Lapistia

Stepping over the still-warm body of another prison guard, Sarnissa placed her hand on the stone wall opposite the main gate of the fortress and, brushing a layer of road dust mixed with dirt from her clothes, she paused, her gaze fixed on the glass dunes covering the horizon with bizarre silhouettes. This was definitely the most memorable day in recent years, comparable only to the colonial battles of the Nosrenrot fleet. With a slight creak of the well-lubricated mechanisms, the fortress gates lowered, opening a path through the wide mountain pass, somewhere into the distance, towards the lands of Yokehtan, which now seemed so familiar. Sad music, but at the same time filled with excitement and the joy of victory, gently began to play in Sarnissa's heart, but she had no musical instrument at hand. If she were susceptible to the emotions of ordinary mortals, she would obviously be struggling with the cold shiver that ran through her body, and she would not be able to close her eyes for a long time at night. Fortunately, at the moment, quite different thoughts troubled her mind. She was in her own estate in Nihotense, a small palace filled with luxury, grandeur, and the gloomy silence of peace and solitude. Numerous servants in white suits scurried around the house like mice, carrying exquisite drinks made from aged blood to the main group of Nihs, gathered around a large dining table. Sarnissa, comfortably settled in a chair, recounted to one of the guests her journey to the Ninsharr prison. "So, those are the Ninsharr, who possess that repulsive sun magic?" a Nih exclaimed in surprise, spreading his hands. "Such a risk! But tell me, how did you manage to plan the attack and achieve victory with minimal losses?" "So, you're saying they used an antimagic barrier to keep the prisoners and drain their energy?" another guest joined the conversation. "That's quite an interesting idea. However, I must say, I'm surprised that the inhabitants of this country have already reached such an advanced level of technological progress. They may pose a serious threat to us in the future, don't you think?" "That is quite likely," the third Nih nodded, emptying a glass of liquid in one gulp. "Who knows what these mortals will be capable of in time. Their insatiable thirst for profit and conquest far exceeds all reasonable limits. Who knows when one of them will set their sights on the values that we rightfully possess." "Nonsense," the first one shook his head negatively. "They are across the seas, thousands of miles from the shores of our empire. And, ultimately, what will they do? They will only create problems for themselves. Deadly problems. That's how the food chain works. A rabbit will never hunt a wolf." "Let's leave this meaningless topic," Sarnissa intervened in the conversation. "I wasn't talking about a threat, but only about my own observations. And, of course, about a theoretical possibility. Mortals are very inventive when it comes to financial gain. Everything you say is true, but it is also obvious that they are never satisfied with wealth or power. No matter how many years pass, sooner or later they will exhaust their own continent and turn their gaze to neighboring countries. Our authority in Lapistia is beyond doubt, but Erthea is a completely different continent. We can return to this conversation in a month. We can return to it in a year. We can even return to it in a hundred years. A moment for us, but a significant leap forward for mortal races." "Time is certainly the most amusing thing," one of the guests smiled slightly. "Even those who are not subject to its influence are forced to reckon with its impact on others. And it is not always only negative." Sarnissa woke up from her thoughts and looked around. The sun was already setting towards the horizon, finally allowing her to break free from the dark umbrella. The other mercenaries had already gathered the necessary supplies for the journey and provisions, loaded the gems, and armed themselves with first-class weapons of the elite guard, in short, they were preparing to leave. Yes, if all goes well, with her next visit to Nihotense, she will bring a lot of interesting news. "Alright, gentlemen. Congratulations on the successful completion of our first mission," she said to her allies. "So, we are returning home."