There was nothing we could do.

  Alerting the other Gods about what the cultists were doing could tip them off to this new avenue of attack, but doing nothing would allow the cults and the bandits access into the cities that didn’t require them to go through the city gates.

  We had to pick the better of two bad options.

  “The good news for you is that this is far above your Tier.” Trent looked from me to Gesai. “And you’re fortunate enough that you can’t take a Mantle of the Gods.”

  “Aelin was using the Dungeon Core though!” I piped up.

  “I’m aware and have no idea how those that aren’t godsired can manipulate the Dungeon Seeds, but that also has Harror very concerned.” Trent rubbed his chin.

  “Why?” I wasn’t sure if I wanted to know the answer. That much power in the hands of anyone was scary to think about, but considering the Primus existed, the threat of someone powerful attacking you from the shadows had been there since before we learned about the Dungeon Seeds.

  “Before this, all you had to do was keep up with your lineage.” Trent took a deep breath. “Sure, there was always going to be the random child born that no one knew about, but for those who had a city, all they had to do was keep an eye on the other Gods and anyone else you’d be able to see coming because they’d level their way up through the Dungeon, which would take decades.”

  I had a thought. “Couldn’t one of the personal guards take a Mantle of the Gods?”

  “Most of the time, the answer to that is no.” Trent sighed. “Each of the personal guards is sealed with a spell that links them to their God. Most of them are sealed for the life of their God, which means that they’re never able to break away, though there are a few who don’t put such riders into the spell.”

  I nodded. “So what that means is that if one of the personal guards wants to have their own city, they have to wait until their God dies, but because they can’t betray the God they are sealed to, it’s almost impossible for them to do.”

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  “Exactly.” Trent agreed. “Which means that even though the Primus are around, they usually don’t take out established cities because of the death toll.”

  “But now anyone who can use a Dungeon Seed might be able to take their Mantle…” Ether gasped. “Would that desolate the city?”

  “We don’t know.” Trent sighed. “This is a new weapon, so it might just put the challenger in control of the city.” He shook his head. “We just don’t know.”

  “That’s…” I shook my head. “Okay, I can see why you don’t want too much about this getting out.”

  “Unfortunately, too many people saw the artificial Dungeon.” Trent shook his head. “It’s just a matter of time before the other Gods catch on to this and we have to decide whose hands the Dungeon Seeds would be more dangerous in. The Gods or the people.”

  I opened my mouth, but my father shook his head.

  “I don’t mean you. This problem is far above your level, and the only reason why I’m discussing it with you is because I doubt it’s something that will be fixed before you grow strong enough to have a voice on the issue.”

  “Okay…” I nodded. “So earlier, you said that you had a solution for our level difference?” A smile crossed my face. “You have a way for me to gain a bunch of levels?”

  “You’re not ready for that kind of strain.” Trent shook his head. “We’re lucky Gesai’s mind didn’t shatter. I can’t believe Klix would Tier you up twice in such a short amount of time, especially after you were already strained.”

  The silver woman looked down at her feet. “Sorry.”

  “It’s not your fault.” Trent sighed. “And I’m sorry that your father decided to be tactless in how he broke the news to you. I suppose in his own way he cares about you, but pushing you to do something that he thinks you want instead of recognizing what you need...” He shook his head.

  “I don’t want to leave…” Gesai took a deep breath. “I just…”

  “I know. It takes a moment to process when the thing you’ve always wanted but never thought was possible becomes an option.” Trent tilted his head. “If it helps, Celia only made you that offer so your father would owe her a favor and not because she thought you’d take it.” He smiled. “I suppose she is a little concerned that you might beat her in the prelims.”

  Gesai made a fist. “Oh, I’m definitely going to beat her now. She made me an offer she didn’t think I’d take. How about I make her an offer—”

  I cleared my throat. “The leveling situation?” I motioned at Gesai. “And the lack of a Healer on her team right now?” I took a deep breath. “That doesn’t include leaving Justia behind?”

  Trent reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, white marble. The milky object blended with his palm as he offered it to Gesai.

  “Harror told me to give you this.”

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