As I slowly regained contusionness, I heard a female voice coming near me. 'go get the princess.' The voice said to another. 'yes Mam, right away.' The other said. Then footsteps could be heard running away.
Then couple of seconds later I fully gain contiones, and sat up, and looked around from the battle field has now turned into a lavish bedroom and I was on a king size bed,
The walls are adorned with intricate, filigree silverwork that shimmers like moonlight on water, while the floor is polished white marble, veined with threads of glittering crystal.
Pillars of moonstone and opal support a ceiling of glittering, star-studded obsidian, creating an illusion of standing beneath a midnight sky. The air is filled with the sweet scent of lilies, their petals delicately painted with silver and gold.
A fountain of crystal clear water barks softly in the center of the room, its gentle melody weaving in harmony with the distant songs of minstrels. The room's focal point is a throne of crystal and silver, its backrest a majestic, outstretched wing of some ancient, mythical bird.
And on the throne sat a beautiful woman looking at me, She sat regally on the crystal throne, her slender fingers drumming a soft rhythm on the armrest. Her hair was a cascade of silver moonlight, framing an heart-shaped face with delicate features and piercing emerald eyes. Perched on her nose were a pair of wire-rimmed glasses, giving her an endearing, bookish air. The glasses frame her eyes perfectly, accentuating their sparkle. A soft, ethereal glow surrounds her, as if the sunlight in the room is drawn to her presence. She wears a gownd of shimmering silver silk, adorned with intricate, flower-like patterns that seem to bloom and fade with her every breath.
'wow, she is beautiful.' I thought to myself, and as if on que that crazy basterd had to ruin the moment for me.
"She may be pretty but you probably prefer Celestia over thi elven doctor would you not."
'Fuck you Nyxios, why can't you let me enjoy this moment for a little while.' I cursed inwardly. 'is that how you should speak to a god boy.'
'What in the, how the hell did he know what I was thinking of. Oh don't tell me he can now read my mind or something.'
Leaving that now I must find out where in hell I am.
"Amm... Hello... It's nice you finally awake... My name is Silphy and the princess ordered me to look out for you so if you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask me..." The girl finally spoke.
I rubbed my eyes, whipping away the shadow of sleepiness from my eyes.
"For starters you can tell me where I am and how I got here..." I asked her getting up from the bed, with my body aching in places that didn't even knew that could ache.
"Aham... Yes of course sir... Amm... This is emm... Our country Elendor... And our scouts found you near the corps of an Alpha Carnex and... and... They brought you here seeing that... You were severely injured.... And please forgive me for talking youre clothes off otherwise I couldn't have treated you..."
"Oh I see... Wait..." It took me some time realising her words, and looked down. And there I stood butt naked standing near the bed, I could sense that Nyxios was laughing his ass out.
I covered my private parts with a sheet I pulled out from the bed, and with a fully red face asked her "Where the fuck are my clothes at?." And she replied "wait a moment... I'll bring you some clothes..." and ran out the room.
After sometime she returned with a flushed face, bringing some clothes. Then I asked her to wait outside till I put them on. Witch she listened to and excused herself.
After she went out I started to get dressed. Right when I was getting ready to put on my pants I heard a big commotion outside, and suddenly the massive doors slammed open. And Silphy came rushing in along side another girl, a tall slender form encased in shimmering silver armor etched with intricate, leaf-like patterns that seem to shift and shimmer like moonlight on water. The armor's breastplate bears the emblem a silver crescent moon, radiant against the dark blue of her cloak. Her silver hair is woven into a tight braid, adorned with tiny crystal threads that catch the light. Emerald eyes gleam with a fierce, determined spark. A slender sword, its hilt inlaid with moonstones, hangs at her side. An aura of quiet strength, a warrior ready to defend her realm.
The moment she gazed at my half naked body she blushes and with the same speed she came in, turned around and left the room closing the door behind her.
"Bwah hah ha..." A laughing Nyxios metirealized on the bed covered in dark shadows.
"Yeah laugh to your heart's content, you dumb fuck."
"Oh I shall, Blackwood. Haaaaah... Okay enough of that. Now put your clothes on, we must greet the elven princess." He said finally finishing his laughter.
"Hey... How the fuck you on the bed... Last time I checked I could only hear your dammed voice?." I asked finishing dressing up .
"Oh this, that is only possible because you have now unlocked Soul Energy that was hidden beneath that monstrous body of your. It seems to me that for all these years for you to tap into your Soul Energy was to a near death experience."
"So I'm now a Hunter?." Heading towards the massive door I asked with a hopeful eyes.
"Yes, you can be now considered a S grade."
As I opened the door I saw the elven doctor and the woman that previously barge into the room waiting.
When I stepped out of the room the silver haired woman stepped closer and with a slight red face asked for forgiveness for being rude previously.
"Please forgive my rudeness, I was a little excited when I heard that you were awake. And I just had some questions to ask you." Bowing to me she said.
"Oh that's alright, just forget what you saw in there." How embarrassing but since I was used to Celestia watching me change I didn't mind it all.
She kept talking , " My name is Lyraea, and I am the princess of this domain. What might your name be?."
'Lyraea that's a fucking mouthful.' I thought.
"I am Nero Blackwood, that's it..." I said.
"Oh I hoped there would be more but for now that shall do." She said in a disagreement visible on her face. "Would you be kind enough to follow me." Then she turned to leave.
And without any other choice I followed her.
After a some time of walking amongst the elven halls, I asked her. "Amm... where are you taking me to, princess."
Without turning around to face me she said, "The Carnexes had been appearing a lot recently since the appearance of a devil's domain nearby. And every soldier that we sent to close the domain was killed by the Carnex Alpha and the devil himself. And to kill the Alpha that no A rank was able to for the past two months, now that feat is something worth the queen's attention."
'Hey... Nyxios who is this queen of elves. Is she some old ass powerful being that I'm goanna have to deal with myself?.' I asked Nyxios using my thoughts.
'It seems to me like we both might have to deal with her." He said.
'Both of us, why is that?' I asked in confusion.
'That because the last time I checked the elven queen is one of the strongest beings that lives in this dimension. And she has the ability to see spirits and communicate with gods.'
As Lyarea took me to the royal hall I saw that it was filled with elven warriors, nobles, and archers. And on the middle of the hall sat a beautiful woman nearly identical to princess Lyraea the only thing that differentiate the two was their clothes princess was wearing a armour while the other one was wearing silky robes that was nearly see through.
Nyxios materialized beside me. 'Sylvanoria, iam pridem te non vidi. O rem mirabilem! Putabam eam in superiore pugna perisse.'
What the hell couple of days ago I couldn't understand what this language said but now I can understand it word for word.
It translates to, 'Sylvanoria, it has been some time. What a surprise, I thought she had died in our previous fight.'
Then the queen spoke not to me nor to Lyarea but to Nyxios, "Ah, ergo tu eras, Nyxios. Sciebam nullum mortalem Carnexes vincere posse et vestigia tua etiam sensi."
This said 'Oh so it was youre doing, Nyxios I knew no living man could defeat the Carnexes and I felt your presence as well.'
A silence covered the hall. Princess and I looked at each other in confusion. It seemed to me that Lyarea didn't understood anything her queen was saying. Nor at who it was said to.
Before neither of them could say anything else the doors to the royal hall swung open.
A bloodied soldier came rushing in. Kneeling Infront of the queen he said.
"Your graze the devil has gone mad he... he sent his messenger... They said that the devil is going to concure the elven land. Since... No one has expected his challenge for a Duel to the death...."
The soldier fell face first on to the floor after finishing his sentence. The queen signalled another elven soldier to take him to the royal doctors.
"so the devil wants to fight one of our champions that bad huh...." Queen spoke.
Then once again she looked at me and then at Lyarea.
"My dear sister... What do you think about this."
"Please, my queen let me fight this dual." Lyarea said kneeling.
The queen let out a sigh and looked at me and Nyxios.
"Quid dicis, vetus amicus? Nonne vis tuo corpore uti in Duello?" (What do you say old friend, don't you want your vessel to fight in the Duel.)
Nyxios looked at me and started to say something. But before he could. I spoke, "Thanks for the offer your highness, but I'm going to be refusing."
Nyxios looked at me in confusion and opened his mouth to speak. But the queen cut him off.
"Pro me et sorore mea iuniore Lyarea pugna,et uxor tua devota ero." After speaking in thi language she repeated it in a language we all understood, "Fight for me and I shall make sure my younger sister becomes your devoted wife."
A silence filled the hall. The head of the kneeling princess slowly raised towards the queen. "Si... Sister... Wha... what on Gaia's green earth are you speaking about?." Her eyes was tearing up and voice shaking.
Then she looked at me with hopeful eyes. Perhaps thinking I would still refuse the offer.
"So, kid what do you say now, do you still going to refuse the offer." Nyxios asked me.
'Shit... I don't know man. Help me out here. In one side I don't want to get mixed up in this conflict but on the other hand I really want to... You know what I mean. Help me out here Nyxios.' I said to him in my head.
"Accept the bloody deal boy. In one way you will get more experience from this battle and this is the best chance I will get to teach you another technique. The 'Shadow Step' and besides you could use a companion since you would not be meeting Celestia for a while." This was Nyxios's response.
Fuck I said to myself inwardly. "Give me some time to think." I said finally.
"Only two hours that is the time you will get. Not a minute more." The queen said.
And before I could respond I was being dragged out of the room by Lyarea.
She took me to a the room I was previously in and closed the door.
Still her hands on the door she started to cry. "Pl... Please... Yo... You... Got to refuse." She said slowly falling to her knees.
"Why?." That was my only question for her.
'Bad idea kid.' Nyxios said standing next to me.
"Why... You ask why... Because this fight is the only thing that can help me to get the respect I lost from the kingdom. That's why..." Turning towards me she said.
I wen closer to her and sat In front of her "What do you mean exactly?"
"Couple of months ago... I...led an attack against the Devil.... with me there were two-hundred elvish warriors... But... The devil was far stronger than we anticipated and my entire legion was erased in a blink of an eye... And I was the only one returned with only small wounds... Something later the word spread amongst the kingdom about how the princess and her legion lost to the weakest Devil of the region... But that's not all they said that I... I.. after seeing the power of the Devil abandoned my troops and ran like a dog with my tail between my legs.... For this cause I was disrespected through out the kingdom... So please let me have this.... Please."
After hearing her story I felt a tightness squeezing my chest. A feeling that I never felt before even when I saw my mother and father being hung by the neck.
'And what makes you think... That you will be able to kill the Devil this time?.' This was a question that I had to ask her and even from myself.
"So are you positive you can beat this devil?" I finally asked her.
She looked at me with tear stained eyes and slowly started. "No... I'm not bu... But... With your help I might be able to..."
"Huh with my help?"
"Yes... You can teach me your way... Can you not? The deal was to fight for the queen was it not... Then she shall give you my hand in marriage right... So instead of fighting for her... Teach me how to fight... And in return... In return... I will give you my hand in marriage... I only ask that you let me fight the Devil." With hopeful and teary eyes she looked at me.
My head was very close to being split open. By the stress of this conversation.
"Fuck this. Man I really need to stop getting into these type of situations... First the Carnex now this fucking Devil. God of darkness save me from this fucking situation." I cried out loud. Towards Nyxios who was standing behind me.
He smirked and said. "Sheesh... Fine I'll get you out of this conflict, but first we must completely synchronise with each other. But before anything else go ahead and accept this poor thing's proposition."
Then I looked at the pleading eye's of the princess.
"Okay little princess Stop crying. I'll teach you how to fight."
"Than... Thank... You... And I'm not little, I'm much older than you...."
I smiled, "Yeah and how old are you exactly...?"
"I.. I'm one hundred and fifty years old..."
'Shit.... I'm about to get into a marriage with a grandma in human year's.... But hey at least she's a cute one... At least."