The World's most Overpowered Side-Character

"You did it on purpose," Dina stood with Ikars by the screen watching the stars go by.

"I was wondering why we were taking such a long journey in our way to the Khalla-Nova head branch of the Resistance when Master's mana has already reached that far and he could have easily sent us directly there, so this was it?" She asked, though there was no sign of her being impressed or any humour, she held a serious and almost scary expression.

"Yes, this was my intention all along," Ikaris answered her after taking a deep breath and releasing a long sigh. "As a leader, my followers deserve perspective, it would be manipulative of me to simply order the death of so many people without giving them a reason and motivation to do so, they have that reason now, and they are motivated all the same," She rubbed her forearm and turned to Dina.

"They needed to see what they were going up against, even on our end we have killed a lot, and released a lot who did not deserve death, but the Resistance has been working for the Emporium and killing their own, destroying homes and taking lives for as long as they have been in commission, which is almost as long as I have been gone from the Grand Collective."

"The Emporium has been slaughtering the innocent in the name of their Emperor, stealing resources as they see fit and destroying everyone who disagreed with their agendas and lies; I wanted to make sure our people understood the type of people we were about to face and what they are capable of," Ikaris stared at her devoid of the usual emotions she would show, she was more serious in expression and tone than the mage had ever seen her before.

"They are also very angry, almost irrationally so," Dina nodded, to which her leader looked across to the corridor full of sleeping pods and huffed.

"Anger is good in manageable doses, it keeps the mind sharp and ready for action and I am happy that their sense of justice is so strong, they all do this for the cause and are not driven primarily by any sense of revenge or unavoidable duty." She let out a small chuckle and then went serious again, "Alright, Dina, there is less than a day left of travel before we arrive at our destination," Ikaris shrugged at her.

"Make sure you have enough rest and be ready, the place we are about to attack will have us outnumbered a billion to one, minus the innocent within the population that will think it is an actual enemy attack."

"I'll take the remaining time and meditate then," Dina nodded, stepping away from her respectfully and then turning and leaving towards her quarters, almost like a soldier.

"Nervous?" Ikaris heard Sol's voice as soon as she was alone, and without batting an eye she turned to the screen once more and smiled.

"Not at all, I am only a little anxious, there could be an unexpected enemy there who is greater than what I can handle safely, one of my greatest fears remain my inability to hold myself back from over-the-top clashes and excessively large-scale attacks, a trait I no doubt picked up from admiring your fighting stances so much, Master," Ikaris answered him, making braids in her hair and smiling as if she was on a phone call.

"I have faced some tough opponents, but I do wonder, there are countless Godslayers and Vatui there, it is my hope that I have no need to turn my hand against all of them."

"It would be kind of nice having a Godslayer ally," Sol admitted.

"Prepare for the worst, just in case, their leaders and vice-leaders did not surrender or make any attempts to do so, you have to keep your end of the bargain regardless of how you achieve it if you want to remain an effective leader," He answered again and Ikaris huffed and leaned in her seat, closing her eyes with her hands folded daintily in her lap after finishing her braid.

"Of course, love," She smiled, I have made peace with what I am about to do; I do not descend as their saviour or some long-lost princess, I am descending as the hand of judgement long overdue for the crimes against the Grand Collective and their own species, there are no allies until I decide there are," She declared.

"Good," Sol nodded from his study and cut the connection, looking at Sara who returned a nervous smile and hefted Talia on her side.

"I do not think that it will be as hard-fought as you are making it out to be," Sara huffed when the babe in her grasp held on to her hair and tugged it, causing her to lean forward with a shocked expression from almost losing balance.

"Goodness me, she has become stronger yet again," She peeked at the laughing child reaching for her hair once more. "She is not yet a year old if she continues this way she could lose control someday."

"Her strength and power are scaled according to her growth and how much she can safely handle," Sol responded.

"She will have access to nearly all of her mana by the time she is Sixteen, unless something unpredictable and completely out of my control happens before then, she will gradually grow without issue, that is the seal Ikaris and I placed on her back on the Central Province." He explained and then went back to his books.

"Don't worry too much, Sara, all you have to do is keep an eye on her and not allow her to stray off whatever path she chooses."

"Master Vestic, Shall I take the young miss for a walk?" Sara queried excitedly and Sol without looking up from his work nodded and kept reading, allowing them to leave silently.

"Keep an eye on them, Sara is very quick but she is not invincible, see that no harm comes to her or my daughter," Sol ordered, and like a whisper of wind, both Jenifer and Keele appeared before him, bowing and then disappearing as easily as they left.

"I did not expect to have the task of being the shadow of Sir's shadow, I was doubtful of his request because of my allegiance under Ikaris, but in truth, we swore to serve him, not her," Keele sent a message to Jenifer who nodded while they walked along the threads of the winds obscured completely. "I never thought I would end up a babysitter."

"It is no exaggeration when I say that I think Lady Talia is the most important being in existence at this moment, it is an honour being her bodyguard," Jenifer responded.

"Although I would also love to oppose the Emporium, I am happy with this role, it shows his trust in us, aside from very few, nobody is allowed within arm's reach of the little Lady," She pointed out and Keele nodded in agreememt.

That aside, they were strong, Keele was still stronger than Dina in theory, she could take on anyone below the hundredth rank in the Emporium, while Jenifer was able to easily go toe-to-toe with anyone of the 500th rank and lower.

"Is someone there?" Sara stopped walking and called, looking to the empty space behind herself causing the two to freeze in place shocked. "Show yourselves."

"I thought she was supposed to be unable to sense us, with the amount of power we have she shouldn't even be able to percieve us," Jenifer glanced at Keele with the latter sharing a look of surprise.

"Um," Jenifer appeared first. "We mean no harm, Sir has asked us to be your shadows," She raised her hands approaching them and standing at bay.

"We...

so I assume Miss Keele is the other with you then?" Sara asked staring directly at the spot Keele was standing, prompting the woman to reveal herself as well, they were halfway through a camp that had been made in the week of Ikaris's absence, it was common at that point that the remnants of the Force avoid the little woman who dressed as a maid and carried a child, but even here, they were cautioned to remain vigilant.

"Sorry," Keele gave them a small bow and then focused oh Sara. "How did you know that we were following you?"

The Young Miss has a habit of staring at interesting things she does not understand, she has been looking at you, naturally I was already aware of your presences, but when she kept looking I grew curious and sought you as well, it is faint but I can still see your shadows when you are using [Wind Stride], there is also a disturbance in the air wherever you go; I may be weaker, but I am in a tier of my own when it comes to discression, if I can find you then someone else might as well."

"If your goal is Talia's safety then I will teach you everythig that I know about remaining in the shadows when I have free time," Sara smirked at them, gaining glances of surprise.

"It would be an honour to learn under the hand of Sol Vestic's shadow." Read new chapters at empire