Published at 16th of April 2026 6:23 am

Chapter 282 Tests

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

Negotiations among the Prophets continued in the dream for the rest of the cycle and well into the next one. The fundamental nature of their agreements hadnt changed, nor had the challenges, but where before the meetings had felt like verbal battles, complete with maneuvering and probing attacks, now, it felt more like a strained business meeting.

Ibrahim met in the dream, but he otherwise took the cycle off to be with his wife. Mirian expected no less. He was happier now. Like Mirian, hed lived with a deep furnace of rage burning in his chest, but now, those flames had cooled.

Mirian had rescued Arenthia early in the cycle and spent plenty of time with the Cult of Zomalator, reminiscing about her time in hiding with them as shed learned soul magic. Lecne and Arenthia bickered as always. It was nostalgic. She wished, as she always did, that they could remember all the time theyd already spent together, but she didnt need to let that yearning overwhelm her. It could simply exist; another piece of who she was. After all, without the loop, even if shed been saved from execution, Arenthia would have likely passed on from old age by now. She had to weigh the advantages she was blessed with, not just the disadvantages.

She explored parts of the city shed never visited, inviting strangers to eat at different restaurants, then inviting anyone who seemed interested to join her table. When she had seen the different neighborhoods, she found her way into Fort Aegrimere. She talked with General Hanaran, who no longer left until near the end of the cycle as the other Prophets grew better at delaying the war, and got to know Commander Hirte better. Mirian even reunited with the Westfellow Syndicate members. Ravatha was still loath to open up, but Mirian shared good conversation with Numo and some of the other career criminals.

One day, walking along the port market with no particular destination, she recognized a man. She stared at him, trying to place him. Then it came to her.

I remember now! I learned your face well, but I dont think I caught your name. You tried to rob me a few decades back. I think I was cursed at the time. Its good to see you again!

I what? I didnt rob nobody, Im as honest as they

Oh, dont worry, it didnt happen in this continuum, she said, patting him on the shoulder. Can I buy you dinner?

***

The loop after that, she spent most of her time in Palendurio. This time, she spent far less time in the stuffy rooms of joint stock companies and merchant guilds. She spent her days visiting the actual factories where steel was fabricated by furnaces and sorcerers, or the ones where artificers worked on the large spell engines needed for trains and construction. She spent time learning more about the work, talking across long tables over good food. The more she got to know them, the more she began to pick out natural leaders, well-respected workers, and specialists who had some key expertise. She met the editors and writers of her favorite broadsheets. She caught up with Rostal and the friendly folks of his neighborhood. She told him that Ibrahim was doing better now.

It was nice to talk to everyday people. Yes, there was greed and cruelty, but most of the time, most people were mostly pleasant.

Mirian revisited the Grand Sanctum, too. She had little patience for the corrupt bishops there, but she tried to understand why they were doing what they were doing all the same. Though they claimed it was for Baracuels renewal and their actions lined up with the holy texts, it seemed to her they had veiled their greed and ambition even from themselves. She spent long hours pondering what to do about some of the people and problems she knew about. She could easily order Pontiff Oculo to imprison Bishop Lancel for his corruption, but if she could turn Pontiff Oculo to her side, why not also turn Lancel? Or did imprisoning him create more benefits collectively for the Luminate Order than attempting to redeem him?

There were so many little decisions like that, and it was impossible to measure them.

Reconnecting with other parts of the Order was much more pleasant. Mirian invited Everad, the steadfast guard of the Grand Sanctums vault, a special feast. It brought warmth to her heart to see him happy.

As the cycle progressed, though, the politics of Baracuel became less and less easy for her to manipulate. Politicians and businessmen alike connived. The Department of Public Security squirmed about in the shadows. The logistics bottlenecks continued. Despite their leaders being imprisoned and Akana Praediars aggression being tempered, the Pure Blade and soldiers loyal to Corrmier moved about the city, attempting to reestablish their plan for dominating Baracuel. She let them skulk about while she took her notes.

Then Mirian sought out an old thorn that had been in her side for far too long.

***

General Kallin Corrmier was let out of his prison cell beneath Charlem Palace and brought to a large chamber overlooking Palendurio. Mirian sat in a comfortable chair and, having taken a page out of Gabriels book, was snacking on eclairs and sipping tea.

The general had a prominent chin and a back straight enough to be used as a ruler. She immediately saw the contempt in his eyes, and the poorly buried fury. She gestured for him to sit, but he remained standing.

What? he sneered. Have you come to gloat?

Charming, Mirian thought. No. Im giving you a chance to convince me.

Convince you what?

Anything youd like. That your restoration of Baracuel will work, perhaps. That you can be useful to me. That you can help save Enteria, or deliver me soldiers, or help with the construction of the project at Mayat Shadranything, really.

Corrmiers lip twitched slightly. You should be the one convincing me, he said, and turned back for the door. Take me back to my cell, he told the guards. I dont

He walked straight into a force wall, his nose making a satisfying crunch as he did. Corrmier bit back a curse and turned, blood dripping onto his fancy shirt.

I see the problem, Mirian said. You think Im asking you this because youre too valuable to kill. You think you have leverage. Maybe you think your supporters are putting pressure on me, or your political connections are important. Thats not the case at all. Right now, Im letting your supporters run around so my informants can map them all. What they do this cycle doesnt matter to me in the slightest. With your entire networked mapped out, I can destroy anyone in it before they even know I exist. When my priests debriefed you on the situation with the loops, it must not have sunken properly into your head. This isnt the final cycle. It wont be until I decide it is. This is a trial for your life in the future in which Enteria survives.

Corrmier glared at her. He was too proud to use a napkin from the table to stem the blood trickling from his nose. You cant

Prophets Dictum. And if I didnt have that, I have this, Mirian said, letting her soulbound spellbook materialize into view before she let it vanish again. I can do whatever I want. As my priests have explained to you, I wish to save Enteria. So convince me.

Ah, there it is, Mirian thought. The slightest shift in his aura. The look in his eyes had changed. Doubt and fear had crept into him. But also, understanding. He was beginning to realize that the game he was playing now wasnt in front of him, but on a board miles away.

Let the restoration of Baracuel go forward, and youll get that. We can purge the parasites that are sucking away the lifeblood of this country, and come away stronger for it. With a reforged alliance with Akana, and with a central council, there wont be a parliament to impede you. We can

Mirian held up a hand. You tried that already.Your reliance on Akanas support poisons you in the eyes of too many people. Civil war between the west and east erupts, and your campaign is bogged down trying to push along the Ibaihan River. Persama sides with Alkazariaand thats after Ibrahims rebellion is put down. Which it wont be, in the final cycle. So, no, that plan doesnt work, and whats more, it impedes the movement of goods and ties up labor resources so the leyline regulator cant be built. Try again.

Corrmiers brow furrowed. Yes, he was having trouble following. I command the largest army in Baracuel. My soldiers are loyal to me. My brother commands the largest and best trained mercenary

This helps me how? I need you to remember, the world ends soon. You have six months to help me save it. How will you help me do this? My priests gave you quite a detailed explanation of what happens and what I need. She looked at him. Are you stuck on the whole apocalypse thing? Denial is one of the most common responses. Here, let me show you how this all ends, she said, and reached out with her aura.

She pushed memories of the devastation of Palendurio at him, of leyline eruptions, and then of moonfall.

He fell to his knees. It took a while for him to stop screaming, and longer to recover. Mirian pulled out a book and waited.

When he stood, she could see his confidence was shaken. I can easily change the plan. I have the backing of the Allards, the Sacristars, and the rest of my house. We depose the Palamas family, cripple parliament

No. Stop. Again, youre just provoking a civil war with eastern Baracuel. Youve tried it. It. Does. Not Work.

Kallin Corrmier was not a man who was used to being interrupted. He clenched his teeth, then steadied himself. I can call off my forces. Together, my house and the Allards have a fortune. We can invest it in your project at below market interest rates

Mirian burst out laughing. Kallin, I just showed you the end of the world. If you dont invest, you die. Your brother dies. Your family dies. Everyone you know dies. You want a return on investment?

Then he finally started to put together the pieces. He was so focused on what should happen, and how all the things he planned would go right and that Mirian must be lying about them going wrong, that it took some time for him to realize that he needed a totally different strategy. Mirian finished her platter of snacks and used a quick spell to clean her hands and returned to reading her book.

I can my house and the Allards can get the money you need. The Palamas He paused, then cleared his head. The Palamas and Bardas families have controlling stakes in several key factories you want, but we have leverage over the guilds and sway with the merchants. The Allards can get Florin Citys banks to start moving money. The army and the Pure Blade can enforce Prophets Dictum and make sure the money is making it where it needs to go, and the merchant guilds are manipulating things behind your back.

Good, now were starting to make some progress, Mirian said.

Corrmier continued, and she could see his experience as a general and logistician at work. He established how a chain of command might be built up, and how it would be enforced. In essence, the Prophet was above the law, able to command things be done, but any dictator needed enforcement of their power. He could do that for her.

Or so he claimed.

Great, Mirian said. Two last things. One, I need to know how to convince you of this plan at the beginning of Solem. Then, well do a test run.

A test what?

Ill try it out. Next cycle, maybe, or maybe the one after that. And if it works, youve proven that you can be redeemed and that you should live. If it doesnt work, or you try to betray me, or you sabotage things because you dont like believing things that contradict your ambition, then the sentence is death. So I do hope you can figure out how to convince yourself.

Kallin Corrmier, who liked to present himself as unshakable, began to sweat.

After their meeting concluded, Mirian checked her notes. Decian Corrmier and the leading members of the Allard family were next on her list to talk with. Gabriel and Liuan had each given her advice, and she was willing to give their plan one last try.

***

On the 1st of Solem, Mirians zephyr falcons flashed into the sky, one by one, each carrying a letter for five prominent members of the conspiracy. Each letter was stuffed full of code words, facts, and instructions. She had herself declared Prophet by the 5th, and had meetings with the conspirators shortly after. And at first, things went like shed hoped.

The assassination attempt came in mid-Duala, far earlier than shed anticipated. The assassins attempted to poison her with bloodleaf, as if she was stupid enough not to cast basic divinations for a poison so dangerous especially to her. Not only did she catch it, she had sensed the poison being moved into position in Charlem palace a full three days before the actual attempt, which meant by the time the conspirators knew theyd failed, shed already investigated how the assassins had moved the materials into position and where theyd sourced it from. That task was made easier by the fact that she already had a map of the Corrmier and Allard networks.

As usual, it wasnt one faction or one person. A confluence of interests all aligned. Decian Corrmier had his little mercenaries involved, but the Allards were using their contacts in the Department of Public Security. A rich merchant looked the other way as the extra crate was put on one of his spellcarts. One of the guilds was easily swayed by promises of a lucrative military contract. Mirian pieced it all together.

Either General Kallin Corrmier couldnt be convinced to help her, or he was unable to stop the sinister forces he was part of.

Whatever it was, she would waste no more time with him. She had promised him to death, and that was a promise she would keep.

Share