Arcadia had a thoughtful expression.

"Do you think Somnus can hear us in here?" Emily asked.

"I used to think not as I couldn't sense any detection spells, but now I am not so sure," the priestess replied as she warily took a seat at the table.

"M-m-maybe you should apologize for being dishonest..." the princess suggested.

"For being curious, you mean?"

[Logistics: Delta superalloy added. +249 kg.]

"Somnus killed Atmohim. Atmohim, Father of all Dragons! You do not want to let a potential misunderstanding lead to... consequences."

Arcadia sighed. "Very well. I am sorry that I was dishonest about Divination taking preparation time. I merely wanted an excuse to stay longer and find out more about you and your castle," she said in one breath.

Emily gestured for Arcadia to continue with a flick of her wrist.

"What? More?" Arcadia took a deep breath.

"You don't understand Somnus, Priestess. He doesn't care who or what you are. Look at me! He is making me clean."

[Traffic a.n.a.lysis: Updating swarm algorithm. Efficiency increase: 3.2%]

Arcadia chuckled causing Emily's face to twist into a grimace.

"But surely, he wouldn't hurt you, your Highness."

Emily's grim expression was more than enough of an answer for Arcadia.

"Perhaps I should go and make sure my message is received..." Arcadia muttered and stood up. "Are you coming with me?"

Emily shook her head and picked up a nearby cleaning cloth, "I don't want to die, yet. Good luck, Arcadia."

The priestess pressed her lips together and then departed for the elevator, picking up her staff on the way.

[Switching to elevator camera.]

The elevator hummed, "Deck 3... Deck 2... Deck 1... Ground level."

[Switching to external camera #7.]

Arcadia walked out into the open while carefully avoiding the drone traffic. To be more precise, the drone traffic avoided her. The FOB's progress had stalled ever since Somnus returned from Solus Hill. Most of the materials and components were used to replace the armor it had lost, and some of the weapons that were damaged by Atmohim. Still, it was a proud fortress of technological advancement. Factories and refineries polluted the air and the mechanical labor buzzed with activity. The most recent addition was a concrete path that led from the gates to the edge of the woodland. It looked like an eyesore when it was set to the background of lush gra.s.sland.

"Lord Somnus," Arcadia spoke as she stood in front of the machine. "I would like to apologize."

"Request denied," Somnus spoke with it's mechanical, monotone voice.

Arcadia blinked, swallowing her next words.

"Proceed with activity: Divination. Comply." There was an intangible threat in those words.

"Yes, of course," Arcadia hurriedly said. "When I begin the chanting, there will be lights and flashes. That is normal..." she added warily.

"Proceed."

Targetting chevrons popped up around Arcadia. The CIWS turrets all pointed at her.

Arcadia cleared her throat and struck the b.u.t.t of the staff against the ground. Rings on the crown of the staff all rang out, as motes of light began to gather around the staff.

"Glorious Het, Triarch of Creation, grant my sightless eyes the vision to see beyond the Void," Arcadia chanted and she was enveloped in a golden, soothing light.

"Banish the veil of benightedness and grant me this insight. In your hallowed name, Divination."

Arcadia's eyes flashed with a brilliant light and her hands let go of the staff. The staff remained upright, and then floated off the ground.

[OPCOM: a.n.a.lyse object.]

[Technologies: No propulsion detected. No magnetism detected. Material makeup: Unknown. Probability match: Anti-gravity technology.]

The staff landed and Arcadia's hands wrapped around it. The glow around her was gone. Her eyes returned to their normal shade of blue.

"I don't think it worked, Lord Somnus," she said. Her apprehension was gone, there was only the ember of curiousity in her eyes.

"Elaborate."

"I am not sure how to explain. I think you are a World Boss or maybe a Heroic Summon. Possibly both."