"Quite a long hall. Longer than it needs to be for my taste." Thought Raven to himself. It was decorated with many paintings and statues of various creatures, people and all that lot. As they continued down this corridor, Solara spoke to many servants they passed by. Usually she said to keep up the good work, to which they responded with a smile and quick return to their duties. She must be popular. How lovely~
"Now. I suppose the silence in the air won't break itself, so, may I ask what is it that you wished to discuss?" asked Solara as she stopped before a collection of four statues. Almost as if to reassure herself while asking Raven.
"Well, what an interesting place to ask such question. We could have gone to a throne room, or somewhere else discreet, however you chose to stand here, before the Guardians." Raven recognized the statues. Not only that, he knew two of them. The snake Siltharion and the man with the falchion, Velaeran.
"They help me focus on the important matters. I feel as if they are guiding me here." She turned around. "Siren, you may leave."
Siren seemed less than happy to leave her mistress with a stranger, but if anything were to happen, Solara could take care of herself, much like her sister. "I will return to lady Luna then." She said as she lowered her head. Solara only nodded in agreement.Raven looked back, almost to say goodbye to her, yet she was already on her way. She was…truly a sight to behold. Even as she was leaving.
"You didn't answer my question. What are you doing here?" Solara snapped Raven out of his trance.
"You are a ruler of this kingdom, correct?" asked Raven in response. Solara appeared more than displeased that he answered her question with another question. But she replied anyway.
"Yes, but I share my throne with my sister, Luna."
"Is that so? Well, anyway, you must be already aware of the few villages that have been attacked recently. They were situated near the border with Laxoria, if I am not wrong." He said with his silky-smooth voice. Solara seemed unfaced by his posture or style of speech, unlike any other woman he has had the pleasure to speak in a while.
Solara seemed a bit hesitant to answer. It was suppose to be a matter unaware to the public."Yes. I am aware of those unfortunate events and we will try our best to fi-"
"What if I told you that I know the cause of those attacks?" he interrupted Solara.
Her eyes quickly shined with determination. Almost as if she was in a hard place and he now has the light. "How would you know that?"
"For I have traveled from south. I have encountered those villages. Or rather, I was tracking something that linked those attacks. For you see…" and as he was talking, he summoned what appeared to be a giant scythe out of nowhere. Solara seemed to clench her fist. It was purely out of reflex, yet she didn't do so out of fear. Rather, she did it as I to hold on spell. Raven noticed this and laughed a little. "Oh, sorry miss. You needn't to worry. I will merely show you something."
As he said so, two guards started running down the hall towards them. Solara however signed them to stop. She seemed to be more curious than afraid.
The blade of the scythe had a beautiful engraving on it. It was like someone decorated it with wines and roses. Where the blade and the handle met, there was a small separation on top. There floated a tiny object of changing shape. It was pitch black, yet it swirled, contorted itself as it floated near the blade.
"This is a substance I extracted from the behemoths that attacked the villages. From what I know, they came from some sort of rift from the ground, they then went on to steal the very souls of the villagers and wreak havoc on the area. Luckily, I managed to save some villagers who happened to be close by to one of my crows. The behemoth then bled this very same substance. Not only is it their blood, I believe it is something much more than that. When separated from its host it immediately starts to look for another host, defending itself in the process."
As he was explaining this, Solara seemed to grow more and more angry at something. She stopped him. Her hair blocked her eyes as Raven tried to look at them, but from what he could by her posture and her voice, she was pissed off.
"Many innocents died there. You mean to tell me, that all of that was because of this. AND YOU BRING IT HERE?!" she snapped at him. Clearly, patience wasn't her strong suite.
"Don't worry. This little thing here is more then contained. This blade has the ability to kill anything it strikes down. No matter who it kills, they are going to die, immortal or not. Since this blob was both alive and not sentient it would prove difficult to kill. Were it not for my scythe of course."
She seemed to calm down a little bit thanks to his explanation. She crossed her arms as she seemed to be thinking about something. Weighing the options or something. After that, she sighed and beckoned him to come with her. They went through some door and arrived on a balcony of some sort. There, they could view a courtyard where, among other things, stood a group of some soldiers. They all stood in a line and before them was a man in golden coat who appeared to be their instructor. He evaded attacks from one of the soldiers as he held his rapier behind his back. Meanwhile the soldier tried his best to strike him, but no attack connected. With each strike, he took a hit into his abdomen, legs or arms, depending on his posture, from the instructor. What could be heard was something very muffled, but Raven could make out some words: "Posture…expect the enemy…focus…" and all that.
Raven smiled as he looked at them , for he knew the instructor all too well."You see that?" asked Solara."You mean those novices attacking him?""Yes. Not too long ago, a man came from Laxoria. He had face, similar to yours, and he struck a deal with me and my sister. He asked for a week to clean a name of one criminal, and in exchange he promised to serve here. That man is named Victor Velaestraz. Now tell me this." She looked at Raven, and for the first time since he got here, he felt a genuine threat from someone. Danger and this feeling of upcoming battle was he to answer poorly. "How come two people from the same country, with almost the same face arrive at my doorstep and suddenly, both want to solve issued of OUR kingdom?""I see you have detected that Victor is my brother, well done-""Answer…the question.""…Alright. Both me and him, we fled from our country, due to the fact that we lost our father and our house. Surely you know him, Velaeran." At the mention of that name, her face grew more tense. "I can't tell you why there are suddenly so many problems appearing here, but I can only tell you that it means that big things are about to change. I don't know what is about to happen, but you must have sensed the change in the air, the shifts in the ground, there are things in this world that are started to rise up, and I don't know, if we are suited for it." For the first time as the two were talking, he seemed serious."You strike me as a friendly and respectable man. I won't ask how you arrived here, but I will ask you this. My people are dying and I don't know why. If you want to go home, I won't stop you, but if you are willing to stay, we will provide you with a room and food. All I ask in return, is that you will help us, should anything happen."
Raven stood there, motionless. Suddenly, a crow landed on his shoulder. He looked him in the eyes. "Solara, you know what my father stood for. What Velaeran tried to protect. I will do what I can to protect the world from any danger. That includes your kingdom."She seemed happy. "But…" here attention, again, drawn to his words. "I won't promise that I will stay. There are many things you don't know about me, and I don't know about you. But for the time being, you can consider me your ally. If there ever happens to be another one of those behemoths attacks, I will be there, but not for you…" he seemed to lower his head. "But for that bird who died, just to tell me that there were people dying."
Solara seemed confused. Yet she still offered her hand to him. "May I consider you a friend then?" she asked. Raven shook her hand. "Yes. You may."
As if on cue, Siren arrived on the balcony. "My lady?" behind her stood Luna, in her robe and with her hair in the ponytail that continued down to the floor. "Sister, who is this?" Solara turned toward Raven and he smiled. "My name is Raven Velaestraz." His wings have sprung and shadowed all of them. "And I am, what many consider, Death itself."