The Greatest Sin

Allasaria sat and thought. Fortia’s recent meeting was all but a formal declaration of hostilities between them. The words she had said were largely a bluff, Fortia was a much better commander than Allasaria could dream of being.

Allasaria needed her own general.

Good thing she had one in Olympiada.

Elassa upon the great staircase leading up to the higher floors of Anassa’s Prison. She looked to the intruder, then to Anassa, then to the intruder, then back to Anassa, then to the intruder. “Who are you?”

This… this… girl that had suddenly wandered in stood before their gazes like a deer in the headlights. She stood there, black hair tied back, with some stupid hat and a brown coat. A notepad in her hands and a smile growing in her face that obviously told of the fact she was just caught with her hand in the cookie jar. Elassa turned back to Anassa, even though Of Magic and Of Sorcery were close concepts, Anassa was the almost opposite of the woman. Tall, her face sharp like a hawk, her red eyes almost glowing, her hair so dark Elassa had been jealous of it since she had met the woman thousands of years ago. The red dress only added to the vain nobility Anassa loved so much.

Elassa on the other hand was shorter, her hair flowing in waves, her face more pleasant. And she didn’t bother with dresses unless an occasion called for it. Clothes were enough, the blue cloak was only there because she didn’t want to be a total embarrassment in front of her sister. “I thought she was yours.” Anassa said quietly, her eyes shining and the edges of her lips trying to constrain laughter.

“Who are you?” Elassa shouted again. “I’m not going to ask again.” The put some life into the statue of a girl who had intruded on them.

“I’m a journalist!” The girl cried out, Elassa only barely managed to stop herself from sighing. “From Norjesk Rikkast! Aina Larsen!” At least she had the decency to bow.

“And what are you doing here?” Elassa took a heavy breath. A journalist? A fucking journalist? She understood why Leona had sent her here immediately but this? She had expected… Something more… not fucking cleanup duty.

“I’m writing a story on Arcadia, we want to encourage tourism here!” Aina shouted. “I just thought… Well…” She turned to the door and tested the handle again. “The door was open so I just thought that… I mean…”

Elassa turned to Anassa. “Why is the door open?”

“You didn’t lock it.” Of Sorcery replied coldly. “What are you going to do with her?”

“Don’t even give me ideas.” Elassa shut Anassa down immediately, there was no reason to discuss how best to quickly and quietly kill a poor woman who obviously wasn’t the brightest in the bunch.

“This is a restricted area.” Elassa shouted back, she channelled her magic effortlessly. Apparently mages would get a sense of euphoria when they casted magic. Elassa had been around for too long to feel it. “So I must tell you to stay away.” Aina bowed immediately.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I just thought…” She flicked her hands and pen appeared from her sleeve into her nimble fingers. “But could I have an interview?” Elassa heard Anassa chuckling behind her as she floated the stairs. That was annoying, but this girl… There was no reason to get angry at her, if the door was unlocked then it was her own fault for not checking. Back when the Divine Library was founded, all she had to do was wag a finger and her mages would know to stay away.

“I’d love an interview!” Anassa shouted.

“No interviews.” Elassa crushed the girl’s smile. “You’re from Norje, what city?”

“Osheim.” The girl said quickly, Elassa had expected as much, it was the capital. “Why?” She looked down at her feet as Elassa’s magic gently lifted her up into the air.

“I don’t want more tourism in Arcadia, this is a place of education, not some resort.” Elassa began and the girl hurriedly nodded along. “Do not write your story, I do not allow it.” Aina still had some confidence left.

“I… but you’re not… but please? It doesn’t have to be about Arcadia but if you’re a Goddess then anything!” Elassa lifted the girl higher. Was she not scared of magic? Or of her Divinity? She supposed a journalist would have some experience with both. The Goddess swung her finger and the doors to the Divine Library opened. “Are you throwing me out?”

“I’m taking you back to Osheim. You can interview me on the way.”

“Really?” The girl squealed with so much joy Elassa might as well have just promised her eternal life.

“Really.” Elassa said flatly. This is what she had been reduced to. The Goddess of Magic giving interviews to some foolish girl who happened to stumble upon Anassa.

Sara scowled as Elassa dropped her into the Osheim marketplace and flew off. She just had to play a stupid airheaded journalistic, all ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ for the entire five flight as Elassa had told her of things in the past.

She would look over her notes later, maybe the Goddess had made a mistake, but she doubted it. Arascus had set her standards for Divines; he never made mistakes.

But at least she found Anassa! Every time she tried to steer the conversation back to who that woman was, Elassa would steer it away.

Sara pulled out her phone and checked the flight timetables Osheim International Airport. Modern technology was a joy indeed: the next flight to Arcadia was in six hours.

Elassa started flying back to Olympiada. Now that Leona’s suspicions had been confirmed and dealt with, there was no reason to bicker with her domain-sister. No doubt Anassa would start talking down to her about how she should have killed this Aina.

What a waste of a day.