The appellation of the marrow's effect on the log was one of the most powerful abilities, if not the most. The marrow, for a cost only known to the user Khael, can create a single entry in the log; the more potent the effects, the higher the sacrifice. At first, this power was useless to Khael because he did not know the language the log was written in, and the entry must be grammatically correct in the alien tongue to be executed. He opted to pay special attention to Yumi and to decipher the meanings and grammatical laws of the log's language through trial and error. Eventually he mastered it far better than even Yumi and could write coherent sentences.

  This power was known to the previous appellations, especially the appellations of intercessions. It became a tradition to use their Grimoire for the first time to delay the execution of Khael's one and only use of it. A decade has passed since he wrote the entry. "Zodath Kharuun vel'ethra caelum-bane". They knew only two words from this entry: Zod and Bane. Zod was intuitive of course, while Bane meant to purge/cleanse of an impurity. They did not allow the entry to be executed, out of fear of what Zod was purging the world of. This entry has been placed on the final line of the final page of the Log, and other entries all appear before it, while new pages appear if necessary.

  The sacrifice in question was unknown to all but Khael. It was known that about a decade ago, Zod had faced a national tragedy that closed its borders to tourism and trade for months on end. Perhaps this was the cost of the entry.

  Khael knew they could not delay his entry forever, and that it would soon come to fruition, as long as no new appellation of intercession was selected to renew the purgatory. He also knew that Noro was a novice and the King of Cairnreach would not know of this decade-old entry, as he had not seen the Log as far as Khael was aware. Of course, neither Yumi nor the king would trust the other to use each other's powers for a mutual aim after recent events. Maybe this was the root of his psychotic confidence. He had to remain steadfast and patient.

  Ryo leaned forward, waiting for the next line of action. Noro is soaked with sweat at the King's wrath. Sura and Xut are jovial, thinking that with the power of the crown, the appellation of intercession, and the clergy, the nation of Zod is committing suicide. Xut rises, "You unenlightened always need someone to fight your battles for you". He remarks with an impertinent attitude. Sura follows along as they exit.

  In his chambers, the King smashes a vase against the wall.

  How can I take on Zod with a novice appellation, some churchgoers and no crown?

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  He stops pacing abruptly.

  Valene and Vanele had fair skin, which was between Rea's milky white and Zod's caramel brown. Their hair was a reddish pink, and they looked identical. They rise and Sol follows along with them silently. Before leaving, he picks up the vial Khael had left for him. Madarame looks at him with a snarky grin, and Sol replies with one himself.

  Sol turns to Seraphiel, looks him up and down and leaves without a word.

  Returning to the parlour in Seriol, Madarame and Seraphiel are seated again in front of the fire. Taking a deep puff of his cigarette, Madarame looks at Seraphiel without uttering a word as if pondering something. "Well that was unexpected hmm" he finally cuts the silence.

  "It is incredibly fortunate that Zod will fight our battle, but if they win, I can't imagine they would give up the land. Let's hope Zod loses and weakens them enough for us to swoop in". Madarame sighs as the flames flicker and are stoked.

  Seraphiel hoped and begged for the opposite. He wanted Zod to destroy this faux-Cairnreach so he could have the glory of exterminating Khael and his kingdom. Wiping away the dirty prints of the supplanter king with the blood of his murderer.

  Would Zod being weakened make our conquest cheap? Maybe we should let them get themselves back to their feet before waging war.

  Seraphiel was clearly insane.

  The Tengu's clicking and cawing was gnawing away at his left hemisphere. He was becoming more akin to a Sol than Khael, an unstable idealist seeking the maximisation of suffering for a greater aim. The key horrific distinction is that Seraphiel was motivated by national superiority, and his 'Greater aim' was something abhorrent and evil. Seraphiel was walking a tightrope between good and evil and was about to lose his balance.

  Seraphiel wanted Verez destroyed, a failed nation in his eyes. This outcome truly was the most ideal in his eye, and he couldn't have asked for anything better.

  No, I should destroy them all. Though this thought was too outlandish for Seraphiel to entertain seriously, it was more of an intrusive click.

  "Yes, Zod fighting for us is great, unfortunately they would have to be destroyed either way. If they win, we must take it back, and if they lose, well, they lost." Seraphiel reciprocates Madarame's attitude towards the situation.

  "Yeah", Madarame shakes his glass and looks into his warping reflection.

  Zod will be destroyed? Really, that sentence doesn't seem to be coherent.

  Madarame was not even aware of the extent of Khael's power, yet his brain instinctively told him the statement was a contradiction—a break in logic.

  Khael takes a sip from his coffee and opens his grimoire. He smiles to himself. He knows that as long as this entry is not executed, he is effectively immortal. He did not want allies in the war as to avoid any loopholes the log might exploit, where "Zod" in the entry is considered an honorific rather than a literal. For instance, his allies carrying the title of Zod for him, no, he worded it precisely and manoeuvred with caution.

  "Zodath Kharuun vel'ethra caelum-bane", he read on the empty page as his mind automatically translated.

  A declaration to the beasts of old, whom few believed in.

  The plague of Zod will purge the heavens of its inferiors.