Influence

No matter how slow time had felt, the month without VR finally passed. Aron could now receive the full report and witness for himself how they had discovered and recruited her.

{We found her through one of Seraphina’s faction members,} Nyx began as she materialized beside him. {He had been demoted to the role of overseeing the well-being of the Grand Xor’Vak’s concubines after he had abandoned her.}

Aron raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t that… actually a powerful position? It puts him close to the Grand Elder through pillow talk. That seems like a contradictory punishment for a demotion.”

{On the surface, yes. But the reality is far more twisted. The position carries full responsibility for everything the concubines do, but none of the power to manage them. If one of them tries to escape, for example, you can’t punish her, because that would mean laying hands on the Grand Elder’s concubine. But you will be punished for failing to stop her.}