The Castle in the middle of nowhere.

We ate a prolonged breakfast the next day, and even Irene woke up earlier than usual. I was still thinking about Amber and Aoi’s confession yesterday and the subsequent brief discussion with Luna when I realised it wasn't something I could fix overnight. Amber and Aoi simply had a right to feel how they felt, and I should do everything to prove that nothing had changed. The milk was already spilt, and there was no backing away from the fact that I had multiple wives. As bizarre as it was, and even if some decisions were sort of forced upon me, I wasn't going to pretend I was not enjoying the benefits. However, the fact that Amber and Aoi felt that way could have been a good thing. While Lavender and Luna assured me that I was a wonderful husband, it didn’t mean that I couldn't try to be a better one.

"So, my Sunshines. I was thinking... What is something you would want to do?" I decided not to bother them with any more gifts, like dresses or jewellery, because they already had so many of them, and they were collectively worth more than a yearly budget Cridia or Berna.

"Hmmm... I would like to visit my sister," Lavender replied almost immediately before sighing heavily. "However, if the Devilkins prepare an attack, leaving Avalon would only put her in danger. If the news spread that I was in Westwood, the Devilkins might try to kill me there."

"That's probable..." I nodded, seeing how my excellent plan started crumbling right away.

"But on the other hand, we could eat a romantic dinner in the garden. What do you think about that, my sisters?" Lavender smiled brightly, but her smile was slightly more on the mischievous side of lusciousness.

"I like the idea," Irene hummed in reply. "I would like to listen to some music... Maybe we can go to the philharmonic in the near future?"

"Maybe to the theatre?" Luna tapped her lips. "I heard there is an interesting show being performed."

"Oh, I love the idea!" Irene clapped a few times in approval. "You’re referring to that musical everyone’s been talking about, right?"

Luna beamed a smile and simply nodded.

"What's the musical about?" I asked, intrigued to hear that there were so many entertainment establishments already in Avalon.

"It's a story of a simple farmer who became the right-hand man of the powerful king and found his long-lost lover," Aoi explained in a single breath. "I'd love to see it!"

"Waaait... They made a musical about Ian?" I asked, a bit shocked, a bit amused, and a bit flabbergasted.

"Well, if you put it that way... Kinda?" Luna and Irene giggled.

"Whaaaat?" I was genuinely amused. "They made him a celebrity?"

"Oh, you bet!" Irene laughed. "It's a good comedy with some dramatic moments. Gloria said that the music was great."

"All right then..." I smiled and looked at their happy faces. "Should we book the tickets?"

"Definitely." Amber smiled cheerfully.

"I'll ask Eva to get us tickets for the show." I laughed and looked at Hestia, who was sitting in silence and eating oats with a slightly unseeing stare. "What about you, Hestia?"

"Sorry..." She put away the spoon and rested her forehead on the top of her hand. "I was a little bit spaced out."

"Something happened?" I asked, seeing her angry expression.

"You can say so." She sighed. "Zephyr warned me that some of the old gods are emerging from wherever they were hiding for the last millennium."

"Is that a problem? I thought they were united in order to destroy the Ruinous Powers."

"It's not that simple." She sighed, a little bit resigned. "Those deities are more violent and selfish. They only helped to fight the Ruinous Powers because their life depended on it. However, once it became apparent that we were losing, they abandoned us and went into hiding."

"So, basically traitors." I sighed and rubbed my eyes. "Who they are? Egyptian deities?"

"Heavens, no!" Hestia's voice sounded offended. "The Egyptians stood side by side with us, along with the Norse gods. You know, the old Semitic gods, like Baal, Dagon, or Anat."

"Oh, those guys..." I stared at the ceiling, contemplating the possibilities in front of me. Because my specific knowledge was limited to the practice of sacrificing people, I had to say that I wasn't thrilled to meet them. "Naaah... I'll pass."

"I don't think they will take no for an answer..." Hestia grimaced.

"Do they still demand that their worshippers torture and sacrifice others to them?" I asked flatly, making the other Queens look at me in shock.

"Not all of them, but the last time I heard of them, they were still doing that," Hestia said in a resigned and disgusted tone.

"Mhm. I just ordered Sebastian to form an investigation team to find everything about those Eternals and their cults." I crossed my arms in front of me. "If necessary, I will also delegalise their sorry asses in Arcadia. I will make it crystal clear that sending even a single priest, missionary, or any kind of preacher will be considered a declaration of war. Sorry, Honey, I'm not going to play with their bullshit."

"Well... If you put it that way, I think they actually could respect your refusal." Hestia giggled, her mood improving by the second.

"That reminds me... Who are the gods of Metaka?" I asked while summoning all the reports I had on the subject.

"Bastet, Ra, Anubis, and a few local deities who were more reasonable than the Bernans," Hestia replied instantly.

"They hadn't brought Egyptian architecture with them, nor any other influence?"

"It's funny..." Hestia snorted and rolled her eyes. "Neither we nor the Nords brought any particular architectural styles, so the people of Aderon developed independently. You can say that you are the first who left a rather unremovable mark on the architectural history of Nilmerthis, Theon."

"I regret nothing." I grinned shamelessly. "So the deities of Metaka are reasonable?"

"Yes. I don't think they changed that much." Hestia returned to her food. "However, I'm glad you don't want to have anything in common with the old gods."

"I'm also not willing to accommodate the bullshit of the Mayan, Aztec, and Inca gods," I informed her while putting butter on the slice of bread.

"Well... Human sacrifices were fairly common in the ancient world," Hestia murmured under her breath.

"I know that. That's why I have you and Irene approving any new deity first. I see no point in allowing even a ritual killing of an animal, not to mention people. Do they want their followers to burn the offerings whole? That's simply wasteful, but as long as no people or animals are hurt in the process, I could possibly allow it. But there are plenty of ways for people to express their faith... What?" I looked at them and saw their happy faces. They were slightly worried for some reason, but they were smiling.

"Most of the gods demanded many kinds and forms of sacrifices," Amber explained slowly while Irene nodded in confirmation. "The main reason why Hestia and Zeus were still worshipped in Cridia despite the general hatred directed at Josla Cridia was the fact they never wanted living sacrifices. Many people were afraid of the other more bloody gods..."

"Well, for a good reason, to be honest." I shrugged and bit off the corner of my sandwich.

"I can't agree more." Irene sighed. "I avoided that topic like fire... But I'm glad to hear you feel the same."

"Why would I want to support such barbaric rituals? It's destructive, wasteful, and tends to elevate murderous maniacs to power, who dispose of their enemies under the guise of religious practices." I grimaced in disgust. "Not to mention it contradicts my beliefs."

"Most of the countries worshipping such gods are very warlike... They might declare a war on Arcadia if we try to censor their practices." Irene sighed.

"That's why I will introduce a zero-tolerance policy. If their gods demand bloody sacrifices, our Immortal Legions will gladly provide them so many they might get indigestion. I also can bet that Janet is going to have a field day while blowing out every single one of their temples with Dauntless's main battery."

"That's a little bit extreme..." Amber hummed, but she wasn't particularly upset about the idea.

"I have no patience for nonsense." I huffed and finished the sandwich. "It so happens that I'm the King. If I say no, may heavens help those who defy me in my own country."

"That certainly makes everything easier." Amber shrugged. "Anyway. About that musical..."

As my wives returned to the discussion about the spectacle, the doors to our living room opened, letting in Freya. She was wearing a dark blue and yellow dress, and it was obvious that she had spent a lot of time combing her hair in a very intricate way.

"Good morning everyone." She smiled widely and sat near Aoi, who instantly turned towards the Dwarf.

"Freya! We will be going to the theatre!" exclaimed the excited Dragonkin.

The smile vanished from Freya's face and she was clearly disappointed. "To the theatre? But I don't have any dress..."

"After breakfast, we will go to Wendy," Amber decided with a clap. "Who wants to go?"

"I'll pass..." Irene sighed and suddenly looked right at me. "If they are going to Wendy, could you help me with something?"

"Sure." I nodded.

•••

"Good morning, Your Highnesses!" Lanka, Gloria, and Dahlia's surprised voices welcomed us as we entered Irene's office in Triskelion.

"Hello." I waved my hand towards them and we took our places around the table. "I was informed about a problem."

"I told the King about your discoveries, Dahlia," Irene said and put the tips of her fingers together.

"I saw the report and heard what Queen Irene had to say. I would like you to once again tell us what you have found."

"During our mission along the Bernan border, we found something that looked like a road. I ordered the scouts to investigate it and almost forgot about it because we had a lot of work looking for saboteurs and Bernan agents. However, the prolonged absence of the scouts finally alarmed us, and Auburn sent the vanguard company to find the scouts," Dahlia recounted the events. "The road remnants led through the wilderness and a particularly dense forest. The monsters that lived there were fairly powerful, but the rescue team doubted they alone could kill the experienced rangers. After a few days of following the path, the company discovered the first ruins, and it quickly became apparent that they had found an ancient and desolate city. However, there was no evidence that the scouts ever reached the ruins, my Lord."

"Hmmm... Is there a chance that the scouts were trying to hide? Wouldn't it be extremely difficult to find their traces in that case?"

"Most likely..." Dahlia agreed after a moment of consideration. "A five-men-strong scout party consisting mainly of Rangers and Rouges could have easily disappeared, but why? They were good soldiers, my Lord."

"If something happened and they were cut from the main forces, they might go to hiding," I offered.

"It's possible, my Lord," she agreed. "The company decided to explore the ruins, and the closer they were to the city centre, the buildings were in noticeably better condition. At some point, the buildings looked as if they were regularly maintained. However, the company found fresh traces of a very recent battle but no bodies or pieces of equipment. Whatever killed them was big, and at that point, the company decided to investigate the city centre, but before they could reach it, they were stopped by the large and very strange creature. It was powerful, and the company decided to retreat to avoid the casualties. Especially when it became obvious that the creature wasn't alone. After losing twelve people, the company was able to run away, my Lord. Our artificers are sure that those monsters were some kind of golems."

Irene looked at me intently. "We lost people there, Theon. I want to know who or what did it. If those golems are the same as those found in that foul temple of Ruinous Powers, we have a problem."

"I want to know as well," I admitted. "I also want to retrieve their bodies... However, this is a secret, but... Lanka, Dahlia, and Gloria, we are going to be attacked very soon, so I can't send any forces to that city anytime soon. I'm going to send the army as quickly as possible."

Lanka looked at me in shock. "When should we expect the attack?"

"In a few days or weeks. We don't know exactly. The proper instructions and orders will be issued in a few hours. We must pretend to have no idea about the attack. There will be extra work for the Inquisition, Dahlia."

"Yes, my Lord."

"The old gods have returned to Aderon. We find some ancient cities with powerful defences." I leaned back on my chair and sighed heavily. "You can never be bored here..."