Almost six months had passed since Elly had been found and taken back to Zhou to live with her family. Though it left more questions than answers and prospects of genuine danger, which loomed over not just Agrovia Zhou and even Khumeia – Word of the events spread like wildfire, and it only added to Lycus' notoriety, and sightings of these peculiar cults seemed to have popped up all over the world. It was challenging to keep up with whether they were asinine claims or accurate, but regardless every instance of sighting or so-called contact with these cults were recorded and closely investigated. Agrovia had kept its dimensional borders sealed shut since it first came to Lestar Earth, and contention on whether it should open its borders seemed to be the talk of the town. Well, anywhere where politicians and officials gathered for debate and to discuss daily matters.  

Despite the country having only appeared in Lestar Earth barely a year ago, Shidare had ensured to lay down the groundwork for its appearance and created relations and possible allies through her connections as a Councilor of Marigold. However, the only place one could go to obtain a Zohar passport is in Cassiopeia, Marigold – And such a feature has only been made available in the prior month. Given that Piore was the heart of the import and exports of Agrovia and its economy and many other things. It was rather apparent that the naval presence in the surrounding waters was airtight, ensuring that no undisclosed boats or otherwise entered the country without a permit. Though, that was if they managed to get through the continent-wide Octroi field, which in the simplest terms is a multifactorial Omni-cartesian dimensional rift that allowed Agrovia to access both its world and Lestar Earth. It is almost completely impenetrable, and the only means of entering and exiting the country are through the Garrisons that surround its waters. 

The largest of which is located just off the coast of Piore; the Central SIREN Garrison – POSIDEON. Their naval force solely runs it, SIREN – which has almost 30 Garrisons around the parameter of Agrovia and nine "central" Garrison that run each district. The Garrison itself is a circular ring-like structure with separated sections designated along the outer ring as ports for incoming ships to enter or exiting ships on the other side of the port. The ships are then checked over thoroughly for any contraband, weapons or anything of the sort, as well as its passengers, who are checked for their Visas and other documentation before being taken within the inner waters of the Garrison for the processing, which can take anywhere up to forty-eight hours. AGE also has an outpost in each Garrison and are the ones who oversee the processing of Zohar Visa’s and can exchange most currencies at their outposts. There is a hotel and a holding cell for any criminals who try to enter or exit the country. Of course, it has the basic facilities one may need for their short stay: food, water, etc.  

Right now, POSIDEON was only housing a few dozen SIREN vessels, all of which were surveying and ensuring that the facility was ready for incoming vessels. Similar checks are being made throughout all the other Garrison, which have been done over the past few months. Along with this, URN has been working together with SIREN to ensure that the surrounding dimensional borders were in working condition, and the ports in each Garrison were controllable to allow access in and out of the country's waters. They would also have a small outpost in each region for research and maintenance purposes, though each SIREN Naval Ship was fitted out with a crew of Whitecoats and Domeheads. 

A veil of excitement and uncertainty lingered throughout the entire country, as tomorrow marked the official opening of Agrovia's borders, and POSIDEON would be the first of the many Garrisons to open their ports. Of course, this meant that the security was at its maximum capacity, and every town in Agrovia had its eyes on POSIDEON. It came as no surprise that since Agrovia declared it would be opening its borders and people could apply for visas that there was no shortage of tourists and curious individuals who wanted to visit the country. Already there were some ships who were waiting in nearby waters to venture into Agrovia, and some to the outside world. Some attempted to enter but were turned away, as currently only SIREN vessels were permitted to pass through the Garrison. One of which, was the famous “Sienna Torra” of the Fourth Naval Fleet, the Merlina Armada – named after one of Illyah’s Nine Great Seas. As possibly the largest ship in Agrovia’s Naval presence, it acts as the mobile headquarters for SIREN and is ran by its Fleet Admiral, the Golden Orison, Eris Lioness Who was currently aboard the ship with a guest. 

❝ So, I see you wasted no time in making a name for yourself~ Mrs “Star of the Armada”, or should I refer to you as “Fleet Admiral” now? Or maybe what they used to call you at the academy. Hmm~ What was it now? ❞ 

A velvet voice parted sultry lips as eyes reminiscent of autumn leaves stared into the glass of swirling, golden champagne that she he held up in a crystal glass before her. An almost devious yet elfin grin painted itself across the woman's lips as she spoke, whilst leaning against the railing of the bar that was in the central ballroom of the ship. Her tone was endearing, almost provocative even, though she paused mid-sentence as if she were collecting her thoughts, pursing her lips together and clicking her tongue before drawing blanks. Though she didn’t seem to care, and her attention remained on her hostess the whole time. Her short, Hime cut hair was the same colour as her eyes, which the fringe was parted with a small golden clip on the side and tucked behind her ears. She is a tall; well-endowed woman who oft wore her white sleeveless high cut dress with a thick, black belt across her waist; over a pair of black stockings that hugged her thighs and legs. Leaving the dress to cut off just below her hipline and doing little to cover what was beneath. Indolently hanging over her shoulders, was a dark green evening mess jacket that displayed three golden stars upon its lapel. It’s a common formal military attire worn by high-ranking officials in Archadia, and the three present stars represented the three Divisions she was part of, or in this case, commanded. Her attire was finished with a set of black high heels, which only added to her seductive demeanour. It was none-other than Aliza Harrow, the only current candidate for the position of Eight Saint; and the Commanding Sin of EYE. Of course, the top golden badge depicted an eye, the one below a hand and finally, the mark of the Pleiades. 

❝ I would say the same to you, Aliza, if it wasn’t for your tendency to skulk in the shadows. I take pride in my work, unlike you repugnant assassins... And as for what you may call me, I frankly don’t care. Just remember your place here. ❞ 

Another female spoke; who currently stood at the large windows of the room whilst she gazed out to the open skies outside. Her flaxen eyes then scanned the deck below, watching as the SIREN Marines went about their daily routines. Eris is known as a rather prudent woman, which is not only shown in her ethics but her appearance – Having a rather prim and proper attire and always taking care to keep her pale blonde hair neat and tidy. It went without saying that she did, given she was among the Lioness Familia, one of the official Five Crowns of Agrovia, and the eldest sister to Paladin and Saint Candidate Kuvira. Eris wore her usual getup, the typical white attire of Archadia but with an overcoat that tightly hugged her curvatons form, which was covered in golden markings and trimmings. On her hips she wore two belts, one of which had the well-known Satchel attached, and the other – Her sword, which was a shortsword sheathed in white and gold. Unlike Aliza, she wore the usual white combat boots, and dress pants beneath her overcoat. Her looks were complete with a set of golden hoop earrings on both sides. She did not look over to Aliza, who stood behind her whilst she held her gloved hand behind her back. As she spoke, it was clear that she had strong Agrovian blood run through her veins, made apparent by the thick brogue of hers, unlike Aliza’s which was quite subtle. 

❝ Ara, how cold~ <3 you’re starting to finally show some backbone? What happened to that docile demeanour of yours? Or were you just acting the role of Dorado’s timid little pet? ~ ❞ 

Aliza cooed, her tone was playful yet full of venom, much like her gaze which now set on Eris. It was clear that the two had history and made even more evident by the tension that wafted through the lukewarm air. Still, yet foreboding. The short haired woman grinned before placing the glass of champagne to her lips, before drinking it and placing the empty glass on the bar. As if exhaling a chuckle, Aliza lurched forward before making her way over to Eris, who now turned to face her. Eris spoke in her usual, clear yet flat tone.  

❝ Why are you here? I fail to see how one who spends her time cooped up in the mountains would need anything from me. And its surely not a routine visit, as last I checked – The Navy and Assassins Sector were two very different factions. ❞ 

The blonde woman went to speak once more, though her concentration, and stoic expression broke when Aliza suddenly approached her and leaned in close, almost pinning Eris against the window as Aliza placed one of her hands against the glass just over her shoulder. Eris’ lips quivered, almost showing a hint of fear from the woman as she closed her eyes and took a deep breath before furrowing her brows. Aliza’s lips curled into a snide grin, her almost snake-like eyes staring directly into Eris’. She paused for a moment, before shifting her hand and moving away. Turning around, Aliza stepped away from Eris as she did not look back, though spoke in a rather presagious tone. 

❝ Curiosity. Word on the grapevine is that there are rats about, and you know how I feel about information being leaked. Just wanted to make sure. Oh, and one more thing – Pink suits you <3 ❞ 

Eris breathed sharply; frustration clearly boiling beneath the calm surface of her demeanour. It was one thing to accuse someone of treason, but her of all people? One who is known to be an expert of espionage and assassinations? The mere thought almost made her laugh, if it wasn’t for the fact that it was a very real problem right now. But she knew Aliza well and wouldn’t play into her little games. So, despite the fire in her eyes, she relented and kept her lips sealed shut, though did clench her jaw in annoyance. A light blush appeared from Aliza’s last comment, eliciting the woman to glance down at her chest before buttoning up her coat. She cleared her throat, after a long pause and a deep breath, she finally spoke once more, seeming to relax as Aliza pulled away from her. 

❝ And? You would accuse me of such things? And what of you? Lest you forget your roots – You were once trained by Lycus, the man who is Agrovia’s most wanted man. And pray tell I hear that you’ve been plotting something. I don’t know what you plan to do, but I doubt Lady Sheyellia will just sit back and let you take her prisoners. ❞ 

❝ Where did you hear that? ❞ 

Aliza responded, ceasing her movements as her tone shifted to a colder, and serious demeanour. In fact, her entire playful mien seemed to completely disappear, and the lingering tension was enough to suffocate. Despite her title being one of “assassin”, the inner workings of EYE were far different to what the public knew. It was a faction that delt in espionage and information gathering, and seldom carried out real assassinations. The woman turned slowly to face Eris, though retracted before closing her eyes and sighing. Her smile returned, albeit moderately. Though her gaze which peered over her shoulder was cold, and sharp enough to kill. She waited for a response.  

❝ Hm? You’re the expert in gathering intelligence, why don’t you find out yourself? Or is it that you know I’m onto your little scheme? ❞ 

Eris grinned, if it wasn’t for the seriousness of the claim she would have chuckled. Though despite being so sure she had hit the nail on the head, something still felt off, like she was missing something. The room fell quiet for what felt like an eternity, only to be broken as Aliza sauntered towards the large wooden doors of the room. As she placed her hand on the door to push it open, she paused, before Eris spoke once more. Aliza glanced over her shoulder, though not at Eris.  

❝ Why the silence? Did you think you wouldn’t be caught out? I know your M.O. Torture for information, by any means. Usually white torture?  You always have preferred to break their minds first. But to think you would go as far as flaying? ❞ 

She was right about Aliza preferring to inflict mental torture on people rather than physical harm. It was a well-known fact, and the white torture method had become one which she was well known for. But she was equally famous for having never inflicted bodily harm on her victims, which was why Eris felt off about it. Torture was already a serious enough crime, without proper reason. But murder by flaying? That was crossing a line that was unforgivable. Such barbaric ats were outlawed centuries ago, and such forms of torture were illegal in all states. Eris was sure her intel was right, but the silence seemed to get under her skin more than it should, and not from her wanting Aliza to admit it. She sneered, before raising her voice – Almost yelling at the woman. 

❝ Say something already! You’ve been torturing and murdering people and for what? They may be former cultists but it's doubtful you’ll get any more information out of them than we already have. Besides, what would you have to gain from that? Maybe to silence them? ❞ 

Eris lamented, despite knowing Aliza well, the woman was one who was immersed in mystery. As any other member of EYE or its partner Sectors; each person was given a number upon them joining, and with that an entire personality and life built around it. Their origins were unknown; most of the time at least. Eris had known Aliza well when they were younger, though obviously not well enough. It was almost unheard of for EYE to approach anyone with a letter of offer, though Aliza had made a name for herself in the academy, and her skills were recognized. But ever since then – Aliza was almost unrecognisable. But as she left the room, her last words held a weight Eris could not place, but one which shook her to her very core.  

❝ I don’t kill. ❞ 

MAGI – The Magus Allied Guild Initiative, put in charge of overseeing the continent's mundane and magick everyday life was holding a summit at an undisclosed location. News of this had spread like wildfire, from speculation of what they were discussing to the suddenness of the Summit. Not to mention that it is almost unheard of that all of MAGI would meet without the prerequisite Quadrennial Federal Election. But even then, meetings are often held within local regions, and the last time they all meet was after the death of Elaine, the previous Captain Commander of Archaida – When they were first formed and discussed Ellianette taking over Elaine's role. Hell, they didn't even meet in this manner after the war, and the former church had attempted to usurp the throne and publicly execute anyone with noble blood –though why they didn't is rather apparent, as most went into hiding. So, to say this was a shock to Agrovia was an understatement.  

There were many other things to cover, from the passing of new trade legislation to the growing concern of organized crime – Those who held power saw no rest. All Eighty-Eight Constellations of MAGI were gathering, both Upper and Lower Stars – Senators and Magisters from every province and central town. As MAGI works in a semi-municipality, the Magisters or 'Local Representatives' of the local regions act according to the local governments; there are Sixty-Six members of the Lower House, known as the "Magisters" or "Lower Stars". The Upper House, which consists of the Senators, comprises Twenty-Two members and works on a Federal level of Government; they are also known as the "Great Constellations". As it stands, every member of MAGI is given a "seat among the stars", as one would say, as each member is given a "Constellation" with their seat and title. 

One of their current focuses, other than the opening of the borders and suppression of rumours of GOETIA, was the prospects of a possible world alliance headed by Caeser of New Rome. They hoped to raise this concern of theirs at the meeting in which Caesar had invited them, whether it was in the format of a forum or meeting of world leaders. The looming threat of GOETIA was all too real and had already seeped its way into Agrovia and Zhou and possibly other regions of the world. It was of the utmost importance that they dealt with this threat before it got any worse than it already was. As it stands, Agrovia has already been in discussions with Zhou to put out official bounties on the cultist's heads, however as it’s not a common practise in Agrovia and is more usually geared towards monsters and items, it was a somewhat difficult task to implement. 

Possibly Agrovia’s most significant concern was how deep the enemy may have infiltrated their information network, given that the former church was pretty much running the entire country for thousands of years whilst hiding their true motives – And the fact that little is known about the cults and its members due to their secrecy and creed to never show their faces. It was so bad that after the war, the Government ordered nearly every house in the country to be searched, and anyone who possessed a porcelain mask was charged with treason. It worked to some extent – But also caused an uproar among those who collected such things for a hobby. How to deal with such things was pivotal in recent discussions, most of which consisted of the most recent events and the planning of how to best combat the growing threat of the cults worldwide.  

If it wasn't for the fact that the entire location of the MAGI meeting was made classified, it was the fact that every Abbey in Agrovia was closed for the day, which caused unrest in the smaller regions of the continent. As the Abbey of Agrovia is typically the capitol building of each town and holds outposts for AGE, they are usually the very heart of the local communities. So, for them to shut suddenly did seem to stir some worry. The AGE Headquarters was the only one of its many offices open and was in no less than a state of chaos with a flood of calls and crowds of people showing up to ask what was going on. Most were turned away, though some barged through to voice their concerns and ask their questions, only to be turned away by the ACE officers who were acting as security. The Chief of ACE's leading Policing Sector "The Blue Hour" – Geharde Giger. Coincidentally she is also the Commander in Chief of the entire ACE Division, so her having taken leave from Candria to oversee the security of Guild Headquarters only added to the weight of anxiety that washed over the whole city of Piore – And perhaps the entire nation.  

❝ Just because the Abbey's are all closed doesn't mean that the world suddenly stops – We still have people working in the background, so everything is handled daily; we just aren't opening the banks and other facilities. No, you won't lose your business. Yes, it is for today only... No, the hospitals are still open. And honestly, I don't know, and I am a Police Chief, not an accountant. ❞ 

A drawn sigh parts lips as crimson eyes scanned the female's desk; a firm hand ran through silverine hair as the other set down the phone, and she leaned back in her chair. She stared up at the ceiling before breathing sharply and hunching back to rub her face tiredly, then her temples. A slight growl elicited her mouth, though she seemed to pat down the frustration by rigidly tapping her finger on the desk. Geharde is a rather large woman, muscular and one who often dwarfed most men in her line of work, though she had a soft-featured face, long silver hair and crimson eyes. Right now, she wore her usual getup, which was a detective's suit and tie, though the jacket was strewn across her chair, and her shirt was unbuttoned, and her tie pulled out and hanging loosely around her neck. She also wore a pair of dark dress pants and combat boots to finish. If she had any defining features, it would be the abundance of scars that seemed to litter her body, all up to her arms which were bare from having rolled back her sleeves, to her neck and face. 

Her office went silent; all but the nervous ticks of the clock seemed to linger with every passing second, only seeming to add to her growing agitation before she finally balled her hand into a fist and slammed it against the desk. The female sighed and slumped over to lay her head on the desk. She went still before turning to look over at the large mug beside her. She reached for it, though she scrunched her face with a sigh upon seeing it was empty. Frankly, she was unsure just how many brews she had today, though it didn't matter – Her work was far from over, despite this moment of reprieve. She did, however, feel somewhat lonely, reminiscing about her secretary and right hand, who was stuck back in Candria. The female pouted before grumbling to herself.  

❝ Thio... ❞ 

Geharde groaned, stretching her arms out with a yawn before pulling herself up from the desk. It was honestly vexing, having to quell the public outroar whilst the members of MAGI meet for something they refuse to disclose. Yes, most of the topics of discussion was public knowledge, but not nearly enough to bring them all to hold a summit – Let alone one which they refuse to disclose the location for. It was fishy, because this was the first time in recent history that they would implement a country wide shut down for the Abbey’s. Something else was going on, and she wasn’t the only one to think so. She sighed, shaking her head to get herself out of the proverbial rabbit hole of conspiracies. Her ears perked, as did her head in the direction of the fax machine, which suddenly sprung to life, beeping and jittering as it began to spew forth a paper. The woman got up, making her way over to pull the form out from the machine. She paused, silently gazing at the report in her hand for what seemed like an eternity, before the paper finally slipped through her fingertips. She did not pick it up, rather by the time it hit the ground she had retrieved her coat and left the room. The door swung back and forth as departing footsteps littered the halls. Though it was coded and encrypted; the letter read as follows: 

[ URGENT REPORT: 

CLASS THIRTEEN PRISON BREAK. 

CLASSIFICATION TOP SECRET. 

CODE BLACK. 

CALLING ALL GAOL OPERATIVES TO THE QLIPPOTH PRISON. 

SUBJECT IS GONE.  

PRISONER IDENTIFCATION REDACTED. 

TIMEFRAME UNKNOWN.  

STATUS UNKNOWN. 

THREAT LEVEL UNKNOWN. 

PROCEED WITH CAUTION.  

DO NOT WARN PUBLIC. ]