Published at 8th of October 2026 6:35 am

Chapter 332 Reconstruction

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

Things in Torrviol didnt need her hand, so Mirian next traveled to Cairnmouth to see how things were fairing there. The tracks had been repaired and the trains were running again, though even months after the war, the city was still largely depopulated. So many of the buildings in the city had been destroyed that there werent places for them to stay, so they either camped out in tent cities on the farms within the spellward or were staying in Alkazaria or Palendurio until they heard word that the city was livable again.

The port area had seen the worst of it, though nothing had come through the Akanan battleship bombardment unscathed. At some point, the buildings on First Hill had caught fire, and that fire had burned a massive part of the neighborhood. Despite the peace, Fort Aegrimere was still on alert and there were soldiers deployed to coastal batteries keeping a lookout. Given Akanas instability and the possibility a rogue army commander might do something rash, it wasnt an unwarranted precaution.

Mirian first consulted with the local councils that had established a semblance of order, then got in contact with the Cairnmouth Reconstruction Committee that was attempting to coordinate them. The plan for rebuilding the city was still under debate, but a great deal of rubble needed to be cleared. She began clearing rubble, moving building-sized chunks about with ease. Spells like move stone and move iron allowed her to easily sort the destroyed structures into uniform piles of materials, which in turn would make it easy for the construction crews looking to reuse those materials. As was usual when she started casting spells, a crowd formed to watch. Eventually, there would be dozens of new parks and gardens throughout the city. For now, she left those areas bare.

After a time, she stopped her work and levitated to the Second Cairn neighborhood. Next to the Temple of the Four, ground was already broken on a new temple. Arenthia and Lecne and the survivors of their cult had made their way back there.

Sacred One, both said, bowing.

No need for that. Im a Prophet no longer. I wanted to make sure the Luminate Order was treating you well.

Passably, Arenthia said. You know, I asked for breakfast scones, and they said they didnt have any. What sort of kitchen

Not what she meant, Lecne growled, but seeing Mirian just laugh, he relaxed. They understand not to mess with the priest who saved you from being cursed when no others would. Otherwise they get, you know, smote or something.

I would smite them if they did that, yes, Mirian said.

Oh, can you do it anyways? For fun? Arenthia asked.

No.

Balls.

Lecne grimaced. You know, if were going to be a legitimate part of the Luminates again, we may wish to clean up the way we talk a bit.

Mirian chuckled. I neither think thats possible nor necessary. Formal cadence and too much ceremony would chase away all those people who you want to come to you. Arenthia, I can do you better than scones.

She levitated away, then returned in short order from a bakery in the eastern portion of the city with fresh pastries topped with honey and jam. She knew the two priests well enough to know their favoritesat least, she hoped she was remembering correctly. It had been quite some time.

She regaled them with more tales of their time together, and more than just the cult gathered about to listen. As the hour grew later, Mirian said to them, I saw them, you know.

Both priests had an intake of breath. Saw Them?

Yes. Zomalator. When it seemed that the Ominian would fail to stop the fires of the Cataclysm, I watched Zomalator join the fight. She looked to the site where the new temple would be. When its time to sculpt the statue of them, I will do it. Red and white marble. Though, well use steel instead of adamantium spikes. The leviathans will be cross with me if I make more of the stuff. Speaking of which, I should probably go talk to them.

Gods blood, I think shes serious! Arenthia said.

Lecne elbowed her.

Mirian stayed a little longer, then flew off, heading for the Rift Sea.

***

The leviathans were annoying to treat with. They wanted the Akanans to commit to feeding them a tribute of humans for a thousand years or somesuch nonsenseit was hard to get a sense of how the great myrvites measured time, especially given that they seemed to gather memories from other timelines like Apophagorga didbut Mirian was able to talk them down into accepting dead bodies rather than live ones. She put off discussing the issue with the Akanans. Now wasnt quite the time for that.

The issue of what to do with intelligent myrvites was a larger one, and one that required changing very old laws and traditions. That issue brought her to the city of Second Cairn, where Calisto Ennecus and her father were arguing about the future of the Ennecus Guild.

The guilds are being dissolved, Mirian told them, which caused Cain Ennecus to sputter in outrage, even though he was certain to have heard it from another source. In place are stewardships that are to provide a sustainable rate of myrvite organs to the new distribution councils of the cities at cost. In exchange, the costs of running the operation are provided by those cities. She presented them with one of the stewardship charters. The document was as simple, clear, and unimpeachable as her law experts had been able to make it.

But how will we turn a profit? Cain asked.

You wont. The entire point is to separate out myrvite extraction from the market so that what happened in Akana never happens again. Should you wish to have the stewardship, I will offer it to you first.

But our land our estate! This is theft! Cain said, outraged.

Father! Calisto hissed in warning.

The world is changing, as it must, Mirian said.

Well take the stewardship, honored Prophet, Calisto said, bowing.

No we wont! her father said, slightly shrill.

Yes we will! Father, did you even read this? We keep the mansion and get a new research institute built! The new world is about reputation and advancement, not silver, you have to keep up with the rumors getting passed around

completely unacceptable, and I thought Id raised you better than to!

Mirian cast zone of silence over their mouths. Deliver your response to the reconstruction council. You have three days to make a decision. Cain, if you attempt to sabotage your own operations in retaliation, like I know youre thinking about doing, Ill have you made an example. You may not know me, but I know you. Ive known you both for far longer than you realize. Calisto, your fathers sins are not yours. I look forward to your innovations in myrvite stewardship.

With that, she departed, leaving a white-faced Cain shaking in fear, and a beaming Calisto.

Mirian was quite sure she knew how theyd decide.

***

She flew down to Palendurio next to help with the reconstruction and make sure the new government was coming along. Pontiff Oculo had stepped down from his position, and the Luminate Order was having heated debates within the Grand Sanctum. Mirian left them to it; if she tried to bend every structure and system to her whim, she created a dependence on herself. That was one thing she wanted to avoid. She would use her wisdom to guide the new world, but she refused to be its tyrant.

She took the Gate to the Jiandzhi. The area around the Gate was now a full-fledged town, one that had begun construction under Zhuan in order to facilitate all the goods that would be moving to Mayat Shadr. Just outside town, she saw an unlikely sight: Apophagorga, lying on their back. A team of Jiandzhi guides were atop their belly, using huge steel brushes to scrub the carapace. Mirian recognized Han Fen among them.

She flew over to say hi, and to make sure Apopagorga wasnt abusing their privileges.

You know, I never thought Id say that a myrvite titan is just a big lunk, but very much that, Feng said. Mind you, a big lunk that can eat our souls. But I didnt get into this trade because I thought it was safe.

Mirian laughed. Hopefully, they make your jobs easier, not harder. It would be nice to keep the new land route through the Jiandzhi.

She told Han Feng of their first expedition south through the Jiandzhi and how his clever instincts had saved them repeatedly. Then she flew south.

When she was near Wongzho Palace, she sent a remote message to Zhuan. Is our surprise ready?

Yes, Zhuan said.

Through the loops, Liuan had asked for Mirians help on understanding how to heal the mind. Though it had turned out to be for nefarious purposes, Mirian didnt regret the research at all. Shed had good reason to want to learn the skill herself.

Song Jeis parents werent as old as Mirian, but they looked like they were getting close. They both walked with a hunch, though they were spry enough.

Between them, they escorted Jeis little sister, Bao, who was no longer little. Baos brain damage from her childhood accident had never healed on its own. She had a dazed look to her, and a thin trail of drool.

When they entered, Jei looked puzzled. I didnt expect a visit, she said, looking to Zhuan.

Not a visit, Mirian said with a smile. With that, she knelt before Bao and began to heal.

It took Jei a moment, but when she realized what was happening, she burst into tears. Gradually, Baos face changed as Mirian carefully used pin-point strands of soul energy to heal the damage. She still didnt fully understand the mechanics behind it, but the technique worked, and that was what mattered to Mirian.

When she was done, she said, Shell still need a lot of help and instruction for a few years. The healing isnt perfect. But now she can more easily learn again, and her memory will be much better.

Jeis tears were running freely. She ran and embraced her sister. Im sorry, she said, over and over. Im so, so sorry.

Song? her sister asked, voice wavering. Youre older than I remember.

There was a lot of crying after that, but this time, it was tears of joy. When theyd had their reunion, Jei said, Thank you, Mirian. I dont how can I repay?

Mirian shook her head. You trained me for years. Helped in every way I asked. Died for me without question. Im still in your debt, not the other way around. If theres anything in my power or Zhuans power to do for you, you need only ask.

They embraced. There had been far too many tragedies, but at least she had been able to fix this one thing.

***

Weeks turned to months. Mirian was always working on something. Near the end of the loops, shed had too much time to spare, so she didnt mind being so busy again. She kept moving.

A group of fools thought theyd use the chaos and lack of patrols along the Setarab to take up banditry. Mirian pulled them from their hideouts and threatened to feed them to myrvites. She left their weapons in a super-dense sphere lying on the ground. The sand next to it got hot enough to turn to glass.

Enough of the fields and storehouses along the Setarab and along western Baracuel had been burned in the war that famine had become a threat in Persama. Ibrahim was primarily in charge of heading off that crisis, but Mirian made an appearance too, spending a few days listening to and assuaging people while ships from Saising made their way up the coast to Urubandar and food grown in Tlaxhuaco made its way through the Mahatan Gate. By now, shed devolved her authority with the gatelings to committees that were authorized to move Gate connections so that the network wasnt reliant on her.

With them both present to head off the potential famine, Mirian first had a public meeting with Ibrahim where the crowds came to hear them speak, then had their more important private meeting. Mirian chose a very specific rooftop for them to meet on. Its view of Urubandar was nothing special, but Ibrahim would remember its significance.

Did Rostal tell you? he asked. They had moved a nice table and chairs up to the flat roof. There was a pitcher with an cooling enchantment full of mixed fruit juice and two cups.

No. Divitrius did.

Ibrahim was silent for a long time after that. Mirian waited, appreciating another who could understand the importance of taking time to think deeply before speaking. The more years of experience one had, the longer it took to properly reflect on them.

I do owe you an apology, I think, the old dervish and general said finally. I owe one to Rostal, too. Im still skeptical that Baracuel and Akana will change. There will always be those who arent satisfied until they have dominion over others. Always those who seek to conquer.

Theres no such thing as an ending. Never a perfect state. Society is an ongoing project. Even the Ascended have things to learn, she said, glancing up at the sky. Veiled by the atmosphere, the stars always seemed sparse to her now. The goal will be to shape the councils and cultures in a way to constantly check the worst impulses of people. And to teach them history so they understand.

They sat in silence again. I have decided to keep the anchor within me, he said. I find myself unable to let go of steering the future.

The temporal nature of the needle died with Divitrius, Mirian said. Eventually, when you die of old age, youll become like Gaius. His path is not an easy one.

I didnt walk the path I did because it was the easy one. Nor did you.

Mirian nodded to that. It was true enough. I wonder how having people who have the memories and experiences of centuries past will change things. I hope it will let people see farther, and act with more wisdom.

Ibrahim nodded, and again they listened to the sounds of the city at night. I wish I had seen them.

You might still yet, Ibrahim Kalishah. For now, though, we have people to attend to.

That we do.

From there, their conversation shifted to discussing the logistical problems they were encountering, and then what the ideal Persama might look like. As the hour grew late, the conversation turned to their time together in the loop. They talked long into the night.

***

When the Persaman food crisis was under control, she moved to the next one. And there were still so many problems.

With the Gates open, the leylines were settling, but there were still arcane eruptions from Ferrabridge to Alatishad, often knocking out spellwards or disrupting trade. Mass myrvite migrations were another constant problem. Poverty was still rampant in Zhighua, there were labor shortages from the war, and the Jiandzhi myrvites werent fully settled. Zhuan was constantly busy dealing with that all while trying to make sure exports kept flowing so that the war-torn stretches of Enteria didnt face even worse. Mirian missed her, but theyd both known that it would be like this. Their brief reunion had been a blessing. She visited Florin to head off the merchant guilds there from trying to buy up food supplies to resell them at a premium. The leaders of the conspiracy, she brought with her and dropped them off each in different villages along the coast so they could see the devastation the Akanan navy had wrought with their own eyes, and gave instruction to the local councils that each merchant could buy passage back only by repairing homes and growing crops for them. It seemed a fitting punishment to her.

Next, she found her way up the Baracueli coast to check on Palendurio. She toured Rostals new dervish academy. Right now, it was only two hundred students, but Rostal was already complaining about how much it would have to grow to take in al the students who wanted to join. It was a good problem to have. He and Mirian did a show bout, then she had an invitation to meet with the Luminate Council and discuss more of the reforms.

The old codes on necromancy were being completely reformed, though there was still a debate on undead constructs like those her father made. They were obviously necromancy, but then, so was trapping the souls of myrvites in repositories. Mirian offered her perspective, but it was clear none of the debates within the organization would be settled any time soon.

Her last stop in the city was the old Baracuel Intelligence Gallery. Before it had been an agency, it had been a museum. Now, it would become that again. Geomancers were carving the names of the children the Deeps had abducted and killed into a memorial for them. Now that the war was over, people were reckoning with the full extent of the corruption of the Baracueli government. The Department of Public Security had done more than fail to protect themit had facilitated the attempted coup. Now people were beginning to learn about its heinous crimes, and the shock waves were still traveling through the city.

With the records exposed, a group was trying to reunite families from Falijmali with their lost children. Far too few of them had lived. Mirian spent the next few days seeing what damage she could undo from the curses that had been laid on them in their childhood. She attended a ceremony of remembrance in honor of those who hadnt survived. It was grim news to give to a city that had already seen so much loss, but it needed to be done. The horrors had to be a catalyst for change.

Eventually, she found a few days for herself, and took some time to visit an old friend.

***

Nicolus, she said, landing nearby. Her former classmate was out in one of the pastures, surrounded by cows. Its good to see you.

Nicolus gave her a sad smile. I wondered if youd show up. The Sacristar estate had seen better days. Part of the manor had been burned. Other parts were in disrepair.

I would have come sooner, if I could have. I assume your fathers dead?

Yeah, Nicolus said, not meeting her eye. Wish it could have been different.

Me too, Mirian said. Marduke Sacristar had thought he knew which way the winds were blowing. When the Akanan army had made incursions on the Baracueli coast, hed thought he was joining the winning side. Sire Nurea?

He gave a deep sigh. Maybe someday shell forgive me. I I have to ask. Did you know?

I suspected as much, when events took the turn they did. In the ideal timeline we refined the most, none of this would have happened. Now, I just have to hope this is the ideal timeline.

Nicolus ground his teeth for a bit, then went back to grooming one of the cows. It was the red and black patchy kind, the one hed said hed liked as a kid. I saw about your ceremony. Im sorry. I didnt know you were one of, uh, them. Another pause. Paper says theyre still counting all the bodies down in Persama.

Yes, Mirian said. She cast remove parasite on some nearby cattle, then let the little worms and insects it gathered up burn. She absentmindedly began mending some of the fences. Theyll be counting them for a long time.

Nicolus turned to her. I dont get it, then. How could this ever become how could any of this?

When I saw the Ominian searching other futures, the ones where the last group of prophets worked together didnt always end well. Oh, thered be peace for a time, but either one of the prophets would outlive the others and then start conquering, or theyd all perish and the next generation of leaders would get the same kinds of ideas. Or, sometimes the negotiations were such that the underlying cause of the crisis was never addressed. There was one future that haunts me. The peace lasted for multiple generations but not because the tendencies that drive for war were eliminated. The countries kept building and researching, and then one day

There were silver airships that made what Akana Praediar developed look primitive. Spellcarts covered in sleek armor and layers of enchantments. More powerful spell engines. And the worst of it, some kind of spell that could destroy entire cities. A new form of energy, I think, one previously only known to the Elder Gods. A leyline break would have been more peaceful.

Her former classmate kept brushing his cow. Yeah. Yeah, I sure hope all these deaths meant something. I can live with myself if they do.

I made you a promise. Back when this was all just starting for me. If you want a place in the new government, Ill find a role for you. I know you have a good heart and a good head. I also know you can trace the deeper reasons for things.

Thanks. Maybe. I never really wanted to be a mage or guide the family name back to glory or any of that shit, you know? That was just something my dad wanted me to do. If it was up to me, Id just take care of heifers all day.

I know, Mirian said with a smile. But a sense of duty isnt a bad thing. You have enough time in front of you to do more than one thing.

Yeah. Yeah I mean, I know Im moping. I know you probably saw way worse shit. Did way worse shit. But

I also have had a hundred years to come to terms with it. Come on, Ill tell you some stories that will make you feel better. Then Ill leave you to think. Theres no rush anymore.

Share