Garima let King Cirius sit with her words.
Then she rose.
Her movements were not hurried– deliberate as she walked to where Priestess Ava and Priest Dylan still knelt. Priestess Ava's shoulders trembled. And Priest Dylan's expression didn't look good.
Garima exhaled softly.
She didn't mean to frighten them.
Her hands came to rest on their shoulders—she gently motioned them to get up.
"Your Holiness" Priest Dylan breathed.
"You stood in front of your King with a drawn weapon" Garima cut in. "Thankyou"
Priestess Ava stiffened.
"That was our duty" Priest Dylan replied, though the certainty in his voice faltered.
His expression reminded her of someone she loved dearly. Her brother.
Garima looked at him. Her expression softened.
"No," she said quietly. "It was a choice"
Then she looked at Ava. And added softly "And I won't forget it"
They relaxed, their bodies eased.
"Sit" she said "we'll talk later"
Then she turned as if the previous moment had never happened,
"Please Sit, Your Majesty"
King Cirius hesitated– then sat down, the rest followed.
The guards withdrew. And servants made themselves scarce.
Garima returned to her seat and settled into it with quiet ease, crossing one leg over the other.
"Let's not waste good food." She said lightly. "Please—don't mind me"
The absurd normalcy was heavier than defiance.
Just then a faint broke through. And Garima glanced towards the pillar.
Two small heads peeked out.
Princess Miriel and beside her stood— equally curious and far less subtle— Prince Elian.
Garima smiled.
"Come here,"
They came immediately.
Miriel ran forward first. Stopping right in front of Garima. Her eyes were shining.
"That was amazing," she blurted.
Elian wasn't far behind
"Was that really you?" He asked quickly "The lighting— did you call it? Can you do it again? Can you actually destroy the palace?"
Garima blinked at them. Then she laughed. "Hahahhahah" freely—unguarded.
"No," she said, shaking her head " I am not here to destroy your palace"
Miriel bounced "It looked so bright!"
"We saw everything" Elian added "It was incredible"
Garima beckoned them closer.She pulled Miriel into her lap and drew Elian beside her.
"That" she said, quieter now "is not something I control"
Both children leaned in.
"Then what is it?" Elian asked.
Garima smiled faintly.
"She is called Luminae"
Miriel's eyes widened "Luminae?"
"A guardian" Garima said
Elian frowned "So she protects you"
Garima smiled.
"Something like that"
Miriel clapped her hands "Can she protect us too"
Garima's smile was warmer now.
Elian nodded "it's was so beautiful"
Garima laughed. "If you eat your vegetables, she might"
Miriel puffed her cheeks "That's not fair"
Elian tensed "Could it be something other than vegetables?"
Garima leaned closer.
"There is, I will tell you later"
"Really ?" Prince Elian asked.
"Promise?" Miriel asked.
"Promise," she tapped their forehead lightly.
Now go, No hiding this time" Then she whispered something only meant for them.
" No cheating,Luminae will watch you"
Their eyes widened.
They giggled—and ran.
The tension in the room shifted. Not fully at ease but no longer on edge.
Garima leaned back.
"Now," she said, her gaze returned to the throne "shall we continue?"
"Speak," King Cirius said.
"What I said earlier was not a threat." Garima replied. "It was a projection"
She folded her hands.
"A large scale calamity—not immediately but inevitable—the preparations must begin now"
King Cirius's gaze sharpened "What kind of Calamity?"
Garima met his gaze.
"An Organized kind"
"What do you mean?" Prince Caelum asked.
"I told you about Devil lords" Garima asked "So what do you understand by it"
"Monsters?" Caelum offered.
Garima shook her head
"Then you don't understand what a devil is?"
"Do you?" She looked at the king and queen.
"I have read about them, fragments" King Cirius said "Nothing substantial"
"They are described as dangerous and power ful" Queen Raphine added.
"You are describing demons"
A scoff.
"Is there a difference?" Princess Danya asked.
Garima's eyes flicked to her.
"Demons are low level mindless, chaotic monsters. Quite easy to deal with" Garima sighed "Devils are not"
She lowered her voice.
"They are cunning, evil. True embodiment of cruelty."
She paused… "They have hierarchy, they plan, think and organise—and they build"
King Cirius's fingers pressed into the armrest.
"Continue"
"At the top—" she said slowly " —is the Devil Emperor—Below him are Devil lords, fewer in number but they govern their troops and have territories"
She said slowly.
"After them are Devil Generals"
Her gaze shifted to Princess Danya.
You almost faced one, Princess"
Princess Danya stiffened.
"They lead forces," Garima continued "Sometimes armies. Sometimes small units—But everyone of them is strong"
"And our knights?" Prince Caelum asked.
Garima didn't soften it.
"They will die"
A lie, a truth both. Maybe Sir Regilan would survive or lose a hand. She wouldn't risk it. Life was precious.
"Why now, after so many years?" King Cirius asked.
"Execution, warfare, adaptation, expansion and territory."
Queen Raphine's voice was quieter now "are you certain"
"I am not, I don't know the exact reason" Garima continued "They are not active yet, but they are gathering. Slowly and deliberately."
"And when they move?" Prince Caelum asked.
"They won't attack like monsters" Garima answered "They will invade like nations"
The weight of it settled. And no one could dismiss it.
The King exhaled slowly "And your role in this?"
Garima didn't look away.
"I gather the counterforce, Heroes" she said simply.
"Heroes" Princess Danya let out a dismissive breath—it lacked the previous bite
Ah, adat se majboor. So Garima didn't raise her voice.
"Yes, Princess—People without comfort, without pride, without titles. Unlike you"
Princess Danya's jaws tightened. "Do you have something against me?"
Garima answered evenly "No,"
"I have something against what you are choosing to be,"
I want a different future for you from what I wrote. I don't want you to live the life I gave you.
Danya faltered.
"This is your Kingdom, and their safety is your responsibility" she continued "Act like it "
"...fine," Princess Danya muttered. Quieter now.
"As I was saying" Garima moved on "Like minded people will gather around those heroes. Strong, Broken, Skilled and Desperate"
A faint smile.
"And they will fight"
Queen Raphine studied her carefully.
"How long?"
"Six months"
"That's—" Danya started out of habit. Then stopped herself.
Garima didn't even look at her.
"I need momentum your majesty" she said "not perfection"
She turned back to the king.
"For that, I require your cooperation"
"State it"
"Your military"
King Cirius's gaze hardened.
"Not for me."
"Then—"
"Train them"
"They are trained"
"Then do it again, harder, smarter. For something far from monsters, like human but are inhuman."
Garima continued. "But I need access to Independent fighters. Scouts. And information networks"
Prince Caelum nodded "That can be arranged"
"And" she inclined her head. "I need a combat instructor"
"You?" Princess Danya let out a short laugh—but it faded quickly under the king's gaze.
"You intend to fight?" King Cirius asked.
"Yes"
"Why?"
"To reduce loss"
"Pardon"
"If I ask them to stand in front of death.." Her voice didn't waver. "Then I should be able to stand with them too."
King Cirius's expression turned complicated. Maybe his perception of her changed.
"Then you will train properly" he said "No exception"
Garima nodded "Good"
She paused "Then we are aligned, Your majesty"
King Cirius held her gaze.
And then he let out a faint smile.
"We are, Your Holiness"