This is New (Bloodline)

[Leon]

"Indeed. As old as mankind I assume. This power has existed as long... Maybe longer. Mana become sentient, aether mixing on its own. No telling how it happened, but as long as there have been people, people have discovered power. Fear of that power destroyed it over and over again. In my time, I can count many genocide events brought on by fear or hate. Holy Crusades, Witch Trials, even a world war to end the madness of a dictator killing hundreds of thousands of Qi users and normies assuming that there was a method to the madness and in turn drove him mad."

He would shake his head.

"Up until the war for power, my visions have only ever shown small numbers of people with this power, keeping it secret in mountains, jungles, or deserts. Far away from others."

[Allison Kazim]

She went over the history she knew in her head as Michael explained, matching some events up but also understanding that they were vague. The world's history was full of war and it still bore the scars. People with mana, or qi, weren't even always identified as such. Now, she wondered. Some places had next to none, and places like 260 had more than other had in several territories combined.

"So even if we look for something, it will be difficult to find pre-dating the war." Not a surprise: most societies tended to shun those who were different, afraid of them, or the change. What they could mean, why they were different. If it could happen to them.

"And now?" She felt she had a good idea of the answer, but she could be wrong. She wanted to hear him say it in his own words; he had been the one with the visions.

[Leon]

"Now the visions it has shown me has been few. Not everything directly connected to myself either. More like important events, but now with how few people remain in the world... It only looks like there are more Qi users, Qi users are simply the most likely to survive in these kinds of environments."

[Allison Kazim]

"That makes sense, given the last couple of battles that have come to the surface." She nodded slowly, frowning at the mention of the changing world and those who survived. That part was logical and easy enough to follow, but what bothered her most was that it sounded like even fewer of them would survive, when they had just started to find stability after rebuilding somewhat. She frowned slightly, wondering if she shoudl ask what came to mind.

"I don't imagine it will be long before other territories feel the ripples, too."

[Leon]

"IT also depends on who they behold to. Cabal will take legal action and maybe private execution, but Prota, Vindicta? They are likely to simply wipe territories causing issues off the map and consolidate the land and resources to other territories. Prota will do it as a rational man putting poison on an ant hill to keep them out of his house... Vindicta will do it out of spite and anger. Digging the ant hill up putting it in a glass box, drowning it in gasoline, then burning it."

[Allison Kazim]

That was a pretty graphic description, and not just the part about private executions. Ali frowned, the expression deepening the more Michael explained the potential backlash, the consolidations for power and self destruction as lines continued to be drawn.

"So we're at risk for recreating the war all over again. It was unsettling, to say the least, and more than enough that she coudln't stand still. Shifting her weight to her hip, she nodded.

"So it comes down to removing that path for them to take." Probably diplomatically, given how things were going, but if not, it would get...messy.

[Leon]

"Actually its one of the few paths that would prevent the war from happening again. The big four following the accords and the laws there in. The smaller territories causing problems being reported back to the top, if the big four do nothing about the ones under them causing problems, then there is war. If they act then they are upholding the accords. How they deal with it is up to them, but the territories that have signed the accords under the big four doing anything to stir up issues... This is how they have reacted in the past, Cabal arrests ring leaders and figure heads for execution, Prota and Vindicta go on a Genocidal rampage, and Zekunft gives ultimatums. That is however their right, to do to their citizens as they see fit under the law of the accords."

Michael would fold his arms and shake his head.

"Say 260 were a protectorate of Prota instead of Cabal, and 260 attacked Cabal. Prota would have the right to wipe 260 off the face of the earth to appease the other three main territories, if it were needed or not doesn't matter, that's how politics work under Prota. If the same scenario, but under Cabal, Cabal would find those responsible and punish them individually or take out their leaders. By staying out of the business of the other main territory insider politics is how the accords are upheld. However, these territories are beholden to all four. Which means some will be destroyed, and some will be diplomatically handled. What you should be concerned with is the accords. These small territories have caused problems between the big four. Which means to settle the issues not only will there be hundreds maybe thousands of deaths in the coming weeks that must happen to maintain peace, but the four territories will enter an exam, contest, tournament, or skirmish battle. Not just Cabal and Prota anymore."

[Allison Kazim]

The joys of politics. Was it potential threats, too? Considering some were known to be consolidating anyway, and a rare few not in the Accords at all. Which meant that, to the big four, they were fair game. One way or another. Word had already spread about what had happened out at Territory 63, the bodies left to rot after the battle after a mass weapon of destruction until the Elder came along.

"All four?" She blinked after a nod, frown deepening. Admittedly, she knew of the exams as a form of warfare that was considered neutral ground for politics, but the methods varied from territory to territory dramatically.

"So not only will we be fighting Prota, but each group with their own permissible tactics." Her fingers drummed against the hilt of her sword. "And a possible means to wipe out potential or confirmed threats along the way to get here. Nevermind what changes after, or if the Accords are questioned."

[Leon]

Michael would recreate the halo over his head spawning his youthful appearance, wings, and armor from before.

"That is the jist of the situation. However, I am out of time for this conversation and need to get back to the church."

Michael would approach and ask if Ali was ready to travel back to where they were.

[Allison Kazim]

"Understood." Ali would nod as Michael returned to his former appearance, the halo of office, or what she assumed it was, back in place. They both had things to do; it was enough he had told her what he had. It was a start.

"Yes, I'm ready."

[Leon]

Once again Michaels wings would wrap around them like a cocoon. Unwrapping them would reveal their new location back at Cabal.

"Do visit the church when you have time. I'm sure your uncles would like to speak with you at least."

[Allison Kazim]

Well that was exciting. And jarring. Ali blinked and took in the fact they were now back at Cabal as Michael talked about her uncles. And other people?

Oh dear mana, extended family all over again.

"Who else?" She stopped and cocked her head at him. "Wait, you mean like Lucifer and Gabriel, or family back from before?"

She was going to have to start charting a family tree, she could tell.

[Leon]

"Lucifer and Gabriel would be your only living relatives that I know of..."

[Allison Kazim]

So then they were all related before they were archangels? Interesting.

"I see. Thank you." She nodded again, considering the idea of speaking to her other living relatives when things were less...war-driven. Or perhaps that woudl be the perfect reason to do so. Time would tell.

"And good luck with wherever it is you go next."

[Leon]

"I will likely speak with you again, soon. Be well."

Michael would flash his wings and be gone in a flash.