My Servant System

"So does anyone else have anything interesting to ask? Any burning questions about me or about the Empire in its infancy? Stories about myself, my dear friend, the world at large? Ask away~!"

Clasping her hands over her lap, Lilith continued to smile as she swept her eyes over us, looking back and forth as she waited while also basking in being the center of attention, her expression becoming far more radiant the longer we mulled over any potential questions we might have.

"I have one. Mom - Marquess Asmodia - mentioned something about her ancestors having a certain forging technique that made their steel incredibly powerful and desirable? But now it is lost since... well... the Asmodia Clan has dwindled down in numbers..."

Lilith's eyes twinkled with amusement as she nodded at Anput's question, the hopeful Jackalkin fishing for an answer to something that would take her up an entire flight of stairs to stand above most modern day blacksmiths, but of course nothing was ever that easy.

"I might know a thing or two about the methods they used to produce the steel they did, but... Well, let me put it this way; sometimes, there are methods to doing something that are - and will always be - unique to the people who made them.
Find your next adventure on empire

That doesn't mean there aren't parts that wouldn't work for you, but those parts are the things anyone would be able to tell you. Work harder, practice more, refine your control over your magic and study the materials as much as you possibly can. Because the things that the Asmodeucian Forgemasters were doing are not possible even by one blessed with Metal Mana."

She gave the Jackalkin a consoling nod before looking over at Mom as she asked "So you've gone ahead and taken them in as your own already, hm? No official marriage quite yet, no real binding taking place amongst them besides the complete ownership she has over the Dogkin, but they are practically, officially hers?"

"Yes. Unlike the rest of the Nobility of any of the other races, we have always and will always take responsibility for those that we claim as ours. Jahi went ahead and claimed the three of them as hers, so by extension - since she is my daughter even with all her faults - they are mine as well in the same way she is mine. Four degenerate, demented brats all running around my house..."

The older blue skinned Demoness let out an exaggerated sigh as she shook her head, though when Lilith chuckled and said "It could always be worse; she could have been like you." she just smiled wryly and shrugged, not giving her a direct answer.

"Hey, what did you mean about you horn heads having certain colors matter? I thought that was all just regional and useless cosmetic quirks in your blood, nothing more?"

The black skinned Demoness flashed her perfect teeth at the Demon Wolf in a mixed smile, part warning, part amusement illuminating her face as she leaned closer to the fire, the glow dancing on her flesh and causing her robes to glimmer.

"Everything always has a purpose, Fenyras. Everything, down to the smallest, most minute detail that you can pick up. Did you know that some Caninekin cannot sweat anywhere but their hands and feet? Or that Insectkin evolved to match their surroundings perfectly by flushing their skin with mana and changing its texture, but not the color?

Another example; Wolfkin in the north had white fur that matched the abundance of snow, but Wolfkin down in the south had brown and black fur to help them in the forests. At first it seems to be only a visual difference, but the fur itself of a northern Wolfkin is different from that of a southern one.

Up north they have a thick set of fur that grows close to the skin followed by long, hollow strands of fur that grow overtop of that to help trap heat, while down south they have thinner fur all around. Different, yet at a glance it is only the color that is different, not the fur itself."

Lilith paused and looked at Lady Fenyras expectantly, but when the Demon Wolf just pursed her lips and asked "So the color of your offspring was just denoting that the red ones are a pain in the ass, the yellow ones are too fucking smart for their own good, and the blue ones are insufferable meatheads?"

"No, that is only a byproduct of them attaching themselves to their progenitors strength. The magical talent between the three of them is actually rather even, they just trick themselves mentally that it is different.

They've also bred it out of themselves over the years, which is why Chordeva choosing that Elf, Ria Haniel, was surprising and more than welcome. It resulted in an Asmodia that had high magical and physical prowess, alongside a sharper mind. Quite beneficial.

Ask yourself this though, and this goes to all of you. Think about how unique I am, how unique the Empress is. To an extent, think about how unique Anubi is, then look at Igna, Ter'Ran, and Klaki. What do you notice? Any of you, give me an answer."

When Draka spoke up Lilith clapped her hands slightly, smiling at the white Dragonkin and gesturing for her to keep going as she answered "All of those you have listed are completely unique. Their traits are passed down, yes, but... The Empress passed her hair down to Princess Leone, yes, but she herself practically embodies the idea of Fire itself.

The Dragons embody nature itself in all of its varied forms, be it the flames that bring about new life or the ice and snow that suffocates it. The level that all of you have reached is... well, it's equal to nature, to some degree, and it shows in your physical appearance. That doesn't really..."

She trailed off a little, leaving her rambling there for now as Lilith gave her a bemused smile, the Demoness saying "Close, but that's on the right track. We embody something. Fenyras, you know what I am talking about when I say that; you have a half foot inside of that level of power yourself~! So maybe some self reflecting would do you some good, hm~?"