn't answer his question and instead asked another of her own.

"Are the gods real, Father?"

Again, Father's eyebrows shot up. He laughed. "This is an even more interesting conversation than I was expecting," he said wryly. He took a few seconds to formulate his reply. "What do you mean by real?"

"Are they tangible? Can they be interacted with? Or are they simply targets of veneration without impact upon the world? Do they have conscious minds and goals of their own?"

"What prompted this bit of theological discourse?"

My girlfriend met and is sponsored by one, Rosalie didn't say.

"It's relevant," Rosalie said.

"It's a parent's role, and a Guildmaster's, to be cryptic, Rosalie," Father chided. "You're making me look bad."

She pursed her lips. "I believe most are not real," she said. "But I have reasons to believe that one in particular is."

Father considered this.

"Our society is religious," he finally said. "What I believe is the truth doesn't matter so much as keeping the peace with the general populace. As leaders, we're expected to uphold the least controversial beliefs—at least in matters that are ultimately irrelevant. Let people believe what they wish and don't challenge it frivolously, especially issues as … contentious … as religion." He hummed. "That said, from father to daughter, I believe—believed—the gods were not real. That they were simply icons, as you said. I've never found something to sway me otherwise, and my explorations have been thorough across the world."

He tilted his head.

"So, which god is it?" he asked. Then he grinned. "Could I fight him?"

It was flattering he accepted Rosalie's absurd claim at face value. And, of course, amusing that his first action upon learning about a god's definite existence was to voice his desire to engage them in combat.

Rosalie braced herself.

This was where the conversation was really going to go off the rails.

A part of her wondered whether she should even keep Ephy a secret from Father. But Rosalie trusted him—even if his controlling nature could be a problem from a personal perspective. However, she couldn't withhold such important information from her father and equally as importantly, her Guildmaster. If there was anyone in the world poised to tackle a problem like the shard eaters, it was him. Rosalie had an obligation to her people and to her family to keep Father informed. Regardless of the personal complications that would arise.

At least of that most crucial aspect. The shard eaters, Ephy, and Zoey's entanglement with both.

The specifics, along with other certain aspects of her situation … Rosalie was honestly still debating within her own head.

But the broad strokes, she had no choice but to divulge.

"Ephythithys," she finally said. "Zoey was chosen as her conduit and champion, of sorts, and tasked with eliminating the shard-eaters. That's how I know about that threat."