[center][url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5531101][img]https://i.imgur.com/X0wDZ0z.png[/img][/url][/center]
[center][h3]--Hathforth - Castle Gardens--[/h3][/center]

Upon Valor's mention of a certain monarch, a flash of recognition came to Melisande, the real one.

[color=b9b5fa][i]King DuFairre... so, this is not a test of loyalty by the Wizard-Queen after all.[/i][/color]

[color=f68192][i]Why does it not surprise me that the masked mortal's allegiance lies with the spectre-king? Heh, a new society, 'Enlightened', as expected coming from the monarch who sought to imitate the Shadelings' timeless and ethereal existence. His hubris may just be a match for the human-elf queen.[/i][/color]

[color=b9b5fa][i]You speak truth, Kronos. The Duke, the Wizard Queen, and now, the Spectre King. We shall see who shall be left after the dust settles...[/i][/color]

[color=f68192][b]"..."[/b][/color] As Valor left, Kronos decided it'd be best to keep its silence. For now, they'd simply follow the decision of the Court Mage.

[center][h3]--Hathforth - Workshop--[/h3][/center]

For the next seven days, Melisande focused on the Seed Grafting project with a devotion that'd rival a dwarven craftsman. Together with her half-elven mentor, she analyzed each nodule of the seeds and meticulously weaved them to join together in harmony, so they might become one, a single Seed, more powerful than the sum of its parts. Finally, she'd employ her mastery of time and space to carefully hasten or hinder certain reactions as appropriate, enabling the project to be completed by the deadline instead of the months it'd have required.

In order to accomplish this delicate task, Melisande didn't have the time to humor hearsays and rumors, fortunately, Kronos could handle such matters via the Simulacrum. The Dremora vowed to keep them safe until it could return home, this was one of its ways to keep that promise.

Apparently, one Duke Willowsteel made a fool out of himself at the gala, one severe enough to land himself in the chopping block, while a whole noble house, the Corrins, found themselves murdered at the hands of an unknown party. Even when there was no open conflict, truly, the life of royalty and nobility wasn't for the faint of hearts.

Finally, on the night of the seventh day, a multi-colored gem shone brilliantly in the Arcane Wing's workshop, the magical stone brimming with mystical power as its magic circuits flowed with perfect harmony. The power to traverse even the most treacherous water with the agility rivaling Princess Azalea's kin was made manifest, for good or ill...

[center][h3]--Hathforth - Harbor--[/h3][/center]

At the promised day, Her Majesty Evelyn's commission wouldn't arrive via the pier, instead, a ripple in space spawned a few feet away to her side, followed by the formation of an archway-shaped portal. If Evelyn turned her gaze there, she'd see her court mage and his apprentice, and behind them, their workshop.

The Lilim's power over space-time ensured no unauthorized parties could even have the chance to pilfer the Amalgamated Seed mid-transit.

As Melisande was assigned the task of handling the portal, Eirwen would be the one who'd present the Wizard-Queen her prize, her means to - as the Ghost-King would claim - 'summon a monster from the deep'.

[@Estylwen] [@LunarParadox]