Agedia led the group down, along the fastest path. Along the way she turned towards Estrith.

“Hey, you’re a Dobhar, right? You’re the first one I’ve met! I thought the Dobhar never left the North Seas, how did you end up here?”

Estrith scowled at her. But her instincts warned her of this woman, so she replied.

“Unspeakable humiliations the likes of which you’ve never known.”

Agedia nodded.

“Ah, you lost and got subjugated, huh? Sorry to hear that. You get used to it eventually though, took my people about two hundred years or so? But it’s not all bad. Enchanted heaters are nice, and I hear the food’s a lot better than what we used to make.”

Estrith glared at her and then looked away, refusing to interact with the Mélusine any further. Agedia shrugged and turned to NSLICE-00P.

“What about you, shiny girl, where are you from? I’ve never seen armor like that.”

“Answer: This unit currently lacks a home base, previous home bases were destroyed or had the designation removed. Specific details on this unit’s armor are classified.”

“Ah, don’t want to talk about it, huh? That’s fine, how’d you end up here?”

“Answer: A forced relocation upon conclusion of a mission.”

Agedia nodded.

“Ah, yeah I’ve stepped in teleport traps before. Rough stuff. Like drinking too much, except without the fun parts.”

They had arrived on the twentieth floor when Agedia stopped. She narrowed her eyes and drew her lance.

“We’re close, can you see it?”

NSLICE-00P zoomed in. They were in a straight and narrow hall that led to a large circular chamber. She could see a large mass of tough, black chitin curled together, corresponding to a massive energy signature on her mana sensors.

“Affirmative.”

NSLICE-00P turned to face her group.

“Observation: mana-readings exceed recordings of NSLICE Uscfrea. Request: This unit requests all friendlies wait in a secure location. This unit cannot guarantee safety at tactical ranges. Command: Friendly Estrith, please ensure friendlies Ateia and Taog’s safety.”

Estrith frowned, gritting her teeth. Her first instinct was to lash out and refuse the usurper’s comparison to Her King. But she held her tongue. If there was one thing she could admit, it was that the Queen of the Dobhar was strong. The usurper was in her rights to make such claims.

Also, if this monster was stronger than Her King…then there was a chance the usurper might lose. And Estrith could not intervene in a battle between such powerful opponents. It would be…such a pity. Yes, she would just have to wait here, as the Queen of the Dobhar commanded. It couldn’t be helped.

Agedia turned to her.

“What are you planning, shiny girl? You going to take that stupid worm alone?”

“Response: This unit will conduct covert reconnaissance, and commence with hostile termination if the probability of success is reasonably high.”

Agedia frowned, but nodded.

“Well, if you’re sure. I’ll hang back for now, and intervene if you start attacking.”

“Affirmative.”

With that, NSLICE-00P activated her invisibility spell and made her towards the chamber.

The spell shape Armor is now level 4!