Dimensional Descent

"From now on I will be in charge."

Secretary Marquisette Maia's demeanor completely shifted. From a coquettish, seductive air, the atmosphere around her became oppressive and heavy. It felt as though she had become a completely different person. No… It was like she had gone back to being that old hag of over a year ago…

"First, the scouting missions will be ramping up. I want anyone with speed, concealment and sensory abilities to be inserted in a reconnaissance unit effective immediately. The only exceptions I will allow are those in commanding roles.

"All Tier 5 Admirals will be responsible for securing a ten kilometer coastal buffer. The ocean has been ruled by beasts for too long, how useless are you all for allowing this to continue?

"All Tier 5 Generals will be in rotating vanguard positions. I don't want there to be a single moment in any single day where there is not any pressure being applied on these jumping monkeys of Terrain. How long do you intend to allow them to gallivant on our turf? Is this what being a noble means to you?

"General Umbred, General Sater, General Tudo. Consider yourselves demoted. Your replacements will be the new General Milan, General Raj and General Joel."

"What?!"

General Umbred stood in a rage, his mustache furiously blowing in all his anger.

"Sit down."

Umbred felt a cold shiver course through his veins. He met Maia's cold gaze, completely unable to stop his body from trembling.

"While you were holing yourself up in the safety of this dome, those three led a vanguard against the Invalid tide. Yet, you still dare to call yourself a general and even raise your voice toward me? Who do you think you are?

in

he couldn't believe what he

Cloud prison wasn't a death sentence for himself, but it was most definitely one

this Milan person replacing him was, nor did he know a Joel or Raj. All he knew was they had to be commoners because the only ones who would

worse, because he

too heavily. They could only watch with sunken expressions as Umbred was escorted

finished and the legacy his family had built

what's been happening in my absence? This sort of dereliction of duty will not be tolerated. Every offender will receive a more damning sentence

as though nothing had happened, listing

the nobles listened, the more they realized that Maia had ears everywhere. Every one of her new

hearts tighten. They sat up straighter, their demeanor becoming several

Maia could have managed this was if she had informants. But, it was impossible to tell who they were, it left

clever men and women used to the world of politics, they tried to pay attention to who Maia put in positions of power, trying to see if they could deduce who to be wary of in the future. But, the more they tried to

or didn't change much at all. It left them all in a state of limbo, as though they were suspended above an abyss they could fall to the

doing this on purpose by now, they wouldn't

pressure, which of them would

reorganize the inner city and make room for the commoners to enter. Level the outer city and repurpose the steel

their ears. What did Maia say just now? Allow the commoners

gave a reason for anything, but deep inside, the nobles knew exactly why she made every decision.