.^^ Amaris BlackHelm ^^

— Teagan —

The interior of the Gilded Lily was bathed in Platinum, not gold, and I smirked at the people who were awestruck by the wealth displayed here. Mother's original plan was too plain for me, too bland. This Palace, the Gilded Lily, was to be the Crown Jewel of the Skøll Clan, and I had spared no expense.

Except the blasphemous amounts of gold and platinum, of course, that was made with alchemy, obviously. I am not that stupid. Also all of it was enchanted to turn to cheap granite if it left the Diamond, and the entire place was crawling with dragons and hundreds of Storm Hounds, who I had summoned en masse, to guard the Bank and Palace.

God have mercy on the poor soul who tried to steal anything from this place, or start any trouble, truly.

I led the council through, casually explaining the main hall, where the guests would find the different wings of the palace. The left half was the bank, with the different levels modeling itself off of my mother's Golden Circle, while the right was my recreation of the perfect throne room, surrounded by meeting rooms for the noble guests of the Bank, who always thought they were important, as well as the more private transactions and trade deals. Essentially, the left side was logistics and records, while the right was the pomp and circumstance that nobles ate like hot cakes.

Regardless, the entire interior was plated in thick panels of beautiful white platinum, making it feel like a mixture of divine palace and college lecture hall or maybe a hospital, almost. Very clinically clean, with the design differing from the soft, beautiful curves of the exterior, becoming sharp lines and geometric precision.

To improve the air quality, (and make me happy, because I liked flowers and birds,) the ceiling was laced with thousands upon thousands of vines, with beautiful flowers blooming naturally, with no gilding on them, like the ones outside. While both were alive and growing well, due to magic, these were naturally beautiful, unchanged and in their natural forms. Birds' nests were interposed amongst them, and knowing their nature, I had included a spell that disintegrated all of their droppings, before they came too close to the floor or anyone's person. The ashes would float up and feed the vines, preserving the natural cycle of matter.

Bees, as well, were necessary, and I had two types: natural bees, which were also enchanted to stay away from people and the ground, instead claiming their territory of the vaulted ceilings and rafters; and then the Golden Bees, for the golden plants outside. Those were magic, having technically the same enchantment as the flowers, but with an added flight enchantment, because bees made of gold couldn't fly, obviously. Weighing a quarter of an ounce with tiny wings? Alright. Weight half a pound? No.

And, like my genius daughter, the Golden Bees and other creatures in the area, (dragons, hounds, birds, bees,) transmitted everything they saw via a mental link, connecting to a Helm hidden in the Hoard of Lady Trekilas, where she had consented to spending all her time watching, because she confessed that she was bored in her Warren, which couldn't really expand anymore, and now it was full of water. Some of the Adult dragons she brought with her also consented to being Guardians, in a way. Security guards watching monitors, essentially, the perfect job for older, lazy dragons, who didn't really move that much.

I had offered them all a new Warren, or the opportunity to dig one, and they'd jumped at the idea. My original idea had been to give them the area under the palace, which was full of sturdy basalt, their naturally favorite thing to dig, and it was nearly 2000ft tall, 1000ft wide, and 500ft deep. It was supposed to be a thin rectangle, in the shape of the space behind the door, carved out of the diamond itself.

Of course, what was essentially 1^9 cubic feet, (1,000,000,000ft^3) while sounding like a lot, would have been a pittance to a creature that had carved out half of an entire continent in only 50 years, so I had went with the second plan for the Warren, deciding on using the area in the rectangle to recreate a landscape that made me nostalgic, a series of snowy mountains that surrounded the valley holding the palace. They were much smaller than they appeared, via an optical illusion, but they were beautiful.

The diamond itself had a hollow core, full of actual diamond, not the alchemical version, which acted as a focus and a binder for a portal. Thus, the tunnels under each of the Hoards that the dragons had build led into the Elemental Plane of Earth, giving the dragons access to an infinite amount of space to burrow in, therefore solving the entire issue and keeping my promise in the best possible way.

I concluded the tour for the elders, having found ourselves back at the front gate, and led them out to the elevator again. "So! I trust that you are impressed and appreciative of the Great Jewel that the Skøll Clan is gifting your fair country with the sight of?" I asked, gesturing at the massive diamond behind me grandiosely.

The members of the council chuckled a bit, still in shock, and the soldiers had ceased to be anything but amazed, not even glaring at Caroline anymore.

Caroline herself was still awestruck, but I could see her mind working, totaling up a bill, likely. 'Don't worry, it's a pittance, my love, we won't miss just this much wealth. It's just to bite back at these brats who think they're better than us because they have fake gemstones in their petty little roads. They have vexed me for the very last time, with their continued rudeness towards you. This will put them squarely in their places, and every visit will remind them of the absolute difference between us, and the inevitability of their surrender to us in all forms of Commerce and Treatise alike.' I chuckled happily.

The members of the council, who I had suspected of reading my surface thoughts the entire time, flinched.

'It will also teach them not to read the minds of people who haven't given them permission to do so. Continued rudeness will be met with severe repercussions!' I added sharply.

They flinched again, and the apparent spokesperson cleared his throat, answering my verbal question. "Yes, it is quite Impressive. We are honored to have your Tower placed here, your bank Based here, the Embassy and Palace both, and of course, your continued Economic Solidarity." He worked around the casual threat calmly, grandly thanking me for what they'd been resisting this entire time.

I nodded. "Of course. You're free to tour the premises with an escort from our security forces, if you'd like, but unfortunately, my involvement in this build has come to a premature end. I will be back, of course, in a few days, but for now I must deal with a situation that has arisen in New Chalet." I sighed.

Caroline frowned, glancing at me sharply. "What situation? Is this about that letter you got last night?"

"It is. Either way, good day, Council, this meeting is officially adjourned." I nodded, and guided them into the elevator.

As we went down, one of the two women of the council sighed. "Well, if we are no longer here in an official capacity, I will be the first to say that I don't appreciate my son being tossed around like a sack of rice." She frowned at me.

"I don't appreciate your racist piece of shit spawn incessantly insulting my wife!" I snapped back, the memory of the incident making my blood boil.

She flinched, and then a stony facade cane over her features. "Well, that is surely inappropriate, to insult someone in such a manner-" she began to speak in a lofty manner, and I interrupted heatedly.

"He treated my wife like Trash! Should he appear before me again, I would challenge him to a duel and rip out his heart! I was merciful, and abstained from bathing my spear in his viscera! Do not speak of him to me again, or my mercy will fail me!" I sneered venomously, and turned away from her, ending the situation.

The man who usually spoke place a hand on her shoulder before she could respond. "It is true that the insults he gave would constitute a duel to the death amongst any other person, but Duke Teagan was merciful. We are thankful for his continued patience with our slow-to-change peoples." He said sternly, squeezing her shoulder tightly when she opened her mouth to talk back.

She closed her mouth, frowning. "Yes, we are thankful." She muttered forcefully.

One of the others sighed, looking at the crowd of people around the bottom of the elevator. The security force, Clock Wardens with tower shields and bayoneted muskets, held a solid circle around the elevator, but around them was a group of High Elves, with the same man from yesterday at the forefront, wielding a sword that glittered in my truesight with power.

"Damn, the idiotic boy has gotten hold of the family ElfBlade." The woman who was his mother growled softly.

I stepped forward, drawing my spear. My deep, icy voice echoed in the suddenly quiet space, as everyone who had a clear look at my face halted and silenced themselves. "I warned you, Amaris Blackhelm, that should you appear before me again, I would remove your heart from your chest, and your head from your body. Are you prepared to die today?"I asked calmly.

He sneered, leaping nimbly over the barricade of Clock Wardens, until one of them reached up and grabbed his ankle, slamming him into the ground harshly, then stepping on his neck as the others filled the gap. The Clock Wardens weren't your typical guards, they weren't chumps that you could just roll over. Pathetic.

"No, let him stand... he deserves to look me in the eyes when I kill him." I snarled quietly. The elf released him immediately, and rejoined the shield wall.

The man leapt to his feet, hissing in rage, and when he turned to confront the guard, my spear tapped the back of his neck. "You should remember who your opponent is, Boy." I said easily, and then darted back, so when he turned around, I was standing casually twenty feet away, leaning on my spear.

He drew the glittering sword, and struck a stance I recognized from seeing Glade fight. "Ahh, BladeSong? Quaint. A piece of advice... A Weapon does not make a Warrior. But what do I know? Come, prove yourself my equal-... well, less useless than before. I am dimensions above you, of course. But you may certainly try." I smirked.

Caroline sighed, leaning against the edge of the elevator support column. "I can defend my own honor, Lover."

"Never doubted it for a second, My Heart." I smiled at her, and then stepped into the man who had used my looking away to get closer and try to hack my head off.

His movement halted, as my flight ability negated his forward momentum, and then added my own oomph to it, sending him crashing backwards.

He rolled to his feet, and snarled at me. "You're using magic! Figures, a Foreign Elf has no sense of Honor!"

I raised an eyebrow. "Says the Racist Elf dishonoring himself by insulting my wife. Also, I'm not casting magic. I'm using my magical weapon, same as you. Would you like to tell all your little friends about your little toy that you stole from Mummy?" I chuckled.

He flinched as the members of the little mob began talking quietly, disappointed murmurs rippling throughout the crowd. "Whatever! You think you can beat me? I apprenticed with the greatest BladeSinger in EverMeet's history!"

"Oh... how disappointed they must be!" I smirked, and a few of the Clock Wardens snickered.

He growled and sprang forward, swift and agile. Regardless of his stupidity and closed mind, he was rather skilled at fencing, though I wasn't allowing him to see how hard I was working, as I stood casually, one hand behind my back and one gripping my staff, using the flight feature in bursts to move myself without shifting my feet. His attacks slowly became more controlled, showing more and more skill as he calmed down, the opposite from what I'd expected.

"Oh? So you can control your emotions! Good to know. But you're still too slow." I shrugged, and sat down on the top of the elevator as he huffed for breath, his lungs struggling to pump air into his blood.

He gritted his teeth, and gathered his legs under him, leaping for the air above me, anticipating my movement, no doubt.

I dropped calmly, and he landed where I'd been sitting. "That was almost clever, but you should remember that interpersonal Combat is always Three-Dimensional, not horizontal. It's a good start, though. Soon you might actually be useful... perhaps guarding a scone-stand?" I remarked dryly.

One of the guards lost her cool, laughing and covering her mouth, producing several loud snorts as she tried to halt her amusement. The mob, fickle as always, had already lost interest in his cause, and was instead taking pleasure in the combat, laughing at my quips and his failures.

He bared his teeth, and dove down at me. As I feinted away, he abandoned the attack, and began preparing his landing, a fatal mistake, as he took his eyes off of me. I stepped into the circle of his arms, as he landed, and head-butted his surprised face, knocking his sword out of his grip with a casual elbow to his wrist.

"Keep your eyes on your opponent. If you don't know where the ground is, you've already lost." I lectured calmly, and stepped out of the way, so he could dive for the sword, which had stuck into the ground a few yards away.

My anger had lowered to a simmer, and seeing his talent, plus realizing that killing the son of one of the council members might be bad politics, that made me reluctantly agree that it would be in my best interest not to harm him overly much. Some other method must be chosen, something that denigrates him, but also appeases his mother and also Caroline's honor, which he insulted...

He dove for the sword, and when he turned around, I hadn't moved. "Why did you allow me to retrieve my sword?" He asked, curious and still pissed off.

"Honestly? I pushed your sword away from you to teach you to always hold on to it. I'm having fun teaching you Combat. I'm a Professor, it's in my nature to lecture and school others." I smiled.

He blinked. "You-... so you're toying with me? And what if I had stayed close to you, instead?"

"You would have no chance of winning. You're skilled, but not that skilled. Don't get a swollen ego now, you were doing well for a moment there." I laughed dryly at his hopeful tone.

He sighed, and leveled the sword again, leaping at me with a burst of speed. He was calmer now, taking this for the lesson it was, which was good. I let him get close, and then stabbed my spear into the ground, drawing his gaze, while my foot snapped up and crashed into his temple. He lurched back, and I ducked under his retaliatory swing, knocking the blade out of his hand again.

"You need to stop dropping your sword." I commented casually, and slipped to the side as he lashed a punch out. As he overextended his shoulder into my space, I captured the wrist in one hand, then punched upwards into his armpit, dislocating the joint cleanly. "And protect your joints, they're the most vulnerable parts of your body." I added.

He skipped backwards, and I picked up my staff, tapping the Rune'd end against the glowing blade. The councilwoman yelped, trying to stop me, as the blade pulsed. I raised an eyebrow at it as it melted swiftly, then flowed up the sides of my spear and encased it, while the spearhead formed into a guard on the upper portion of the new Hilt. As I watched, the spear was turned into a hand-and-a-half longsword or perhaps a Greatsword/Claymore, with a 5ft long, 8in wide, heavy blade, plus a foot long handle.

"Ah... oops. That is a rather interesting blade." I hummed, swinging the sword appraisingly. I released it, and it floated a few feet above me.

Amaris stood up, staring at the weapon despondently. "You're powerful enough that you casually conquered an ElfBlade?" He asked quietly, as he set his shoulder back into place with a small flinch.

"Ooh... good. Pain tolerance is important. And yes, I am that powerful. Also, I've decided. You will be my apprentice... and maybe you'll learn more from me than you did from that BladeSinger Master that apparently didn't manage to beat the stupid out of you all the way. I'll correct that mistake." I grinned.

He blinked slowly. "Wait... what?"

"Yes, you're my apprentice now. It's either that or I cut off your head." I explained, and the sword darted towards him, laying the point gently under his chin.

He glanced at his mother, and she glared at him thunderously, mouthing in sylvan 'accept or I'll kill you!' He cleared his throat. "I-Okay... I guess I accept your, uh.,. Your gracious offer?"

"Wonderful! Now you lot... SCATTER!!!" I roared, lightning lancing out of the sky to crash into my spear, making the group of gathered elves flinch. My voice echoed with the power of the thunder behind it, and they immediately started streaming away from our building site.

Caroline nodded and kissed my cheek. "Alright killer, let's get going, Yeah? The issue we're dealing with is time-sensitive, no?"

I nodded. "True. Amaris! Come here, we're leaving!"

He blinked and walked over. "Like, right now? Where to? Will I need my stuff?" He asked slowly.

"Do you have your grimoire?" I asked.

He nodded. "Yes, but-"

"Then you're fine, follow along." I nodded and walked back into the elevator, headed towards the permanent Door into the Thoroughfare.