"Mane isn't the only prodigy going to God King this year" Ananse revealed
"Isn't that good for him. Having competition would accelerate his growth" Indra was baffled by her words. It was true that God King was bound to be filled with prodigies. But the Supreme was no slouch himself. His growth was already exaggerated as it is. Having geniuses walking with him every step of the way was bound to bring him more benefits than demerits. It was true that God King wasn't as prestigious as it was in ancient times, but the success they had in raising the Brute King and the Absolute Queen put them on the radar once again. Although Indra didn't know what kind of geniuses they had attracted, he was absolutely certain that they were the cream of the crop.
"It isn't the same. It is true that the days when geniuses from all over the universe flocked over to God King and acted servile because of their reputation is gone, but the prodigies they have had over the past few years are anything but average." Ananse sighed
"It still isn't enough to cause you any worry" Indra interjected
"You do not understand. A while back, Loki accepted a disciple." Ananse revealed. "Wait what" Indra exclaimed! Loki was a famous trickster, much like Ananse. But unlike the goddess, his wisdom and craftiness were used for the benefit of no one but himself. Loki was a loner, so why would someone like him accept a disciple.
"Yes, he accepted his first ever disciple. I wish it were not true, but it is. But that isn't enough to unnerve me." Ananse furrowed her brow in contemplation, though Indra wouldn't be able to see that with his senses dulled. Loki accepting a disciple was surprising, but it wasn't enough to draw her attention. There was something else that made her more cautious of the Asgardian God now.
"The one he accepted into his tutelage, the one he has built rapport with, is an Eternal" Ananse dropped a bombshell on the unsuspecting Indra. Indra furrowed his brows in worry, sweat filling his forehead as he heard the news.
"Is he trying to mimic the actions of the Eternal Slayer?" Indra wondered
"No, I highly doubt that is his goal. Mimesis isn't his goal" Ananse shook her head in denial of Indra's assumption. Indra was referring to the happenings during the reign of the First Supreme. When the Eternal Slayer first appeared, he didn't do so as a mass murderer, but as a friend of the Eternals. He grew close to them, befriended them, and learnt all they knew, before he betrayed them. Even when he began his hunt, they didn't think he was the culprit. When they did find out, he had already caused a lot of damage.
Eternals had hidden themselves since the death of the 6th Supreme. The undying race were master hiders, and if they wanted to stay hidden, there was no one in the universe who would be able to find them. In those days which were now long gone, the Eternal Slayer had grown close to an Eternal. Their bond was so strong that this Eternal introduced and invited the Slayer to their hideout. Indra thought that Loki's goal was the same. Grow close to an Eternal so that he/she trusts you. Then, coerce them into revealing the hideout of the Eternals.
"His disciple doesn't even know who she is" Ananse gave the reason for her denial of Indra's claims. If the girl was clueless regarding her origins, how would she know where to find them?
"Of course I could be wrong, but the chances of that happening is only 7%" Ananse declared. She continued, "Besides, he has asked his student to go to God King as well"
"Your Majesty, you cannot just vacate the throne and leave! It doesn't work that way!" In a vast throne room, the voices of many were addressing the beautiful figure on the black throne. Although the complaints were many, they had a single theme: Don't go.
The beautiful figure on the throne raised her hand to silence their complaints. "I am not abdicating the throne. I am only leaving on a short journey. I would be back in five years." She declared in her charming voice.
"It is the same My Liege. You are our Empress. You cannot just leave whenever you want. From the moment you accepted- no, from the moment the Eternal Throne accepted you- your life wasn't yours alone!" her subordinate passionately declared. His runts led to murmurs of acknowledgement among the small number of people gathered in the room.
"Silence. I am not asking for your opinion. I am merely stating a fact" she declared in an imposing voice. The beautiful lady who was about to speak sighed in resignation and swallowed her words. She knew her mistress well. Once the Eternal Monarch made a decision, she wasn't going to change it. All they could do was to hope that she would return safely, wherever it was she was going.
Unfortunately, the middle aged man who was with her didn't know his Empress that well. He raised his voice once again, "Even so-"
"You are very brave, aren't you Lord Claus" she asked, a frigid aura engulfing the room? Lord Claus swallowed audibly upon feeling the temperature of the room plummet sharply. He closed his mouth and bowed in submission. His capitulation caused the four others who were behind him to bow their heads in fear as well.
"I must do this for the honour of my family. You do not want me to be the one who brings shame unto my great nation, do you?" the Eternal Monarch questioned softly.
The expression on Lord Claus' face softened as he conceded, "No I do not My Liege. I only wish that we could share your burden" Lord Claus was a very loyal Lord. He had been alive since the reign of her parents. And when the False King took the throne, this lord had suffered because he refused to bow to him. The Monarch admired him greatly, which was why she felt the need to appease him.
"Unfortunately I cannot. I have realised a few things, and it is because of that I must go on this journey. I hope you forgive me" she would love to let her subordinates know her purpose. But she could not. Her master had warned her to let no one know of it. And she was even more determined to go after the things she had seen when she looked through her father's memory for the third time, which was only a few days ago. The answers she sought couldn't be found here. Her Great Grandfather informed her when she visited her father's memory for the first time that the 7th Supreme was special because he was male. But she had been told by her master that the 6th Supreme was also a man. This meant there was something they were keeping from her.
"I understand My Liege" Lord Claus bowed. "In my absence, you will be in charge of the empire Lord Claus. Under no circumstance should the people know about my absence." She warned
"Absolutely Your Majesty. I will keep the empire in good shape until your return. If any of the other lords ask, I will inform them that you are undergoing a closed door training" he declared solemnly. Although it was uncultured for leaders to go into secretive training, it was an acceptable excuse. The only issue would be to hide her disappearance as long as they could so that when it was discovered she wasn't around, they could say that she had only just began her training.
"Don't look so glum. I would come by from time to time to assure the people that their monarch still lives" The Empress stated with a small smile gracing her supple lips. Her words were supposedly for the people, but they were directed at the pretty lady below her throne that was biting her lip with reddened eyes.
"I would be back before you know it"