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 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."