Eternal Undying Chronicles

"My plan is rather straightforward," Carrisa began, her voice steady and composed.

"I intend to claim ownership of the Fourth Nexus within this world. The emergence of this nexus was a stroke of fortune, one we must seize with both hands."

She paused, her violet eyes narrowing slightly as she considered her next words.

"The Nightshades will adhere to the will of their lord, as they have been conditioned to do. My initial objective is to establish dominion over Evergreen City, positioning ourselves as a formidable force in this realm.

Thereafter, I plan to appropriate the resources of the three great powers, specifically targeting a substantial magic core located on Academy Island—a territory shared between the three factions, given its neutral status. All of this, and much more, lies within our grasp."

Elizalina, ever poised, inclined her head slightly, her silver hair cascading over her shoulder like a silken veil.

"Correct me if I am mistaken," she began, her voice cold, yet edged with a subtle sharpness.

"but rumors suggest the Nightshades were deemed traitors to their lord. However, given tonight's revelations, I find that narrative exceedingly dubious."

Carrisa nodded thoughtfully before responding. "Indeed, those accusations were baseless. The Nightshades were falsely accused. I surmise their former lord sought to eliminate them, either due to paranoia over their growing power or fear that they might uncover secrets he wished to keep hidden. It could be as simple as him wanting to dispose of what he perceived as loose ends.

The reasoning of fools is beyond my comprehension."

Elizalina's lips curled into a wry smile, her tone dripping with irony. "Like a lizard severing its own tail, I presume?"

Carrisa shook her head slightly. "No, I do not believe it is as trivial as that. Whoever their former lord was, he was grossly incompetent. What kind of imbecile would willingly discard a clan of such capable assassins, particularly one with a fanatic level of loyalty?"

Her voice held a trace of disdain, as if she could scarcely fathom the folly she described.

Elizalina's eyes gleamed with approval, her thoughts aligning with Carrisa's.

"I am inclined to agree," she said, her voice smooth as silk. "The very notion is absurd—dispensing with such a valuable asset. It speaks volumes about the weakness of their previous master."

Carrisa smiled, her eyes reflecting a shared sentiment. "Indeed."

Amena, standing nearby with her usual stoic demeanor, added to the conversation.

"The Nightshades are renowned for their indoctrination. They are bred to be loyal to the extent that they would willingly lay down their lives for their mission. Their commitment is absolute."

Argint, who had been listening intently, nodded in agreement.

"Yes, I remember. They were on the verge of committing mass suicide." She held her fingers close together to emphasize her point, recalling the terrifying sight of even the children being prepared to end their lives, all in the name of fulfilling their oath. That level of indoctrination was alarming, even to someone like her, who had been raised in a clan of warriors.

Elizalina arched an eyebrow, her expression one of mild curiosity. "And yet, they refrained. What, I wonder, stayed their hand?"

Carrisa leaned back slightly, her gaze calm as she replied.

"Alicarde offered them a new purpose, a new lord to serve. One who would not betray them as their previous master did. Perhaps they realized their skills would be far more valuable in the service of someone who truly appreciates their worth."

Elizalina nodded, her expression one of cold satisfaction.

"Such loyalty, when directed toward a worthy master, is a formidable weapon. One that could significantly shift the balance of power in our favor."

Carrisa's smile deepened. "Precisely. And that is why we must secure the Nexus. With the Nightshades under our command and the power of the Nexus at our disposal, we will be unstoppable, at least in the mundane world."

Argint, still processing the gravity of the situation, asked.

"What is the next step? I mean, aside from awaiting the Nightshades' return."

Carrisa's gaze sharpened, her tone decisive. "The next step is to consolidate our control over Evergreen City. We must place our operatives in key positions of influence. When the time is right, we will act swiftly and decisively, leaving no opportunity for our adversaries to counter."

Elizalina, her voice tinged with calculated cunning, added.

"And we must ensure that Alicarde's actions do not draw undue attention to our plans. His aggression, while advantageous, must be carefully managed. We cannot afford any missteps."

Amena, ever the voice of reason, interjected. "The Nightshades will return soon. Until then, we must remain vigilant. Any miscalculation could jeopardize everything we have labored to achieve."

"No need to worry about him. While he does exhibit some chunni tendencies, I trust him to make the right decisions when it truly matters," Argint stated, her confidence unwavering.

Carrisa's smile was a masterful blend of satisfaction and restraint. In the dimly lit room, her violet eyes gleamed with the assured confidence of one who had orchestrated events to perfection.

For the past month, she had been methodically working on Alicarde's psyche, subtly guiding him towards a semblance of normalcy. But her machinations extended beyond him.

Elizalina, with her cunning and pride, was another piece on Carrisa's chessboard—one she was slowly positioning under her influence. Over time, Carrisa had discerned certain truths and recognized that the vampire could, to some extent, be trusted.

The constant squabbling between Elizalina and Argint had served her purpose exquisitely. Their verbal exchanges, which had begun as mere disagreements, had evolved into a psychological battleground, with Carrisa subtly positioning herself as the arbiter of their disputes.

Each time Argint lashed out, Carrisa would step in with a few well-chosen words, diffusing the tension and establishing herself as the voice of reason. Gradually, this dynamic shifted, and even the proud vampire began to heed Carrisa's guidance, often without realizing it.

Elizalina, with her sharp wit and composed demeanor, had unknowingly started to regard Carrisa as a superior, someone worthy of respect. But what the vampire failed to comprehend was that every nod of agreement, every instance of compliance, was another thread in the web Carrisa was weaving around her.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

The vampire's astute mind was being steadily subdued by Carrisa's careful manipulation, through subtle cues and psychological nuances that went unnoticed but were profoundly effective.

Carrisa's thoughts were laced with a cold satisfaction.

'So long as I continue to play my cards with precision, they will all align with my vision. Evergreen, Argint, even Elizalina —they shall all serve my purpose.' The thought brought a slight, almost imperceptible, smirk to her lips.

"What is our next course of action?" Argint inquired, her gaze fixed on Carrisa, who responded with a gentle smile that softened her otherwise aloof expression.

"For the time being, it is Alicarde's move," Carrisa replied, her voice smooth and commanding.

"He is our vanguard. As he eliminates key figures within the government and the criminal underworld, we shall replace them with our own operatives. We will extend invitations to political rivals, urging them to join our clandestine factions, and establish new underworld syndicates to fill the void left by those that fall to Alicarde's wrath."

Elizalina, ever poised, raised an elegant eyebrow.

"You intend to fabricate an underworld within the city you aspire to govern?" she asked, her tone skeptical yet intrigued.

Carrisa nodded gracefully. "Indeed. Crime, regrettably, is an inherent aspect of human nature—certain souls are inexorably drawn to the shadows. Therefore, I shall establish an underworld under my dominion, ensuring that I wield authority over both day and night."

Argint looked impressed. "I had not considered that. Is such a feat truly feasible?"

Amena, always the voice of pragmatism, interjected, "It is not only feasible, but it would also enable us to treat the underworld as another branch of governance. The current regime already employs criminal elements to conduct their unsavory dealings. We, however, shall control the entirety of it. Rather than merely collaborating with these factions, they will operate directly under our command."

Elizalina twirled a lock of her silver hair around her finger, her tone filled with admiration.

"Impressive, Princess. I would expect nothing less from one as astute as you. Such an ingenious scheme."

Carrisa remained composed, though there was a hint of modesty in her eyes.

"I would like to claim all the credit, but I cannot. This idea was inspired by an observation Alicarde made in passing. He can be surprisingly insightful at times, though I never know what to expect from him."

Argint raised an eyebrow, her surprise evident. "Who would have thought that his chunni tendencies would ever prove useful?"

Carrisa gestured to the holographic projection Amena had conjured, which now expanded to display a list of names and profiles.

"Now, based on the intelligence we have gathered, here is a roster of individuals who did not align themselves with Zagarath. These are potential candidates for our new underworld, as well as prospective allies within the government."

The holographic display showcased detailed profiles of various figures—politicians, influential business leaders, and underworld operators who had not pledged their loyalty to Zagarath. The women began to analyze each one meticulously, evaluating their potential loyalty and utility.

"This one," Elizalina indicated a profile of a politician renowned for his strategic acumen, "has the connections necessary to influence the media and steer public perception in our favor. With control over the media, we can dictate the narrative and manage the flow of information."

Carrisa inclined her head in agreement. "Precisely. We shall approach him discreetly, offering him a place in our new order. As for this one," she gestured towards another profile, "he has affiliations with several criminal organizations. We can leverage his influence to consolidate those groups under our control."

Amena, ever composed, spoke up. "With the comprehensive administrative access we now possess, we can manipulate the systems to position our people in critical roles. The minor exclusion of the police network is of little concern, as we can still exert indirect influence through our underworld connections."

"Excellent," Carrisa said with satisfaction.

"The plan is coming together seamlessly. Now, the only remaining obstacle is the rogue espers. I suspect they are acting on behalf of one of the three major factions, the Magicians Guild, the Order, or the Truth Association. Should they prove amenable, I will endeavor to bring them under our banner. If not, it would be prudent to eliminate them.

I see little merit in tolerating loose ends before I establish my nexus."

Elizalina tilted her head, her eyes narrowing in contemplation.

"You suspect they have come to Evergreen City in pursuit of the nexus fragments?" she asked, her voice thoughtful.

"I do not merely suspect," Carrisa corrected, her tone firm. "I am certain they have already arrived."

The room fell into silence as the gravity of her words settled over them.

Argint looked at Carrisa with concern. "If they are indeed here, then what is our next move? We cannot afford to be caught unprepared."

"We shall not be," Carrisa assured her. "We will monitor their movements closely. Our contacts within the city will alert us to any unusual activity. Once we have pinpointed their location and intentions, we will respond accordingly. We must be prepared to defend the nexus fragments at all costs."

"We can have Alicarde eliminate them if they become troublesome," Amena suggested.

Carrisa nodded, understanding that her maid had grasped her intent perfectly.

Elizalina nodded as well. "I assume you have contingencies in place, should these espers prove more formidable than anticipated?"

"Naturally," Carrisa replied, her voice calm but resolute. "We have the Nightshades on standby. Though they are currently positioned in the Underground, they can be summoned if necessary. Additionally, we possess various other assets that can be mobilized to neutralize any threats.

This city will be ours, and nothing—not the government, not the underworld, and certainly not these espers—shall stand in our way."

Argint glanced around the room, noting the determination etched on each of their faces.

"I am amenable to any strategy, provided it does not involve the harm of innocent civilians. Let us ensure we are prepared for whatever may come," Argint said, her voice firm.

She was committed to avoiding unnecessary casualties if possible. Her companions seemed indifferent to the plight of ordinary humans, and Alicarde, once a staunch protector, had grown colder and less inclined to shield those unrelated to him.

"I accept that condition," Carrisa agreed, her tone measured.

With that, the women turned their attention back to the holographic display, meticulously refining their plans and preparations, fully aware that the battle for dominion over Evergreen City was only just beginning.