192, 1/2

The sky was black, and though distant stars held in that grand expanse above, their fearful light did not do much all the way down here, on the Surface of Veird. The world was quiet. Even the wind seemed shy, for Darkness stood upon the land.

Melemizargo’s glowing white fangs and shining white eyes were the brightest lights here, warning everyone who held the true power in this place. The dragon’s size did a lot for that announcement, too, at being nearly 40 meters tall, while the back of his throat glinted with a restrained white fire, reminding everyone present that he could burn away everything, should he be given reason to open his maw and let loose that annihilation.

Erick’s Benevolent sunform and accompanying jolts of lightning were a nightlight compared to the brightness of the God of Magic. The only presence Erick outshone was that of Goldie, though her bright white eyes were a tiny mirror for Melemizargo’s. At that thought, Erick wondered why he was thinking of the sizes of lights. He came to the conclusion soon enough: he was terrified.

Only an idiot wouldn’t be terrified in this situation.

Everything was happening, all at once.

And yet, Erick was ready; as ready as he could ever be. His Ophiel were around him and wrapped in defenses, and so was he. He took a calm breath, and turned his sight to the horizons, all around. Where was everyone else? Shouldn’t Rozeta and the wrought and Kirginatharp and the Mind Mages all know that Erick was back? That he had finished the Worldly Path? That it was time to face the Darkness?

They had to know that Melemizargo was threatening to upend the entire way that life worked here on the Surface of Veird, right? Taking [Teleport] away from every single person, or preventing [Teleport] from working up here, would have catastrophic cascading effects.

Some people lived directly below the ground in hiding holes with no connection to the surface, or inside well-defended mountains, and the only way to get to town and back was to use [Teleport]. In a much larger sense, [Teleport] was the backbone of overland-based trade. There were still a lot of shorter-distance, caravan-based trades that happened between farming field and main towns, but everything between all major cities was mass-[Teleport] driven—

Well. There was shipping-cargo-based trade, too. That wasn’t [Teleport], but only because ships could go very fast and haul a lot of cargo a long distance. The basic [Teleport] spell simply didn’t give enough bang for the buck when it came to hundred-thousand-ton shipments that needed to cross the oceans, or through the Underworld.

The Underworld would be mostly fine if Surface trade collapsed, for almost all of their direct shipments were point-to-point caravans between Geodes or outlying Geode-adjacent cities, but many deep cities still traded through the Surface. The Geodes all had Surface-based trade in some way, too. In those cases, a city would usually have a long road connection to the Surface, which then connected them to all the production up here, and to [Teleport].

… Perhaps everyone did know that Melemizargo was making threats.

Erick saw no [Scry] eyes in the sky—

“I blocked casual observation,” Melemizargo said, his voice rumbling like a quake. “If anyone wants to participate in this conversation then they must come forward and actually participate. You’re risking it all appearing in person, so they should too.”

Erick fully resigned himself to the outcomes of the day, and forced himself to relax. It worked, a little. “The gathering is taking longer than I expected, so I’m going to make some furniture.”

Without waiting for confirmation of acceptability, or anything like that, Erick went ahead and began [Stoneshape]ing simple stone chairs out of the ground. They were little more than orange blocks with a bit of a backing, but he made himself one, and then he made five more. The stone chairs formed most of a circle about twenty meters in diameter, while leaving a large section un-chaired to account for Melemizargo on the north side of the space. Smaller, broader Shapings turned the land into solid stone, while leaving multiple extra spaces open for other chairs to be placed, if more people came.

Erick glanced over to Melemizargo’s space, and saw that he had transformed his own rather large area into stone, too. Erick nodded at that, and then he turned back to what he had made—

“Six chairs?” Melemizargo asked.

“There’s space for more, but…” Erick looked at the chairs. “Rozeta. Koyabez. Phagar. Kromolok. Kirginatharp. And me. And you. I’m not expecting and nor do I want the full Relevant Entity pantheon…” He paused. “But maybe a space for Dinnamoth, the Demon King, and Adavido, the Crown of the Host? I’d like to enact a lasting peace there, too— Ah. And… Not Fairy Moon. But one of them from that side—” Erick suddenly stood straight. “Bright Smile. Yes.”

Melemizargo leaned his head in a little, saying, “Wouldn’t work. Kirginatharp would want to kill her on sight. Fairy Moon will speak on their behalf.”

… Probably best to avoid the topic of Bright Smile’s Benevolent Lightning collar, anyway. This was already going to be a tense discussion.

“Would Kirginatharp react the same way to any dragon?”

“Yes.”

“… No other dragons then.”

Melemizargo grinned. “Having Fairy Moon here would make all others rather more compliant with the words of this meeting.”

“I would rather whatever agreements we come to be enforced through understanding and compassion, rather than magical compulsion.” Erick realized that he was speaking through fear, though, so he added, “But I suppose she is an ally now, and I should take advantage of that to at least protect myself.”

“Quite right!” Melemizargo added, “And based on the natures of all invited peoples, the words spoken here would have a deep weight beyond their physicality. In attempting this talk, you are making a type of uncategorized magic that would usually fall apart before it could even get going; an agreement of gods. My advice for what comes next is to go small, and precise. Write down lines you don’t want crossed, while leaving the vast majority of interactions free of fetters— Ah! Speak of the fae and they shall appear.” Melemizargo glanced down at the circle of chairs.

Fairy Moon sat on one of those chairs, her green and pink eyes gently glowing along with her pink and white dress. A crown of rainbow flowers adorned her head. “Of course I would show for the show, you younglings! I was too busy burying bodies last time to be raised to Relevance, but this day is different. Today I turn up to the table.”

The sky shifted.

Rozeta’s voice boomed outward, “This is not a time for Relevance.”

Blue skies retook the roof of the world, pushing back the darkness, transforming utter night into a lesser twilight. The sun was still hidden somewhere up there, but the land was brighter, and that was good.

Melemizargo didn’t care about the sky, or about theatrics that weren’t his own. He stared at one of the chairs Erick had made, watching as a splash of golden divine fire coalesced out of the air.

Rozeta stepped out of that gold fire, looking like a human-shaped wrought woman. Kromolok stepped onto the stone behind her by several paces. Both of them were technically nude, wearing their bodies as their clothes, but that was normal for them. Rozeta wore a white pantsuit, while Kromolok had his body shaped into his official Inquisition robes of office.

Fairy Moon glared at Rozeta. “I want Relevance, if only to prevent your prevarications and the Silences of your Script. I want my race restored.”

Rozeta sat down in her provided chair, to the south of the circle, saying, “I’ll help Erick make a Script that allows for such, but it won’t take hold on Veird. The next world, or preferably the next one after that.”

Fairy Moon’s eyes went wide and she sat up in her chair, almost coming off of her stone seat. It was only now that Erick noticed she had taken the chair in the west.

Erick decided to sit down in his own chair, in the east.

He had a thought. With Melemizargo in the north, this gathering of four (and Kromolok standing behind and to the right of Rozeta, while Goldie stood in front and to the left of Melemizargo, both of them positioned closer to Erick than to Fairy Moon; and wasn’t that a thought!) would likely be everyone, because this gathering included all four corners of the world. Erick’s sunform even shone upon the eastern chair, while Fairy Moon’s gentle glows were a much more subtle reflection of Erick’s own. She even had that ring of Benevolence upon her hand, as though she had taken some of his light, as the moon would the sun. Rozeta, at the south, was the ground and stability, while Melemizargo at the north was the great darkness beyond everything solid, though both of them likely thought themselves the other in certain situations. Melemizargo certainly saw himself as the creator of foundations. Rozeta saw herself as the true inheritor of the title of the God of Magic, as the true Darkness, or as what Darkness should be.

Ah.

Intellectually, Erick had known what he was doing when he called this meeting. But he didn’t truly know until it was here.

This, then, was the ritual changing of a world.

Melemizargo chuckled, low and menacing. “You truly are opening the cage then, daughter of mine.”

“Not for a long while.” Rozeta said, “If we were to gain decades upon decades of good, sensible behavior from you, then perhaps I would feel better about everything you have done to get us here. Erick’s Elemental Benevolence might have solved an overarching Sundering problem, but it has still not solved the problems you have created, and will continue to create.” She looked to Fairy Moon. “As for you! Don’t even pretend to me that Elemental Benevolence and Erick’s new world order will change how you operate, either. Kidnapping and mind control! The worst part is that you are also incapable of seeing how what you did to Erick was wrong.”

Fairy Moon shrugged. “I got gains. You achieved aught. Besides! He allied with Ar’Cosmos! If your kin-killer would have gotten to him first, then Erick would be as eradicated as all the other enemies of your wrought.”

“Erick is not our enemy.” Rozeta said, “We were wary in the beginning as all sensible people would be, but he has proven the merit of his character ten times over. Similarly, you, Fairy Moon, have proven yourself a million times over.”

“Tell me true!” Fairy Moon demanded to know, “If he would have went to the criminal Kirginatharp and dined with demons and acquiesced to angels, would he remain himself? Or would Erick have been eradicated? If I hadn’t harbored him, then would he have died from Relevant recidivisms?”

Rozeta said, “Kirginatharp would have stepped in and prevented such a tragedy. All you truly did was grab Erick, force him to see you as people in need of saving instead of under necessary control, because that is who he is, and now we’re here. You are unworthy of being allies with anyone, for all you know is mind control and manipulation.”

It was here, that Erick decided to step in, saying, “I would like to start there, and suggest the first of agreements to come out of these talks: No more unwanted mind control by anyone—” And because he knew it would only be making a problem to solve later, or be rightfully argued against, Erick added, “—except by those in active pursuit of the best possible worlds, against the worst Mind Magic offenders, or only in extreme circumstances. The average person —or even the head of a state— acting in normal fashions, should never have to worry that they will be mind controlled against their will by anyone, for any reason.”

Fairy Moon almost leapt out of her chair, happily saying, “So you agree! My actions were acceptable!”

“Actions can be acceptable based upon the outcomes, and still be the worst possible actions to take.” Erick said to Fairy Moon, “I am not comfortable enough with you to visit Ar’Cosmos on a normal basis. Not now. Maybe not ever.”

Fairy Moon just nodded, like she had expected that. “The land of no-lies is dangerous to denizens and transients alike, and we’ve even had dragons there for a while, if you witness. Transforming that tenet or the truth of our tenants is likely not to happen here or hence, so your reluctance to residence is recognized. Doesn’t mean Ar’Cosmos is done with you, though.” She asked, “Are you still an ally? Are we to rescue you from the ravages of the wrought when wanted? Or are we to be without any Wizards, once again?”

“You have at least one Wizard locked up under Stasis spellwork.” Erick said, “So don’t pretend that you are actually ‘without any Wizards’.”

Fairy Moon smiled. “Who is she when compared to the sun that is thee? That woman is trash for true. But what about you? Are you an ally?”

And that was the big question, wasn’t it. Rozeta lightly stared, needing to know the answer. Melemizargo wondered, too, though he was mostly just intrigued by everything happening all around him. He didn’t expect this to actually work, and so he was ready to do whatever he needed to do after everyone else was done talking.

Which was probably bad.

Erick spoke, “I wish to be an ally to all who would abide by a few basic rules of interaction. No violence. No attempts to magically control. Honest communication. Honest interactions. Forgiveness of foibles. The eradication of true evils, not merely perceived evils. Approaching each other from places of goodwill, in the hopes that such interactions will both create a better world, and be that better world in the act of trying.

“Here, in this space, I would like to act less as individuals, with individual needs and wants, and more as guides of what comes next. What we want the world to look like. How we want to interact with each other. What sort of interactions are acceptable, and what sort of interactions are not acceptable. For instance—” Erick turned to Kromolok, and said, “As far as I know, Kromolok, the Mind Mages I have worked with have always been professional and scrupulous when it came to their magic. A continuation of that is fine with me.” He turned to Fairy Moon. “What you did was wrong, though, and has needlessly added drama to an otherwise… Well it was always going to be a contentious talk, but I’m still mad at you.”

“I accept your anger, and the aftermath of my actions.” Fairy Moon said, “Ask a wish to weaken your wrath, and I will make it manifest.”

Erick instantly said, “When you go around judging people for their actions, take your judgments to the local justices, first. I don’t want you just killing people out of hand. If justice is not granted in the way that you judge it should be granted, then step back, evaluate if you are wrong or if you are missing all of the facts, if your judgment is too harsh or not harsh enough, ask another competent, trustworthy person to evaluate your judgments, and then go through the whole system again. If justice truly cannot be achieved through the mechanisms of the society in which the offender lives, then, and only then, should you consider execution, or whatever other justice you deem necessary, Fairy Moon—” He turned to everyone, and said, “Which brings me to this next problem—”

Fairy Moon had maintained most of her composure while Erick spoke at her, but she still sputtered with minor rage. Erick’s attempt to move on was too much for her, though. She interrupted, “I critique correctly in all courts for all claims and claimants!”

Erick let her finish, then he said, “Okay. Well. I don’t know your whole story; I admit that. All I have heard are the words of the wrought, about how you were the Letter Killer, who went around Stratagold killing nobles and wrought and leaving behind letters detailing… the crimes of the guilty, I suspect.”

Fairy Moon triumphantly said, “That is correct! The guilty were nobles and hidden ne’er-do-wells who would never have been banished or brained as they should have been, so I did the braining myself! They were secret slayers one and all, and especially that child-killing Kydyr. You cannot tell me that killing that killer was incorrect!”

“This brings me to yet another problem that I wish to solve; as I was saying.” Erick said, “Kydyr killed an orphanage in a war in order to deprive an enemy country of future soldiers. I would call this a war crime. You do have this term, ‘war crime’, here on Veird, but it is not well used, or understood. Know this: I feel that war is unfortunately necessary in some situations, but the prevalence of war is way too high in this world. Literally any time of day or night or twilight, someone can come along from some enemy nation and attack wherever they want, killing whoever they want, and the war never ends. The terrorism never ends. The Angels and Demons are particularly guilty of this phenomenon. They even call it the Quiet War when it’s between their various proxies, and the Forever War when it’s between themselves.

“Therefore, I would like to propose some rules of war. Maybe Sumtir, the God of Righteous War, would like to get in on this, but that might need to happen later. For now, I would like us all to agree to some basic rules for all sides to follow in all wars, henceforth.” Erick said, “In the stated example of Kydyr and that orphanage, I would like someone like Fairy Moon to be able to bring forth charges against a hypothetical Kydyr, and for the law to step in and do what is right.

“But perhaps even more than that, I would like continual wars to stop.

“I believe that war should be declared between parties before open war happens, and even in the case of open war, all fighting should be kept away from civilians. Any other types of fighting should be declared war crimes, and many war crimes should be punished by—” It pained Erick to say this, but he did, “—If the aggressors purposefully harm civilians, or plan to harm civilians in the course of normal warfare and then harm those civilians, then they should be punished by death.”

Fairy Moon rapidly said, “I agree!”

Rozeta frowned a little, then said, “I see no problems with this.”

“No problems!” Melemizargo laughed. “You’re forgetting something.”

“Forgotten Campaigns are wars to save the world from itself, and they coincide with the rough idea of acceptable versus unacceptable that Erick proposes.” Rozeta said, “We have always tried to limit the scope of those Campaigns to those who actually prove problematic. When possible, we remove memories and magics and problems without touching the person, but some of these magics have been insidious, and thus death was the only answer.” She eyed Melemizargo, saying, “You have made these magics insidious.”

Erick spoke up, “That brings me to another problem. I believe that this Elemental Benevolence is a true solution to the Sundering problem, but I have seen several nearby issues that need to be solved to ensure that Benevolence remains intact—”

“Don’t say anything else,” Rozeta rapidly said, her eyes locked tight to Erick, her voice as serious as a [Luminous Beam]. “Melemizargo will use your words to break Benevolence—”

“I will not!” Melemizargo said, offended. “Besides! I can already see who the problems are! It’s that Red Dot Mage and that Terror Peaks fellow.” He gave a small, disapproving scowl at Rozeta. “Did you not Sight this before you came here? Tsk tsk, daughter of mine. Benevolence is rather easy to work when you work along the lines it likes.”

Rozeta wasn’t offended, though. She was stunned. “You… You already know? And you haven’t tried to support these bad ends? To kill Benevolence in its crib?”

“Normally I would have been offended at such a suggestion, but I haven’t been myself in a long time so your reaction is understandable.” Melemizargo said, “Know this: I quite like Benevolence. Reminds me of Altruism from the Old Cosmology, but with a lot less self-harm and a lot more possibilities for building a strong base of power. Can’t be benevolent without an overabundance of self-power, after all. I fully approve. Therefore, I and my clergy won’t do anything to harm Benevolence, and we will be assisting Erick as he deigns to ask. Goldie, here, already desires to enter into his service, but he has yet to accept.”

Goldie had remained standing tall this whole time. That did not change as almost everyone glanced at her. Erick just glanced all around, though, and specifically not at Goldie. He wasn’t ready to accept that probably-poisoned gift just yet.

Erick barreled ahead, saying, “Since everyone now knows at least two of the three problems approaching Benevolence—” He looked to Fairy Moon. “—and since I don’t want to be a tyrant delivering justice as I see fit, no matter what Benevolence gives me Sight to see—” He cast his gaze around, saying, “—and since I know that the issues presented by Patriarch Xangu Terror Peaks and the Red Dot Mage are existential threats to a lot of lives, I present the problem of them to this small group, to ask what should be done, and to hopefully have someone else carry out the sentence. It is not right for one to carry out all their own justice, after all.”

Fairy Moon didn’t like that last part, but she got over it.

Rozeta said, “Xangu’s machinations have killed millions of people and the Mage’s actions have directly killed tens of thousands of people. I declare summary execution for both. Kromolok could do this, or Sitnakov could do this. Sitnakov wishes to make amends for his previous actions, Erick, so this would be a good first assignment for him.”

Fairy Moon brightened, now that it seemed that execution was really going to happen. She happily declared, “I could make examples of these enemies! Extreme Light eradication for Xangu. Ten thousand thrusts with a rapier for the Red One.”

Melemizargo said, “Goldie could do this, quick and clean. It is what she does.”

Erick was almost surprised at the quick agreements all around, but he wasn’t; not really. He was surrounded by killers, and he was a killer, too. Everyone had their reasons to agree to Erick’s denouncement of Xangu and the Red Dot Mage, and yet… He felt a little hollow. Erick kept himself well together, though, and said, “Fairy Moon brings up a good point, and a reason for why I will not accept her help with these executions at this time. I do not endorse cruel and unusual punishment in the enacting of justice. I would rather they die painlessly, and without complication.”

Fairy Moon simply shrugged, though Kromolok and Rozeta and Melemizargo were all waiting for him to continue.

Erick gestured outside of the meeting area. Two Ophiel fluttered over there, to hover above the sands about ten meters from each other. He said, “Goldie.”

Goldie sucked in a small, heavy breath. She waited.

“I assume, that by your presence here and the offer given by Melemizargo, that the Blessing of Empathy emplaced upon you is not nearly as strong as it had been at the beginning? Or perhaps it never had much of an effect upon you at all?”

As though she had been expecting this, for she probably had since she was one of the best prognosticators in the world, Goldie instantly answered, “Your Blessing of Empathy remains strong, but it will not prevent me from doing what must be done, just as it will not prevent you from doing the same. Xangu deserves what is coming to him, and it would be an honor to be the one to deliver that justice unto him.”

“So be it.” Erick said, “I charge you with bringing the justice of the executioner’s sword to Patriarch Xangu, for his role played in the murder of millions. I also demand you to discover all who played a part in that Chelation War, and that includes you. You estimated 200,000 dead. The final count was over four million. Why did this happen? I am particularly interested in learning how Xangu acquired all of his unexpected Extreme Light materials, and all of his soul spears. I do not care the order in which you enact these commands, but in the end, I expect the threat of Xangu to be completely eliminated, and for your trace upon this situation to be as though you were never there. If you accept, then I will open a portal to him right now.”

Goldie slammed a fist over her chest, saying, “By your command.” In a flickering instant she had moved across the sands to stand near one of the Ophiel.

Erick explained, “The portal will open one kilometer from Xangu, hidden under a bridge in a town called Bluite Falls, in the Underworld, three hundred kilometers north of a Geode called Oloritian. Xangu is recovering from the war and planning his next moves at the house of a distant relative, which is a mansion directly under the light of a large blue crystal hanging from the ceiling. The relative’s family name is Donara, and their house is well defended from all outsiders. I could wipe the place from existence, but I would prefer a surgical strike, killing only the one who needs to be killed. You will need to find your own way back.” He asked, “Do you need more instruction than that?”

Goldie’s bright white eyes seemed to shimmer as she stared. “That is a great deal more than I usually receive. I can take it from there, Wizard Flatt.”

Erick nodded.

With a flicker of power, a ring of silent white lightning sparked out of the air beside Ophiel.

Goldie rushed through.

Erick shut the portal.

He wanted to breathe deep and then sigh out for a while, but he did not, for he was in his sunform and he couldn’t relax, anyway. Instead, he turned to Rozeta and Kromolok. They seemed to be less than thrilled that Erick had used Goldie to enact any sort of justice at all, for they were both fearful of Erick going over to Melemizargo’s side.

Melemizargo, though, seemed absolutely thrilled about everything that just happened.

Erick said, “The next target is the Red Dot Mage, and I would have your assistance, Kromolok, or whoever you would assign to such a task. How would you go about this task?”

Melemizargo and Fairy Moon eyed the white metal incani standing behind and to the side of Rozeta. Rozeta did not turn, but she did nod toward her Inquisitor.

Kromolok stepped forward. “I would ask you a few questions, first.”

Erick was prepared for this. He nodded, and waited.

Kromolok asked, “How have you chosen your targets?”

“Inside my [Gate Space] I see the whole of Benevolence stretch out into the far, far distance. The Benevolence catches upon itself like paths of lightning tangled upon Fate. Some of those tangles are problems. Some are opportunities. In the smaller of cases, it is hard to tell which is which. In the larger cases, it is easy to tell the difference.

“In a hundred years, when Yggdrasil matures and his seal vanishes and new worlds open up, there are so many tangles and all of them are so complicated that describing any of those events as simple ‘problems’ or ‘opportunities’ is near impossible. I can only really see one of those events, and only because I know the participants, but I can’t tell if that event is a problem to be murdered, or a person to be assisted.

“The closer, larger tangles are easier to tell, by far.” Erick said, “Here, in the near future, the Benevolence tangles upon three situations, turning destructive, blackening the sky and revealing the sources of that blackening. First, there is Patriarch Xangu, then we have the Red Dot Mage, and then… there is a minor cacophony of assorted, smaller problems, each adding up to their own catastrophe. Taken as a whole, these problems will cause the death of Benevolence and open the way to the return of the Sundering threat.”

“Murder them all!” Fairy Moon said, her voice deathly serious.

“I agree, and yet…” Melemizargo frowned for the first time, his displeasure heavy in his voice as he said, “I don’t appreciate you conflating ‘black’ with ‘bad’, Erick. That was why I Cursed adamantium to black. Now they can’t disparage that color without disparaging themselves.”

Rozeta glared at her father, saying, “If you didn’t want to be associated with evil acts then perhaps you shouldn’t do so much evil.”

Erick blinked a bit, though, completely caught off guard. And then he said, “It’s a valid complaint, I suppose, but I’m not sure what you want me to do about it. Black is the opposite of light. Uh. If it makes you less wary, even the beneficial things look like blackening in the lightning; a confluence of possibility that could go multiple ways.”

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“Oh!” Melemizargo instantly perked up, shifting a bit as he said, “That’s perfect.” He chuckled a little bit, adding, “Oh. I quite like that, actually. Very good, Erick. This is fine. Black as a simple alarm color is wonderful.”

Rozeta narrowed her eyes at Melemizargo, then let that hate go, and said to Erick, “It takes a skilled hand to know that simply marking out all the bad things would lead to a bad end.”

“Well. Yes.” Erick said, “I was not about to create a magic— An Element, in this case, that would be twisted into a license to murder every single person touched by it.”

Melemizargo chuckled again, then said, “Some people will use your Benevolence in this way, but then that’s on them! Ah. This is great.” He looked to Rozeta, and then to Kromolok. “Are you going to clear up this little Red Dot Mage problem? Or shall I secure even more of Erick’s goodwill by sending another Shade at the problem?”

Fairy Moon spoke up, “Let me put this problematic person into prison! That’s your true yearning of justice, is it not, judge Erick?”

Everyone turned toward Fairy Moon.

Erick stared at the pink and green fae for a short moment that felt a lot longer than it actually was. He did want more justice than the edge of the executioner’s ax. That was very much a goal of his. And yet… Did he want Fairy Moon jailing the Red Dot Mage? For the first time in a long time, Erick’s thoughts spiraled. He took longer than a moment to think and to answer.

Fairy Moon took this delay as evidence of her win. She smirked wide and happy, then hopped off her seat and moved toward Ophiel—

“No,” Erick said, his mouth moving faster than his mind.

Fairy Moon stopped in her tracks. “… No?”

Erick’s answer had been instinctual, but he was able to gather a few thoughts after the fact. He asked, “Was your plan to mind control him?”

“I will lay down laws against the lad as I laid them against you.” Fairy Moon shrugged. “If he should harm another, then I will make him harm himself as well. I suspect this mirrored mandate will simply slay the slayer soon enough.”

“That would qualify as cruel and unusual punishment.” Erick said, “I would rather he just die, or be eliminated as a threat without causing excess harm to him, or to others. If you can manage the second one without mind control, then I will listen to your thoughts.”

“‘Excess harm’ is an excessively halfway phrase, Erick,” Fairy Moon said.

“You don’t like the soul mutilations of my [Blessing of Empathy]. I don’t like the way you mind control people.” Erick said, “In a perfect world, neither of those things would happen, and we wouldn’t need to execute criminals either. But this isn’t a perfect world, though that doesn’t mean we should stop trying. I choose to draw the line at mind control… and I probably won’t be doing much of that soul mutilation, either. At least not against people who don’t ask for it.”

“Ah! I have imagined a solution!” Fairy Moon said, “I suggest I give this guy a great choice! Execution. Control of Mind! Control of Soul! Let us see what their selection is for this slaying scenario.”

Let the convicted choose their fate?

… Unfair, or perhaps the most fair?

Erick made a decision, “Okay. Sure. I can abide by that sort of justice. You will take the Red Dot Mage in hand and bring him here for him to make a choice of his own. And then we will carry out that choice.”