-Break-
Location: Soarele Blestemat; Throne Room
Standing outside the great doors in front of me, I hold in my excitement as I take a deep breath in and out, causing Siegrund to say, "Need a new pair of pants?"
"SHUT UP! YOU'RE NOT FUNNY!"
Staring at Labi in front of us, he says, "This place really does wreak on your senses?"
Laughing, she says, "This level of the Castle should've only affected your senses a tiny bit, yet if you can feel it so clearly you must truly be exceptional even amongst the Sieg Bisumods?"
Clicking my tongue, I say, "He is a hack who obsesses over a married woman."
"Married for now," he says, causing a glare from my eye to strike his.
No, ignore that idiot. Right now you're moments away from meeting one of the greatest heroes to ever live. Someone who strikes terror and order into the hearts of men, someone who has affected every single generation of man since her birth, a figure that is just as burnt into the hearts of the common man as King Charles, a hero, a dignified existence, a goddess. A woman no man who lived before me is worthy of. And today she shall be mine.
Looking at Labi, I say, "We're ready."
She opens the doors in front of us, and the three of us a greeted with the sight of a hall far more beautiful than that of the halls of men in each and every way imaginable, a sight you could never see outside of Blestemate even if you had all the money in the world, utterly breathtaking, and standing beside the throne at the top of the room, lies the Queen dressed in overflowing white gown almost like a fusion between that of a priest and that of a warrior, with orange markings invoking the sun, decorated with countless different holy objects scattered across it's body, yet he most notable one is a mask overtop her face shaped like the Telonist cross.
It all invokes an overwhelming sense of beauty, strength, and warmth, centring the demonic room on a holy figure.
Her head slightly lies to the side, as multiple men and women kneel around her, yet as we walk in, her posture becomes perfect, and she says, "So you've arrived, child of the Nightfall?"
"Umm, a, uw, wuwuw, y-y-yes, I have, my go-, I mean your majesty."
She freezes for a moment, and then tilts her head again, and in that same instant Siegrund starts to laugh, trying his hardest to hold and restrain himself.
I AM GOING TO KILL HIM, I AM GOING TO KILL HIM, I AM GOING TO KILL HIM, I AM GOING TO KILL HIM, I AM GOING TO KILL HIM, I AM GOING TO KILL HIM, I AM GOING TO KILL HIM, I AM GOING TO KILL HIM, I AM GOING TO KILL HIM, I AM GOING TO KILL HIM, I AM GOING TO KILL HIM, I AM GOING TO KILL HIM, I AM GOING TO KILL HIM, I AM GOING TO KILL HIM, I AM GOING TO KILL HIM, I AM GOING TO KILL HIM, I AM GOING TO KILL HIM, I AM GOING TO KILL HIM, I AM GOING TO KILL HIM, I AM GOING TO KILL HIM, I AM GOING TO KILL HIM, I AM GOING TO KILL HIM, I AM GOING TO KILL HIM, I AM GOING TO KILL HIM!
Labi, tapping me on the back, says, "Do not worry, it's a common experience." She gives me an understanding look, and then, looking at all the people standing around Dumitra, I see their tumps go up in approval. Maybe I am not all alone on this planet after all?
"I would appreciate it if my subjects didn't talk about me right in front of me. Besides, I didn't expect a man of your standard to be so surprised by a Nightmare given your efforts over the last 14 years. It makes a young woman like me blush?"
SHE LOVES ME! SHE LOVES ME! SHE LOVES ME! SHE LOVES ME! SHE LOVES ME! SHE LOVES ME! SHE LOVES ME! SHE LOVES ME! SHE LOVES ME! SHE LOVES ME! SHE LOVES ME! SHE LOVES ME! SHE LOVES ME! SHE LOVES ME! SHE LOVES ME! SHE LOVES ME! SHE LOVES ME! SHE LOVES ME! SHE LOVES ME! SHE LOVES ME! SHE LOVES ME! SHE LOVES ME! SHE LOVES ME! SHE LOVES ME! SHE LOVES ME! SHE LOVES ME! SHE LOVES ME! SHE LOVES ME! SHE LOVES ME! SHE LOVES ME! SHE LOVES ME! SHE LOVES ME! SHE LOVES ME! SHE LOVES ME!
Laughing, Labi says, "Young women? I think you might be shaving off a couple Cycles Grandma."
The room goes silent as Dumitra starts tilting her head, and I feel a feeling of love surge through my heart. "Is everything okay, Madam? Do you need some glasses? Do you need me to fetch you a cane?"
Jumping out of her seat and appearing before us, Dumitra slams her forehead into Labi, knocking her into the ground and turning her body into a puddle of liquid. "The other might treat me like I am a god too much, but your blatant disrespect is too much in the other direction."
Even when she looks pissed off, she is beautiful! I MUST MARRY THIS WOMAN!
Labi stares to reform on the ground into a puddle that smiles, causing Dumitra to slam her foot into it, then turning her head to me, I start to spew out a barrage of sounds incomprehensible to the ears.
Placing her hand against my head, she says, "You're as cute as your mother has said, a real charmer. Thank you for delivering the lifeblood to my people."
I want to cry, I want to get on the floor and grovel in her presence, I want to lick the dirt off the bottom of her feet, but if I do that now I will lose the ability to do that later. Right now, I need to focus and speak. Grabbing her hand, I say, "Your words are far too much for me, my Queen. I have lived a great life though it is nothing compared to the legends of your existence, as a living monument to the greatness of humanity and all we've accomplished."
Her face freezes for a moment, and soon a full-blown smile appears across her face, forcing my heart to a halt. This is life, this is existence, this is why I was born a man to plough these ancient fields.
"Control yourself, I can feel your lust from here," Siegrund says.
My face tenses up as a scowl overtakes it directed at Siegrund, and interrupting our conversation, Dumitra says, "It's an expected reaction; I am sure many young boys have enjoyed the tales of the complete and utter slaughter I did of the giants, isn't that right descendant of the Nephilim?"
"I assure you, I remember your actions taken against us, Dumitra, and understand the Sieg Bisumods will take your challenge any day?"
She giggles as their eyes meet, and I quickly grab his head and wrap it around my arm, as I say, "Please don't listen to his words; he is merely here as a shadow, for the task at hand. Pay him no mind."
Taking a bow, I say, "I've come to raise a petition to her majesty, the Queen of the Nightmares, Slayer of Giant, Uniter of the Condemn, Ruler of Wild Lands, Dominator of the Seas, Slaver of the Future, Queen of Despair, Master of the Dragon, Mother of the Sun, Halter of the Light, Dumitra Solaris. All I ask for is her ears in this matter."
"You can still be respectful?" Siegrund says.
"Shut up," I mumble, before raising my head to her.
Holding up her arm, she releases three little tendrils that move into the bodies of the people standing around her throne, and after a few moments they all head out of the room, taking Labi with them, as Dumitra says, "Sorry, I just exported the information regarding this year's national budget along with the projections for the upcoming years. It takes me some time to formulate them in my mind before passing them on. I really should've gotten this done quicker."
To think she can do an entire nation's finances just by herself- what a goddess. "No problem. I've just come to ask a simple request: due to the actions of the man known as Versi Nightfall, the land that once was filled with abundance known as Varage has simply been overrun with mouths that it cannot feed without cutting into the supply destined for your nation. So Versi has requested that for a short period of time we would be able to have only a portion of your produce to use to feed our people, roughly about 30%. Though I do understand this is a very selfish request, so as Captivant Nightfall I ask that you instead deny his request."
Siegrund's mouth starts to open, so I say, "The situation will only grow worse, and as we know, the brutes that command the militaries across the world tend to not look upon you with the glory you deserve, so I ask you not to deprive your people and instead deny his request."
Siegrund's wrath bubbles slowly, yet Dumitra's face freezes, capturing the beauty that is her existence before a smile appears and she says, "I see. I accept Versi's request. We will give him 30% of our produce over the next 5 years. If he needs an extension on that, he can send you to come see me again."
My body shoots up, and I say, "But your majest-."
In an instant, both of my lips close and looking at my shoulder a see a large fluffy fish with two human arms that have make-up brushes attached; in a single instant, it wipes at my mouth, erasing my lips. Then I feel Dumitra's hand against my head as she says, "Thank you for your words today, please go enjoy the celebration for you. Bye, bye."
ΦA door appears behind Captivant, which she pushes him through as his mouth returns and his head changes shape. Then turning to Siegrund, she says, "Now you must be the training partner I requested?"
"So that's why Domita asked me to come along?"
Stretching her body, she says, "Orlok and Stelara are the only ones who can keep up with me, but I've memorised all their moves. The Deocheal, even with their enhancements, are not seasoned warriors, so I tend to run out of training partners rather frequently. So can you keep up with me next head of the Sieg Bisumods?"
Siegrund glares at her before he says, "Earlier, why didn't you say anything to Adrain, after his clear plot against his father?"
"Why would I waste the words on a demon?"
Siegrund swings his sword right towards her neck before being stopped by her hand, yet as the sound catches up to his swing, the pressure bursts throughout the room. "Take back what you said. He can change his future."
"As one leader to another, I have something to tell you. No demon is created outside of one's will. But I am sure you know that, so is the reason you reject my words really due to your love for him, or is it due to what he means to you?"
Siegrund sword pushes forward, and he says, "Don't cry when I permanently injure you, Dumitra."
Laughing, she says, "As if Hrunting could hurt me? Bring Balmung next time to at least entertain me like Siegfried the 2nd."
A door opens beneath both of them, and soon they end up at the top of Balaur. And moments later there clash begins, sending shockwaves after every blow that move through the country, but more than that, move to the man falling through the sky as he poses one question to himself?
ΦWhy is it him? Why is her attention all on him?