My heart raced as I struggled against the invisible force that held me in place. Fear gripped me tightly, but I refused to let it consume me, tried to break the spell that bound my soul with all of my will.

It was hopeless. Ishira's divine magic and the sacrifices of the villager's Vows 12 years ago somehow made Giovashi absurdly powerful, gave her the ability to cast spells at a level far higher than my Infoscope had defined her own as.

"Everyone but the barmaids, Overseer, Dante and Destiny... please leave," she ordered.

The patrons in the back got up, looking dazed, their eyes glassy. They exited the pub quickly.

"You can speak," Giovashi addressed us. "Feel free to move your eyes and mouth only."

A small part of the binding spell let go of me. I was able to move my eye muscles and mouth. Nothing else worked. The tiniest degree of magic in relation to [Infoscope Astral-Phantom Observation] returned to my eyes alone. I peered at Giovashi through the Astral and the physical world.

She was an absolute monster, wreathed in the radiance Ishira's divine power. I saw something that looked like human souls chained to her in the Astral, a whole army of ghostly, brittle stars pulsing all around her.

"What do you want, Arch-Priestess?" Kliss growled. The Overseer was clearly trying to raise her armacus, but she was also pinned to her seat with magic, unable to move.

Giovashi Incandictia smirked, her mismatched eyes gleaming with violet coronas in the dim light of the pub.

"Oh, just a little chat with our esteemed Overseer of Skyisle and her newfound... friends," she replied.

Kliss glared at the Arch-Priestess, eyes filled with hatred.

Giovashi chuckled darkly. "Let's just say I have a proposition for you, Overseer. One that could benefit both of us. But first, let's talk about your plans for Skyisle."Kliss narrowed her eyes, her voice laced with defiance. "I have no interest in hearing anything you have to say, Giovashi. Your plans are not in the best interest of this village or its people. Skyisle belongs to Equality!"

"That's where you're wrong, darling," Giovashi said. "Skyisle belongs to me."

Kliss scoffed at Giovashi's assertion. "Ishira no longer holds Skyisle. Its future lies with Equality! What does your false Goddess offer? Fear? Submission? I've seen the destruction and suffering caused by that damned dragon you brought to Skyisle. The Empire won't let Skyisle fall under your influence again!"

The Arch-Priestess laughed, her voice echoing through the pub. "Again? You still don't understand it, do you? I own Skyisle. You're just a little, simple pawn while I am its Monarch, the rightful owner of this little fine vale. This land has been mine alone since the fall of Tricameron!"

"I will never forsake the principles of Equality!" Kliss snapped. "Kill me and my Inquisitor will come, find wherever you're hiding and execute you!"