Ickni's eyes twitched slightly at my words. For some reason unknown to me, the fire within her eyes dimmed slightly, revealing half of her emerald eyes. Her eyes were quite interesting, split between crimson and emerald, while I didn't like a single thing about the girl. I had to admit her eyes were quite the enchanting sight.
"No one has spoken to me with such hostility since I seized this Dominion from Artoria's grasp. It's quite refreshing to hear, for some reason," said Ickni, slowly walking towards me, her footsteps hollow and her hands clasped behind her back, appearing to me a normal, innocent child. "You don't seem shocked by my words. Do you know the tale of how I seized control of this Dominion?"
"I know that Artoria is the Dominion of Conquest, and you use that sacred band to control her every action. Forcing her to commit murder and your wicked schemes."
"Huh? I don't force anyone to do anything; they do it because they want to follow my schemes. Artoria isn't some lost damsel that is forced to commit my will against her own volition. She does it because she loves to kill, she's become so attuned to death and my orders that she's turned into an obedient little dog."
"That's twisted! How can you even try to justify slavery? You use those bands to control and incite fear into the masses to control their every move and wishes. Harmony can't exist in such a land. Are you just blind or truly evil?"
"Slavery? No, under my thumb, they are enlightened, and given my blessing, without me, they would be nothing but insolent little worms festering in the dirt. Doing nothing but polluting the air with their lesser breath, under my rule, they are ascended into a purer angel. I am their God."
"You believe your people to be pure!? How can you say such a thing, knowing corruption and rot are running rampant in your 'perfect' society?"
"An angel needs to be acquainted with death to truly thrive. I don't blame them for trying to take my verdict into their hands; that just shows the love they have for me and my iron grip on their minds. The only path of rebellion in the eyes of order is death. Those who don't accept my order don't deserve to breathe the same air as me."
"You're nothing close to angelic… How can you speak such vile poison when you are supposed to embody purity? How…"
"Bahahaha! You think angels are pure of heart, take a look around you. Didn't you almost get stoned to death because you are wingless? Is that your idea of pure? Tell me what is an angel is supposed to be?"
Ickni suddenly appeared in front of me, grabbing my face, floating slightly to reach my face. She pulled me down, staring intently into my eyes, her grip growing oppressive. The emerald of her eyes was beginning to be replaced with a sinister crimson, her malice filling the surrounding air, ripping the breath from my lungs.
"Tell me!"
"I don't know any more…"
"You know what I love more than watching an execution? When a proud man's eyes fall into despair. It's more intoxicating than anything else in this world."
A gleeful smile was plastered on Ickni's face, the emerald colouring in her eyes practically dancing with ecstasy at my realization.
"So Evernight, the wingless anomaly, will you serve me and bend the knee?"
"What? No, I would never serve a corrupted being such as yourself. I'll never bend my knee to a Devil."
"Devil? I'm nothing close to a Devil; I can promise that Devils are much worse than I am. Creatures that thrive on bloodlust and misery will never be the same as me. I'll forgive your comparison this time, don't repeat yourself, or I'll sever the tendons in your muscles until you beg me to stop."
My complexion paled at her words of pure unbridled malice, her face didn't convey the same vile feelings that were spilling from her mouth. Her messy azure hair and gleaming emerald eyes gave her the look of an innocent child, not a wicked dictator.
"Nothing to say? Not even a single sorry, my lord? Hehe, it's okay, I'll make you bow eventually. It's only a matter of time before you yield. I've decided what to do with you! You'll join the Servants of Order, and work with Artoria to destroy the roots of rebellion in our divine city!"
"What!? You aren't going to kill me?"
"Of course not. But if you resist my order, I may have to lock you in the deepest pit of Grandheart, but don't worry, I won't let you die; you'll live in pain and hunger for the rest of eternity. If that's the future you wish for, I'll arrange it immediately."
Ickni clapped her hands; the thunderous sound echoed throughout the grand throne room, causing me to almost jump out of my skin. A servant soon entered the room as soon as the sound dissipated, as if he'd practiced the correct timing for years on end.
"No! I'll serve you." I shouted desperately, trying to halt Ickni's schemes. The last thing I wanted was to suffer in some pit.
"Spill your secrets then if you want to serve. What is your power?"
"Edict of Light."
"Edict of Light? But you bear no mark of an Edict, and Edicts are basically impossible for wingless vermin to get. They have barely any divinity; if they do have an Edict, it's weak and unreliable. Don't lie to me. Lies will get you nowhere but a cold cell."