The Goddess' Champion

"So you're saying this place is the Sadamek Empire?"

The small group of three walked across the forest following the bulky man's lead, he was still rather depressed, apparently, he and Sam went along for a long period, and even though during their small journey together he did see some signs of him approaching Anne, he still didn't expect the man to betray him such.

The 'plan' of stealing the Blood of Sandork hadn't been discussed with him.

"Yes, the main continent in Sandoria is divided into three major territories, the Wolf Empire, the Elf Kingdom and the Sadakmek Empire... we have lost a lot of territory to both sides, more the Wolf Empire than anybody else... the elves are rather arrogant and haughty, they don't bother to come to this 'dirty' land... but the werebeast are wicked, they see humans as nothing more than livestock or means of reproduction... ever since humanity was cursed, we have lost a lot." He explained things that even schoolers should know to this 'sage'... by now he's aware this person comes from far away and he might even be a god envoy.

"The Sadamek Empire is divided by three vassal kingdoms, the dynasty of Sadamek which is straight in the capital, the Magnus Kingdom and the Delafell Kingdom, both are extremely weak territories that have lost their power with time and are perhaps going to disappear in the future, we're currently in the vassal kingdom of Magnus." Andre kept explaining everything he knew.

Constantine wondered what was it that kept those kingdoms upright if they were that weak, they should have been consumed by the Empire long ago.

"Is there anything that the vassal kingdoms do for the empire?" The conqueror inquired.

"Vassal Kingdoms have the responsibility to pay taxes to the empire in the form of resources, it is taken from the towns each month, they also have to send prominent talents that they find to the capital, failure to comply with these instructions would render heavy punishment." Zamira added her own piece of information, wondering why he was so interested in those matters that are usually never touched upon by people like them, well, he is indeed a strong magus, but even strong magus stay away from politics unless necessary.

"How are the relationships between the Human Empire and the other two?"

"Hostile... we're in a sort of cold war, there are no hostilities between one another, but we're also not allowed to enter their territory, the joke is... special envoys of their empires are allowed to enter here, what a joke..." Andre disdained.

"How come?" He opened his eyes slightly, this was a clear sign of servitude or at least, the regiment of the Human Empire was being negligent.

"The Elves and the Werebeasts aren't stronger than our magus, but... they are greater in number, in a full-blown war, we'd lose, in order to maintain peace, some concessions were done, one of them is that political individuals are allowed to enter the Empire unrestrained, they're usually nobles of either kingdom or empire that come here seeking 'breeding stock'..."

"What does that mean?" Constantine growled, it sounded like slavery.

"As you heard, they come here to seek partners to mate with, mostly humans with the magic of the elements, after having descendants with them, they hope their children, hybrids, to inherit it... afterwards they leave, that's all they want from us... they also come for resources such as the blood of sandork in your hands, but those are quite scarce in these already plundered lands..."

"It might not be as you're thinking Constantine, it is not as if they can simply take whoever they want, however, the empire also won't protect them more than necessary, usually, if a wolf noble to say, wants to take a maiden for himself from a duke family, they have to agree to give her away, if they don't then both families will send an envoy to fight, if the lady's family loses, she has to go... this only applies for royal families, however... if it is a common individual who is chosen, unless he or she can't protect themselves, they're ruined "

Zamira saw how his expression turned ugly at the mention of 'breeding-stocks' truthfully that's how they were called as they were used for that purpose or nothing else, but at least, the different forces in the Empire had made sure that humans could at least fight their way out of a compromise.

"... are females from the Wolf Empire and the Elven Kingdom also picking up males here?"

"Yes, it happens as often as males do... there was a story that once a male prince from the Delafell Kingdom who was proficient in the magic of two elements, got chosen by three werebeast noble ladies of three different houses, he rejected the compromise as he was already due to marry a human duchess but his house lost the fight and he was taken away, according to them, he was supposed to come back a few days later after having successfully given up his seed, but... it is said he never came back, it became huge political strife, apparently he died there, that or for some reason he never came back." Zamira placed her finger on her lips, trying to conclude.

'Lucky bastard, why would he come back!? I would not... and even if he died he must have died happy.'

[You rogue!]

'Never said I wasn't...'

...

"But this doesn't happen the other way around, if a human magus wants to marry a werebeast noble, he is simply unable to unless she's the head of the family, and her coming here to live with him would be the same, his family would have to accept her, it is quite complicated... both the Elf Kingdom and the Wolf Empire don't want humans to get a hold of their magic either so such arrangements are almost impossible, the last time a werewolf female intended to marry a man and come to the Sadamek Empire, both were slaughtered, it was an example..."

"Madness..." He said so, but analysing the underlying politics, he could understand the reason for their movements.

"In this world, everything is about power, Constantine." Zamira remarked.

"In every world, that's how it is." He corrected her, his world hadn't been any different.

But he wasn't yet aware how much distinct both worlds were, when she said 'everything' she wasn't saying it literally.

**

**

It was once again time to rest, they lay against the trees and Constantine said he'd guard this evening, he tried to process all the information given to him by both people.

'How are my cores, Zebellia?' He inquired while swinging his two legs to the sides, paying attention to everything in this forest, yet aside from some minor animals like squirrels, there was nothing noteworthy.

Their eyes contained greed, but the moment they saw him, they backed off.

[They are in their full capacity, what do you plan to do?]

'Nothing, I just want to be ready if we're attacked.'

[Have you felt any presence?]

'I have felt nothing, this place is quite desolate, not even monsters, however, the distances are rather far, five days from the forest to a town, I guess we were quite far away.' He deduced; the unbearable need for a steed resurfaced in his mind, every journey would be much faster that way, lucky, there was already a horse nearby.

'Zebellia?'

[Hmn?]

'How do I tell you to be my personal little horsey without you getting pissed at the request?'

[...]

[-20 Karma Points]

'Now that I remember, isn't being my horse part of your secretary responsibilities?'

[FUCK YOU!] She wouldn't allow herself to be played again, a steed is definitely NOT a secretary.

'Oe oe, no need to get so upset?~ I will give you a nice meal daily' he said as if it was the best bargain in the world.

[-20 Karma Points]

'Aight, I will shut up... but I won't surrender' the last thing he wanted was his mouth to ruin the increasingly great progress of his decreasing debt.

Having an intergalactic horse as his noble steed would be his biggest conquest yet, and the conqueror never gives up.