Imperial Control
As they made their way back up the stairs, Sirene had lots of time to think. It was obvious in hindsight that she was under the control of Enrapture and the final orders were the most insidious of all. To forget the spell was ever cast on her, and refuse to tell anyone its secrets. Was Tanya really that afraid of what Sirene would do to her if she found out? Sirene was quite sure she never actually loved Tanya now, at least. But had Tanya loved her?
"You're still thinking about her. I wouldn't." Rebecca said, snapping Sirene out of her thoughts.
"How did you-"
"Because I would be doing the same thing. Have some advice, from one woman to another. Don't dwell on past mistakes. Find somebody more deserving of the Hero. Someone more deserving of Sirene the woman."
"Poignant advice from a so-called Villain." Sirene said with a small smile. "But perhaps you're right."
"The Duchess is always right, Sirene." Sergei said quietly, though if Sirene heard she didn't reply.
The rest of the climb was in complete silence, until they neared the top and Rebecca spoke up again.
"You're very hard on yourself, Sirene. Such is the burden of the Hero, is it not?" Rebecca asked as they passed the threshold and re-entered the Court proper.
"I didn't ask to be who I am." Sirene said quietly.
"Do you think I did?" Rebecca asked in return. "I'd rather live on a farm and get plowed every night, frankly."
Sirene couldn't help but laugh at Rebecca's sudden straightforwardness, and even Rebecca cracked a smile.
"So why didn't you?" Sirene asked, as they made their way back over to the main spiral staircase.
"I ran away from home and my father the Duke had agents looking for me everywhere. But I could have disappeared. Dyed my hair, cut it. Loaded up on mana. I did for a time. I loved it. But my past has a nasty habit of coming to bite me in the ass if I'm not prepared. I let my guard down and nearly died for it."
"Duchess-"
"Drop it." Rebecca said, and she would say no more on the subject.
Walking through the library in silence besides the whirr of the automaton, Sirene led them to a large pair of double doors. She gave them a swift kick, and the doors parted open only just enough for them to enter. The room was pitch black, and the door stayed open as they walked deeper inside.
"No lighting?" Rebecca asked.
"The magic has long run out." Sirene admitted, sounding sad. "My presence is charging the great magic vaults of the Court, but it takes time. We'll just have to wait."
"What do you mean your presence?" Sergei asked. "Doesn't sound like any kind of magic I've ever heard of."
"The Curia leeches mana off of members when they are inside, Mister Ivanov." The automaton answered, the metallic voice a slight shock as Sergei and Rebecca had forgotten it can even speak. "Duchess Ashe, if you allow us to, you could greatly speed up this process, as the Conservator's mana pool is quite small."
Rebecca didn't say anything, and instead smiled broadly. She wondered for a brief moment if she could simply seize control of the Court by pouring enough mana into it, but decided not to do that, as Sirene was giving it to her anyway. She offered her hand to the automaton, and while it didn't make any sort of acknowledgement, it took her hand.
Rebecca could tell the Court itself was not prepared for the sheer amount of mana she had stored inside of her body, and audibly laughed as everything around her suddenly shot to life, bolts of lightning arcing in the air as the lights in the room flickered and began to glow. The long dormant meeting table in the centre of the room glowed with blue light as it filled with her mana, and even Sirene seemed shocked.
"Duchess just how much mana did you have stored?" Sirene asked, her eyebrows raised.
"I ate an entire banquet feast on my own before leaving." Rebecca answered, gesturing at her chest. "Notice I'm a bit, well, deflated now?"
Sirene looked at Rebecca and nodded. She was very well endowed to put it politely just a few seconds ago, but now she was practically a washing board. "How do you even do that?"
"Didn't you know, Sirene? Mana is stored in the breasts." Rebecca said with a wink. "Automaton, is this enough power?"
"The Curia is fully charged." It responded.
"Excellent!" Sirene exclaimed. "Ahem. To the meeting table please. I need to take my seat."
Sirene walked with confidence over to the table, and sat in the chair marked Conservator.
"I, Conservator Ignitis, hereby relinquish ownership of the court." Sirene shouted. "I designate Rebecca Ashe, the Ashen Empress, as its new owner."
"Rebecca Ashe." The statues lining the wall boomed in unison. "Do you accept?"
Rebecca smiled before speaking. "I do. The rights and responsibilities of the Shadow Court are those of the Ashen Empire. The Court shall become the Imperial Library, a repository of knowledge for all mankind."
"Directive confirmed." The statues boomed.
"I hereby resign as Conservator." Sirene shouted. Rebecca expected as much, and nodded. "The Republica is long gone, and my time is past. I will stay as an adviser until such time that my services are no longer required."
"Empress Ashe, confirm strength to rule." The statues boomed.
"What do they mean by that?" Rebecca asked Sirene.
"This is what I was talking about. The Court itself has to accept you." Sirene said. "Go, sit in the Imperator's chair." She continued, gesturing at the ornate chair at the round table.
Rebecca eyed the chair dubiously. Was this the final trap to get rid of her? However, for all her mistrust of her, she knew Sirene was no murderer. So with some hesitation, she sat in the chair. Instantly, she could feel the entire Court. It was massive, even bigger than the library they already saw. It stretched for dozens of miles in every direction, like a honeycomb. Right away, she knew what she must do.
"Sigilus." Rebecca stated, as her skin began to glow a soft blue. "Move dimensional entrance to basement of Ashe Manor, location pulled from my memory aged 10."
"Dimensional transfer confirmed, Empress." The statues boomed.
"Change all references to Shadow Court to Imperial Library. Update language for all automatons to Modern Karandi."
"Directives confirmed, Empress Ashe."
"State nature of magic forbidding entrance of rusalki." Rebecca continued, moving right along. It was hers now, it would bow to her every whim.
"Entities not endemic to Karand cannot naturally enter the Imperial Library." The statues boomed.
"Ugh. Bring me an automaton to converse with. This is tiresome." Rebecca said. She was getting sick of the shouting.
A male elf shaped automaton emerged from the base of one of the statues, and smoothly walked over to the table with no hint that it was artificial beyond the appearance.
"Will this suffice, Empress?" It asked, the voice metallic but smooth.
"Yes. Elaborate on what you have just said, Sigilus." Rebecca continued, standing up.
"Who's Sigilus?" Sirene asked, curious.
"When I connected to the Library just now, it told me its name. The name of the mind that has run this place since the time of your great-grandfather, Sirene." Rebecca stated.
"The rusalki come from beyond Karand. They are from the place between places." Sigilus answered. "This place was built for many reasons, but the original reason was to be for the benefit of the Rozen Republica. Early on, the threat of outsiders was recognised, and so those not from Karand were simply banned through examination of the natural aura."
"Why doesn't that keep out the Gods? Eigengrau has appeared in here several times." Sirene asked, pacing.
"Uncertain. Divine providence likely overrides any restrictions mortals can create." Sigilus speculated.
"Nevermind that." Rebecca said dismissively. "Can the barrier be altered?"
"Affirmative."
"Exclude the current Moonfall Prince and any rusalki who are descendent of myself." Rebecca stated. "No other changes are to be made while I am alive."
"Directive confirmed." Sigilus responded, his body shimmering for a moment.
"How many staff do I need to run the Library?" Rebecca asked.
"Two." Sigilus responded. "A Head Librarian, and a magician."
"Magician?" Rebecca asked. "Do you mean a mage?"
"Wait, TWO?" Sirene asked, incredulous. "Then why did-"
"You were chained by tradition and had convinced yourselves you needed all of those positions." Sigilus interrupted. "Yes Empress, your modern word of mage matches. Do you have anybody in mind?"
"I have a Head Librarian in mind." Rebecca said, smiling from ear to ear. Wouldn't Hamlin be surprised?
"Who?" Sirene asked, curious.
Instead of answering, Rebecca gestured for them to follow her. As she began her walk, Sigilus nodded, and the automaton returned to the base of the statue it emerged from. With a nearly silent click, a small nook opened and it stepped back inside. As they re-entered the library, the staircases were already rearranging themselves to Rebecca's whims, and she was pleased to see displacement runes already forming at the base of the staircases. Pointing at one, she stepped onto it and vanished immediately. Sirene and Sergei followed, and they found themselves back up at the antechamber entrance to the Library.
In the centre of the antechamber a staircase now stood, and Rebecca walked up without another word. Following close behind, Sirene discovered they were in a basement room when they emerged.
"Welcome back to the Ashe Manor, Miss Ignitis." Rebecca said, bowing.