The OP Lich is a Returnee, Book 23 Epilogue (Patreon)

Epilogue – Elsewhere

Four individuals met in a darkened room. No names were shared. Those who knew about this meeting already knew who the other attendees were. There was no need for introductions.

Each individual represented a faction of power. While they were not the nominal heads of their factions, what was decided in this chamber would be carried out. One way or another.

On an unseen signal, the political representative took a breath. “It is now the appointed time. What do we know?”

The intelligence representative shook their head. “Only what has already been reported. The Anomaly used magic to finish what mages on the other side of the portal started, creating a stable gateway to the world she was summoned to, and where Huntress is from. A group of elves from that land came through, and spoke in a language none of the observers could understand.

“After the brief meeting, guards were posted around the gate, and the Anomaly and the leading mages from the elves spent a week creating a second portal on the island of Pagan, inside the Anomaly’s territory. When this happened, the first gate shut off, and mages from Risen Athelia returned the landscape of the Memorial Museum to its former state. Magic readings in the area have leveled out to ambient norms, though those norms are still rising gradually, with the curve slowing.”

The science representative nodded. “Yes, after the sharp initial rise, following the Unsealing, the magic levels have been steadily rising, but the change between data points is gradually lessening. Our projections are that the magic levels will gradually plateau at whatever the ‘normal’ level is for a planet of Earth’s type. What that will mean for the flora and fauna, not to mention the people, is unclear at this time.”

The military representative frowned. “What do we know about the area on the other side of this gate?”

The intelligence representative shook their head. “Not much, and all of it from the Anomaly’s people, either the undead, or the elves which apparently swore themselves into her service upon seeing her. It seems that the other world has gone through what they call the Unmaking, where several things happened at once, in time with the Anomaly’s departure from that world. The former capital of her realm was destroyed, slave collars failed simultaneously all across the continent, and powerful monsters who had been held back, but not destroyed, by the Anomaly’s forces were unleashed. Most of the nations on the continent have apparently fallen, and entire races are all but wiped out.”

The political representative nodded. “Then what we have received through diplomatic channels is likely correct. Any ventures through this gate will be small-scale affairs, until such time as the infrastructure can be built on both sides, which the Anomaly’s people estimate to be approximately five years of work. At which time the Anomaly promised the rest of the Alliance that traders and businesses would be as welcome there as they are anywhere in EAA territory.”

A pause, and then, “The Gateway remains a choke point, however, and a single point of contact, completely under the Anomaly’s control. Is there any word on how to possibly recreate it, or creating a path to a third world? Something that could introduce competition or reduce dependency on the Anomaly’s good will?”

The science representative nodded once, though reluctantly. “The Anomaly has honored her agreement with Red Dragon, sharing the ritual spellwork for the portal’s creation with him. However, much of the spellwork was predicated on the path having already been forced open twice before, in that same place. Both ends of the original portal were in roughly the same spot as the original summoning, and the Anomaly’s return. And there was still some degree of uncertainty in the process.

“Forcing open a second gateway to Onerth, or one to Red Dragon’s homeworld of Ouros, will be a substantially more difficult affair, without that pre-existing pathway to use. Think of it like the difference between diverting a river down a dry streambed, versus digging a canal. Both are forcing the water to move in different ways, but one is significantly more difficult. And the consequences for failure are not to be taken lightly. Opening a rift, even an unstable one, into the Void Between Worlds, and the hungry creatures that lie in wait, there, would be a major problem. Especially if we were to move without the support of the Anomaly, and her power to help keep those creatures in check.”

The science representative paused, and then said, “However, using the portal spellwork as a guide, Red Dragon has managed to open communications with his homeworld. The method is slow, and essentially amounts to sending letters back and forth, rather than allowing for actual conversation, but having the connection at all means that there is some possibility that a portal could be opened, eventually. However, Red Dragon refuses to move hastily on this point, a position that is supported by the rest of his colleagues. The risks of moving too quickly far outstrip the rewards at this time.”

The military representative grunted. “The military’s position is that opening a portal to what sounds like a hell dimension because we pushed things too quickly is a terrible idea, and would substantially negatively affect our readiness for external threats. Our recommendation is to give the scientists time to do the work properly, unless things advance to a point where the potential risks of failure outweigh the certain results of inaction.”

The political representative nodded. “In other words, unless something happens that makes accidentally opening a portal to a realm full of soul-eating monsters the lesser of two evils, do things properly. Very well, we’ll table any active experiments in that route until such time as success is more certain. Is there anything else?”

The intelligence representative nodded. “Yes, actually. We have confirmed that the leader of the elves who came through from Onerth is an Unholy Priest of the Queen of the Damned, by his own admission. The Queen of the Damned is how those who venerate the Anomaly as nascent godhead refer to her. It appears that the majority of the elves who are part of the Elves of the Blood Oak are part of the cult following her. We do not yet know how this will affect the anomaly.”

The political representative frowned. “What do you mean? From the reports, the Anomaly should not be one to allow people’s veneration to go to her head.”

The science representative shook their head. “No, it is not the possible psychological effects that are concerning, though they do remain something to look out for. As the Anomaly has shown, magic is affected by belief, and when dealing with the Holy and Unholy types, a true godhead is not required, so long as the belief is fervent enough. A Priest of Law as a concept does not need an actual God of Law to exist for their spells to work. There is concern that the influx of hundreds of thousands of true believers, not already subsumed into her power by being undead bound to her, will cause changes in the Anomaly herself, as the beliefs of the faithful combine their collective power.”

The military representative got very still. “In other words, a group of religious fanatics who believe the Anomaly to be a subordinate godhead of the Goddess of Death, and an avatar of vengeance, retribution, and damnation, may begin twisting the Anomaly into that image?”

The science representative nodded. “That is the concern, yes. Before the portal opened, the distance was too far for such things to matter. Think of a radio signal, but the receiver is out of range. However, now that the receiver is no longer out of range…”

The political representative nodded slowly, before looking to the intelligence representative. “Try and get more people in the Anomaly’s circle, to monitor her. No hostile action, but they need to observe for any changes in her attitudes or actions. We have already established good relations with her, so if we have a new goddess ascending, then it would be best to keep those relations positive, but we need information.”

“Understood.”