The dark sky thundered in the distance as Dala looked at the beaten road up to the temple. This was a road that was long and hard. Only the ones who wanted to see the goddess of luck the most would take that path. The child had also heard that the pure white obelisks would give a shortcut but many people claimed that it was not the right way. Only a being who wanted to work hard and face many dangers could get to the top, or so many village elders would claim. 

"Fuck that." Dala said to the path as she reached over to touch the white obelisk. 

Before she could blink, she had teleported to steps that led to a giant door. Even with the teleportation, she still had to go up some stairs. But she wouldn't let some stupid old stair get in her way so she began climbing until she got to the top. Dala walked up to the door and was about to try to open it but before she could, the door split into pieces and retracted into the wall. Dala held up her hands up to her eyes to block the sudden light coming from the inside of the temple. She walked through the doorway and looked around the area. White was the main color of the room.

Everything seemed to be made of marble or howlite. Armored statues with different types of weapons all standing on decorated pedestals. The thing that interested the child most was the windows and how they were a stark contrast to the actual weather outside. Instead of the dark sky, it was bright and happy. Dala sat down on one of the benches provided and began to look through her satchel, trying to ensure that all of her stuff was there.

The child was a sight to see. Her grey tunic had multiple stains and holes, some of the stains were the shade of a dull red. The trousers she wore were ripped apart, too big, and were held together by an old belt that was tied around the child's waist. She had no shoes and an old satchel was what she was using for a bag. She was clearly underfed as her arm was too small for a normal child's arm. The most problematic part of her was the fact that she had a large bruise around her eye, as though she had been punched in the face.  Despite all of this, she was relatively clean and her hair was somewhat combed, as though she was still trying to look presentable. Dala looked around and waited for a bit, hoping that somebody would come before she died of boredom. 

"Hello?!" She called out, "Anybody here?!"

"Attention, Lord Steward. There is a child waiting in the Entrance Hall." Shiloh pressed the button to relay a message back to Galatea. "Roger that. I'll be there in a few minutes." She was laying on the floor in Serenitas, in the middle of blueprints strewn about around her. They were all designs of some sort of small wardrobe, with varying aesthetic designs and diagrams for additional 'functions'. She was having designer's block, and trying to empty her mind wasn't doing anything. Visitors were still rare after the Azhizheth emergency was over, which she greatly appreciated. Smoothing out her tunic, the deity checked for smudges before determining she was presentable. Entering the Marble Corridor, the gateway to Serenitas dropped her off on the way to the workshops instead of her usual shortcut. The war against the Void still had her emotionally spent, so she wasn't interested in acting as deity today. It'd be better to pretend to be an ordinary staff member for now.

Dala didn't have to wait long when the sound of shuffling boots against stone approached. A tall brunette woman in plain clothes that were in a marginally better state than her own passed by before stopping to look at her. There was a book of sorts in her hand and a quill stuck behind her ear. Dark circles were under her eyes, and the expression she had was deadpan. Shiloh looked around before speaking up. "…Looking for somebody?" Yes, she knew most visitors who came here had some sort of request they wanted her to grant, but she wanted to gauge how long she should keep up this ruse. The girl was pretty small, without shoes, and had clothes that didn't really fit. The wear on them told her the kid probably had to get by with secondhand items, and the bruise could've been there for a variety of reasons. It was pointless to jump to conclusions, so Shiloh prioritized getting to know the basic details of her reasons for coming here first.

The person that she saw was not what she was expecting. The villagers who described her only described armor. Dala had no idea if this person was supposed to be the goddess or not. The woman in front of her seemed to be very intelligent, as she had a book and a quill. Most intelligent people could read so perhaps she could help, even if the lady wasn't a goddess. The child rummaged through her bag and pulled out a paper that had a drawing on it. The image was of a stick figure with a tiara, pink dress, and muscles drawn onto her arms. The drawn princess also had silver coins raining down around her and had lasers coming out of her eyes. 

"I need to find somebody who can help me become and all powerful princess." Dala explained showing her the picture, "I learned that there were two super smart deities. One used to be a god of knowledge but he is a boy and probably has cooties. So I decided to come find this Shiloh goddess. She's probably smarter anyway. Oh and before you say anything, I already got a payment."

She put her drawing away and opened a beautiful purple bag inside her satchel. This was a bag that could hold almost anything and had an infinite amount of space. The child pulled out a bright red whip and showed it off to the woman. The whip was a Sanguine Whip that needed blood to work properly. It had clearly never been used before and the child was desiring to get rid of it. 

"It's basically a vampire whip. It drinks blood and stuff. Which is pretty weird since it has no mouth but whatever." Dala explained, "I never used it since I prefer keeping my bodily fluids but I'm sure a goddess could find a use for it. Maybe she can give it somebody who has a blood kink. I don't know." 

Dala then put the whip back into her purple bag and looked towards the woman, wondering how she would respond. 

The little girl responded by taking out a crudely-drawn picture of a person wearing a dress with a crown, exaggerated arms, small circular objects around it, and….a personal interpretation of light coming from the eyes? The 'rain' looked a lot like coins so it was safe to assume it was a metaphor for great wealth. She then stated bluntly she wanted to find somebody who could help her become an 'all-powerful princess', meaning both in the physical and magical sense. The kid had done her research, explaining her knowledge of the two best deities to help her achieve her goals. But like most kids, the girl preferred to choose the one who was the same sex as her. While some would think the girl was too direct and rude, none of that bothered Shiloh. The girl cut to the chase and came prepared with a payment for the advice; she liked that. And her 'payment' was no slouch either.

Putting the drawing down, Shiloh looked over the weapon. "Huh, interesting. Doesn't seem to have any visible place where the blood gets 'absorbed', but it's magical. Magical things don't always make sense. The payment's totally fine, but I'll need to ask you a few questions first before we can get a deal started." She neither confirmed nor denied that she was the deity of Antikythera, and if the girl was working off the assumption that she was just part of the staff–all the better. Picking up the picture again she squinted her eyes at the details. "So…why do you want to be a princess? If you're interested in a political position of leadership, wouldn't being queen be much better? It's a higher rank anyway. And what exactly are these lines coming from the eyes?" She was no expert on art, so she might as well ask the artist. There was no point wasting this girl's time with guessing.

She had a plan and clearly defined goals for a child her age, another thing the rogue respected. If the girl wanted to know how to become the head of a financially stable, politically acknowledged, and independent city-state, that's what she was going to get. However the most important thing was to know why. Most girls dream of being princesses, but not all of them go past having a pretty crown and fancy dress. There was also no mention of a prince riding on white horse so this was already a very realistic life plan from Shiloh's standpoint.

Dala listened to the woman's response and was surprised by her lack of anger or laughter. Most people never took her seriously when she explained that she wanted to be a princess. It seemed that this woman was treating her with respect, which made the child have more respect for her even though they just met. Then the woman began to ask questions that confused Dala a bit. 

"….Isn't queen and princess just the same thing?" Dala asked, "Stories always mention either a queen or a princess with a lot of power and they always seemed to have the same traits. And the light coming from the eyes are obviously meant to represent magic and stuff. Maybe some sort of lightning or powerful rays of light that can obliterate the enemy into pieces!"

Dala realized that the lady wanted to know why she wanted to be a princess or a queen for a different reason. The child disliked admitting the truth to other people but if it was the only way to get what she desired most….

"Princesses…queens…whatever you want to call them have important lives and can change the world around them." Dala said lowering her head, "They have the power to make people's lives better. They are the leaders that people look to for guidance and stability. These women are able to provide homes, stability, and comfort for people who need it. Its not easy but nothing ever is…except for death. But in the end, these are the women who leave legacies behind."

She raised up her head to face the woman, determination ablaze in the child's eyes. 

"That's why I gotta become one!" Dala exclaimed passionately, "I'm going to rise up and when I do, I will be bringing people to a state of living far beyond current expectations!" 

Dala at this point had raised her voice as she was so passionate about her words. Her hands were on her hips and she was behaving as though she was telling an audience rather than just one woman. Her every word was crisp and clear, despite the fact that she was only a child. Dala didn't want just the money and the power of a princess. She needed to build a legacy that everyone would tell for generations. 

"Ah, you make a good point there. Well normally a princess is the daughter of a queen and next in line depending if you're going by a female-dominant or male-dominant society. But there's not a big difference." The eye-beams of doom were actually the most difficult thing to achieve out of the girl's sketch. "I see, though having magic coming out of your eyes can be a bit…difficult to do, and probably not very safe. Eyes are very delicate things after all. Why don't you enchant the crown to shoot the beams instead? People are less likely to expect an attack from accessories compared to something you can hold in your hand." Most people wouldn't even address an alternative, but then again this was Shiloh–creating questionably useful objects was something she did every day. 

Shiloh listened in silence as the girl told her why she wanted to be a princess, taking note of every word. Her initial observations were correct after all. This girl wasn't just doing it for a shallow personal reason, for the money or fancy things. This girl knew what it was like to suffer and fight tooth and nail just to see another day. She could have asked for a comfortable easy life, to never see poverty ever again. But instead she was asking for something that would benefit others for years to come. It was a hard thing to ask and not anybody was able to think that far ahead. There were plenty of adults in this day and age who were content with simply getting by. The word 'legacy' wasn't something you could use casually. The word had weight to it and responsibility. And when her speech was done, Shiloh gave her a round of applause with a rare genuine smile.

"Congratulations, you're the first visitor to ever ask for something beyond yourself. Lots of people like you have come here, all with a wish or request to be granted. I'm sure the Steward of Antikythera would be proud to hear what you've said. And since you've managed to impress me, I'll throw in a special discount for our deal here." Pulling out a folding table and a clean roll of parchment, Shiloh quickly wrote up a set of terms and created the contract. There was a line and X at the bottom for the girl to sign, and she pulled out a small dagger to seal the deal. "These are the terms explaining our exchange of goods and services. I'll take the magic weapon from you as payment. In return, I'll teach you everything you need to know to become a powerful princess. And if there's anything I can't teach you, I'll give you names and places to find the people who can. Whenever you're ready, sign your name on the line and use the dagger here to press a single drop of blood next to your signature. Deal?"

After giving her the brief summary, she then added: "Oh by the way, how much free time do you have?" Reaching into a mysterious storage box, Shiloh began placing several thick covered books into a steadily growing stack next to them on the bench. "–Because this is going to take a while."

Dala listened to Shiloh and her explanation of the difference between a princess and a queen, which was very small. The woman also mentioned how a crown that shoot beams would be a better alternative. The child was also surprised by the clapping that Shiloh did after her words. The woman was even smiling. Dala pretended that she was used to it but really, she was expecting laughter or something. It's what she would have gotten if she was back on the streets… Then the woman started to go on about how she was going to help her become a princess and mentioned somebody called the Steward of Antikythera? Shiloh pulled out a parchment and wrote down a contract. Dala took the contract and read it, determined to ensure that everything was as it was supposed to be.

The child didn't know that Shiloh was the goddess and was under the assumption that this was a smart woman. For her, it didn't matter where the information came from. As long as this woman knew what she was talking about then Dala wouldn't care a bit about who this person was. After reading the contract, Dala wrote her name on the line and took the dagger to make a small slice across her arm. She decided to not use her hands as she knew that she would be writing with them. The drop of red blood fell onto the parchment next to her name. Then she took out the red whip from her bag and set it on the bench where Shiloh could take it. 

"I have all the time in the world." Dala said, "My name is Dala Asher Nesca by the way. And….should we go to a different room? Doing a lesson here won't be the easiest of places." 

'Dala Asher Nesca'. Now there was a name that sounded all too familiar… Maybe even after death the late goddess still lived on, in another form. Either way, it was time to begin this girl's first lessons on the way the world worked. "Excellent. Consider it done. There's a library in here and a debate hall. Both of them should be empty now, but the library will be better at the moment. Since you'll be staying a while, I'll see if there's any extra rooms that aren't in use." Shiloh was planning to make a new addition to the infinite hallway, unbeknownst to Dala. She led her to the Marble Corridor, and told Dala to follow after her. "The library is this way, it's easy to get lost if you don't know where you want to go." Subtly she used that verbal cue to ensure they would arrive at their intended destination, as she hadn't told Dala about the Corridor's trick. 

Two solid wood doors were pushed open to reveal a decent-sized library. It wasn't anywhere close to those of Iria's Mage Academy or even in the same league as Adraejen Porthyrius' temple, but it did its job and held a collection of books she and her staff had bought over the years. Plain metal shelves secured to the floor were full of tomes, all arranged by topic and title. There were some study tables and chairs for group work or individual projects, and there was a desk with a strange pedestal built into it. It had been a while since she had come here, but Shiloh still knew where most of the things here were.

"Alright, so since we're the only ones present we don't have to worry about the 'no-talking rule'.  There's no head librarian but if you have questions when I'm not around, ask any of the staff who are arranging the shelves. If you want a book on a specific topic, you can check what we have over there at that table. Touch the symbol of the Machinarum and when prompted, say either the name of the book, the author, or 'surprise me' if you want to try something new. The system is designed to help you find what you need as efficiently as possible, so if you run into errors make sure to let us know. Each of these books is registered in the catalog by code and you can see an entire list of every book belonging here as well as its current borrowing status." With that brief introduction over, Shiloh began pulling a bunch of thick books out of her storage box onto the closest study table. Once the stack was at least six volumes high, she stopped.

"Now, if you're going to start a kingdom you'll need to begin from the very basics–geography. Most established world powers started out as a small settlement in a geographically favorable region. Normally these include fertile areas close to rivers, lakes, or some body of water. Without water you can't grow anything and having a reliable fresh water source is key to staying alive. Take Arri for example, it's a country that was founded in a desert but permanent settlements are centered around oases and water sources. There are more reasons why people build towns by the water. If you look at Jayou, rivers act as highways for transporting people and things from one place to another. The same idea applies to trading centers like Iria, Abed, and the duchy of Egjora…" To prove her point, Shiloh rolled out a paper map of the world, weighing down the ends with some of the books. Focusing on the continents of Parvpora and Canelux, she tapped the areas she mentioned earlier. 

Dala picked up the stack of heavy books and did her best to carry them as she followed Shiloh. She silently cursed her smaller legs as it took her double the effort to keep up with the woman. When the doors to the library were pushed open, Dala couldn't help but gasp in amazement. Although there were far more impressive libraries in the world, Dala had never seen any of them. This was an entire new world to her. A world filled with knowledge! Knowledge of the world and everything that it had to offer. Dala knew how important knowledge was so instead of seeing them as simple books, she saw them as treasures. Dala quietly listened to Shiloh as she explained the library. Her arms were starting to get tired so she walked over to a table and placed the stack of books onto them. 

Suddenly Shiloh began pulling out thick books from the storage box onto the table. The stack was impressive. Dala knew that this would be difficult but she had no idea that much information was needed. However, she wouldn't back down. Instead of complaining about the amount of books, she took out her journal and quill to begin. Her eyes burned with passion as she dipped her quill into the ink. She began to write quickly as Shiloh spoke. The child was trying to copy down every word that was coming out of Shiloh's mouth as it was important to her. There were some words that Dala missed, as Shiloh was talking quicker than what she could write. But the main point about the rivers and its purpose was written down. Dala looked to the map and where Shiloh was pointing. 

"I see." Dala said, "Can it be any water? Or does it have to be rivers? What about oceans? Does it matter how salty the water is? Should the water have lots of animals in it or would it be better to have fewer? How big should the water source be? Is it a good idea to have people build in the rivers or should the rivers be left alone? How close should a city be near the water?" 

Her quill was ready and she was prepared to copy down all the information that Shiloh had to offer. This is what she needed to make a kingdom, the information to be a competent leader was essential to her plan. 

Right away Dala was bringing up important questions. "Ideally, no matter where you set up your settlement there must be a reliable source of fresh water. Not all water can be used for drinking, and saltwater can actually kill you. You need freshwater to grow crops and keep animals alive too. Living by different bodies of water can provide different benefits and drawbacks, and for most of your questions–it all depends on what kind of way of life the people lead. Hunters and fishers will prefer to be in a place with more animals and farmers will prefer open, flat terrain with few large predators." Taking a pause, Shiloh looked thoughtful for a few moments as she moved into answering the last of the girl's questions. "Alright, just a disclaimer: what I'm going to tell you next is based off of my own personal opinion. I might be right or I might be wrong, but at this point I've never found definite proof to prove otherwise. Now that we've got that out of the way, let me give you my own take on town development and the natural world."

"Before you decide to do anything, you need to understand the weather and environment of the place you have chosen. I suggest spending at least a few years there to gain a better understanding of the seasonal changes. Some places have severe dry spells during Ignius, other areas have heavy flooding and storms. And while it might be convenient to build in and close to the rivers, be prepared to be on flood watch all year round. Building in the river also poses other potential problems, especially if you alter its course. If you happen to start a city in an area where others have already started living for a few generations, make friends with them. They'll be your main source of information on the land and what challenges it has. Always remember that it's better to work together than against each other–after all, surviving is hard." 

Maybe it was a bit of her own wishful thinking, but if this kid had the potential that she saw in her earlier, she just might be able to make coexistence between settlers and locals possible. Shiloh's perspective of city-building different from many, as she preferred methods that had as little impact on the land as possible. 'Responsible stewardship of resources' was what she called it, which was another way of saying 'using what's available without burning them out'. "Many tribal and nomadic groups can vouch for me when I say 'respect the land and it will take care of you'. Don't get tempted to use quick and easy ways to progress or get rich. Nothing last forever, and if you want something to stay in good condition that requires an active effort. Since it might take forever for me to explain every little thing, I have an idea on how to make things less boring but more practical. I'm going to write up a set of scenarios where you are presented with a problem. I will ask you how you would solve it and point out anything you might have overlooked. If there's anything you don't understand in the scenarios given, feel free to ask and I'll explain in detail. How does that sound?"

Sometimes the best way to learn was by doing. If Dala wanted to be a leader, she would need to know how to solve problems. And the more people that were involved, the more complex those problems would be.