Preview for the next update :)
Two weeks into the new year, Katia shows up at your dorm on a Friday evening and invites you to come with her to the Land of the Hesperides.
"This is an invite?" you clarify. "I'm not required to come or the world will be destroyed?"
"Well," starts Katia, before Seraphina shoots her a sharp look. "It's an invite," Katia says sulkily.
Astrid looks at Seraphina, impressed. "Did you warn her off manipulating people with her visions by threatening the world will be destroyed if people don't do exactly what she says?"
Seraphina sighs and doesn't respond. Katia scowls, but Astrid doesn't look like she cares, smiling glibly as she leaves. She's been annoyed at Katia ever since Hyperborea.
Her claim isn't baseless, either.
"Are you willing to come to the Garden of the Hesperides with us?" Katia repeats politely, interrupting your musings.
You look suspiciously at the woman who previously brought you to Egypt under false pretenses. "Is this another diplomatic visit?"
Seraphina shoots you a dour look. "How much do you remember about the hesperides?"
"They're priestesses of Asteria that tend to her sacred grove in Morocco," you recite. "The most sacred tree is said to bear fruits that can cure even death. It's forbidden to take anything from the garden without Asteria's permission. The hesperides were gifted a clutch of dragons by Asteria to protect her garden, and to this day they maintain the only successful dragon breeding program in the world. Leon's cousin Heba was recently selected to become one."
Seraphina looks pleased, before she purses her lips. "Under Celosia's leadership, relations with the hesperides have been…strained, after several hesperides failed to become nymphs early on in her tenure. They didn't respond to our request for candidates this time, so we've decided a personal touch is needed. Gisela's been in Morocco for the past week assessing prospective candidates. Our goal is to meet with them, and if they prove promising, to convince them to become nymphs."
You can read between the lines on that one: Celosia killed a bunch of hesperides trying to make them nymphs and the hesperides have held a grudge. No wonder they're not willing to offer up more of their own to be slaughtered.
"There are several powerful candidates," says Katia, tugging at the end of her braid. Her gaze is still frantic but she does her best to settle her words as she continues, "But they'll need to be thoroughly evaluated and then persuaded…"
Seraphina's expression is troubled. "Please, MC. This is very important. If we fail to carry out Asteria's will and don't have nine nymphs for the millennium celebration…"
You think of the paintings in the National Gallery of Asteria laying waste to the unworthy. Think of how she's been dead for five thousand years and everyone is still so afraid of her. Think of what she could do to Seraphina and Katia and everyone you love if she really does exist.
"What if it doesn't work?" you ask, but you already know the answer. You just have to hear her say it.
"We have to keep trying until it does," Seraphina says.
The weight of her gaze is painful. You can read the calculation in her eyes: a few dead girls or an entire city destroyed. A horrible choice, but would you choose any differently?
A few dead girls she wants you to persuade to sacrifice themselves.
Would you choose to save me or the world?