"I'm sorry, I must have misheard you. Certainly, it cannot be that I am aging, could it? Haha... absolutely not. Even so, I believe that I just heard a preposterous statement exit your mouth, Selna. Could you repeat your words from just now?"
"What is your relationship with the plant woman, Lord Huberos?"
Huberos questioned the statement of the girl with dignified demeanor, yet without hesitation she threw the question right back at him.
"I see. It would indeed appear that I am not losing my hearing, for surely I would not have heard the same question twice should that be the case. Very well, Selna. I shall give you your answer."
Selna looked towards Huberos as he nodded, her eyes fixated on him.
Chiora too payed close attention, her expression filled with worry.
"She is my newly appointed general. Are there any further questions?"
"Lord Huberos, please forgive me for pressing the matter, but yes. I do have another question."
Thinning her eyes, the maid spoke with care.
"What is your romantic relationship with that woman?"
Turning his back to the women, Huberos waved for the two to follow him.
Walking with hands behind his back, Huberos spoke to the two without batting an eye.
"Indeed, that is the implication of your question. Allow me to ask you a question before answering, then. What exactly provoked such a question?"
At this questioning, the two froze in place, unsure whether they should continue to press the matter- yet the shy one, Chiora, spoke up.
"She.... came out of your room last night. Therefore.... well, you are surely very popular, my Lord."
"Am I popular with the ladies?"
Huberos worded his question with sarcasm, with a slight tone of bitterness in his voice.
"I suppose I am.... in a sense."
Turning around to face the two, Huberos nodded to himself.
"It would seem that you two have come to a grieve misunderstanding. I have had no such romantic relations with that woman."
"Is that.... true?"
"My Lord, while you are not obligated to inform us of the truth, I cannot imagine why she would have left your room last night were it not for-"
"Enough. I invited her there.... to discuss things."
With the wave of his hand, Huberos ended the conversation.
"I found myself in a strange state last night. Therefore I.... took it upon myself to discuss some issues with that woman. Fortunately, the discussion seems to have eased my concerns."
Thinning his eyes, the indigo demon glared straight into the inversely colored eyes of the two maids before him.
"It would be mistaken of me to assume that you two are questioning my decisions.... correct?"
At this question, the two maids immediately looked to the ground in shame.
"N-no.... forgive us, Lord Huberos. To pry on your own business like this...."
"It is shameful for a servant to press as far as we have. Please feel free to punish us as fit."
The two bowed to their master in submission, to which he merely turned around and began to walk, waving his hand once more.
"There is no need. I do not have time to waste punishing my servants for no reason. Come. Today is a busy day for not only myself.... but also for my army which I must prepare."
----
Having been ordered by the servants of the household to gather, the plantkin who Huberos had enslaved were now collected in the grand hall of the mansion.
The setting was that of a gothic castle, yet it was also elegantly decorated. If a banquet were to be held, this would certainly be the room in which it were held in. A grand staircase took the center of the room, towering above the crowd.
Waiting around with uneased expressions, the plant kin looked to one another as they waited for their new 'master', by whose orders they had gathered.
"Hey Tera, did you go somewhere last night?", Niko asked.
"Hm? Oh, nothing in particular."
"I see. Are you doing alright? You seem.... different, somehow."
"Different?"
"I don't know how to describe it, but you look more..... mature? Resolved? Mmm.... I'm not really sure how to say it. Something has changed about you. Don't you think so, boss?"
"She's got the eyes of a fighter, that's for sure. Are you sure this is your first time in such a dangerous situation? I mean, sure we've been treated well up until now, but the moment we get onto the battlefield.... we're probably all going to die like dogs.", Richtor stated with conflicted expression.
"We'll be fine. There's no reason to worry."
"Why do you say that? We're plantkin. We've never been warriors. Even those among us who are stronger than the others were nothing compared to Huberos..... and if we're going to be fighting the antiheroes of legends....."
A shiver went down the bark covered spine of the man.
"I don't even want to think about what will happen to us. Unless this demon has some big plan.... we're all just projectiles at best."
"Projectiles? That's not..... very encouraging.", Niko murmured.
"He would not send us out with no way to defend ourselves. He said that he didn't want to put any demons on the front line because they were worth more than us, right?", Tera asked.
"Yeah.", Niko replied with a nod.
"Without any demons fighting for him, how would he defeat the antiheroes with people as weak as us? If he could do it himself, then there would be no need to even bother with us. So why did he recruit us?"
The two looked to one another, unable to answer.
"It would be because he has some sort of reason to hire us. After all, if he planned on using an army of weaklings to take on whatever armies the antiheroes muster up..... well, wouldn't that be a bit too arrogant?", the girl asked.
"Tera, he's the freaking Host of Pride.", Niko retorted.
"That's right. Who is to say he's not just out of his mind with arrogance?", Richtor added.
"No, that isn't true. I..... know."
Turning to look up at the balcony, Tera looked up with resolve, her eyes filled with an undying faith- one which none of the other plantmen held for the demon who had overtaken them.
"How can you say that with such certainty? You're so certain, but you haven't explained why.", Richtor pressed.
"I just.... know. I can tell by the way he spoke to us. He.... doesn't intend for even a single one of us to die."
The two clearly didn't believe such a thing, however they could do nothing more than let out a sigh on seeing their comrade who was so fervently convinced of the demons good intentions.
"Well, just you two watch. I'm sure.... something will happen."
"That doesn't ease my worries a bit.", Niko joked. "But.... I suppose I just have to trust you, eh?"
"Yep."
And so, the three turned to the front.
A few minutes passed, and eventually a man walked out onto the balcony above the room.
An indigo demon with two demonic maids at his side.
His hair spiraled around his head like a typhoon, and he wore a sharp pair of glasses which accented his elegant look.
His suit matched the color of his skin, as did his tie.
This was the Host of Pride, Huberos.
"Good morning, my slaves. I see that you are all very concerned. Perhaps as the night went on, you all realized the detriment of your current situation?"
The words of the demon were crude, and did not put the people before him at ease.
Even so, Tera looked up at him with hopeful eyes.
Huberos looked down on the people, catching her glare as his gaze darted about, which he soon averted, acting as if he did not even know the girl.
"Just yesterday you witnessed your own powerlessness before my greatness. You have been fed and housed, and right now you stand before me as pawns. After all.... is it not the duty of the pawn to be sacrificed for the sake of the king?"
With a sinister grin, the long fangs of Huberos dug into his lower lip, once more causing it to drip with blood.
"Ah.... and I made sure to shave them down this morning as well.... truly, it is a curse."
Reaching into his jacket, he pulled out his handkerchief to wipe the blood before continuing.
"Were you powerful like my two beautiful rooks who stand at my side, perhaps I would hesitate in throwing you away as a sacrifice."
With a mocking smile, each of the plantkin could feel themselves being looked down upon by this demon.
"However..... unfortunately, that is not the case."
With every word he spoke, their fears were confirmed and they gave into their own despair, accepting that there was nothing to hope for.
"Every single person here.... is beyond weak. Isn't that right?"
At realizing that the demon who had fed and housed them was now speaking to them in such a manner, they looked down with disgrace.
They had been fooled.
They had been deceived with a warm welcome.
They all looked to Tera with spiteful eyes, as if to say 'this wasn't the deal!'
"What is with those expressions, my slaves? Are you perhaps displeased with something? If there is anything to be displeased with.... should it not be your own weakness?"
It was then that Huberos disappeared from the sight of the people.
In an instant, it appeared as if he were teleporting around the room, whispering into the ears of each person one by one.
"Can you comprehend your own weakness?"
"It is pathetic, isn't it?"
"To not even be able to see my movements...."
"Perhaps you all were a bit too arrogant?"
"To think for a moment.... that I would treat you as equals to myself."
These words entered the minds of each person individually as Huberos moved at a speed approaching that of light. His movements were hastened to the point where he spoke the same set of words to each individual person in the matter of a second.
'We.....'
'How.....'
'I.... cannot even see him....'
One by one, the people of Iris fell to their knees.
Overcome with an overwhelming despair, they all dropped to the ground.
"The enemies I will pitch you against will be almost on the same level as myself..... though worry not. I doubt that they could possibly surpass me."
"Not that it would make a difference when compared to weaklings like you."
The hearts of the plantmen were torn, and one by one they fell in torment, with blank eyes.
"We're.... doomed, aren't we?"
"Hahaha.... I suppose that's right, boy."
Niko and Richtor too fell in despair.
However, Tera stood standing.
'I understand well that we are weak. I understand that. But even so..... there must be a reason for this.'
She thought this as Huberos reappeared before all.
As he looked down on the group from the balcony, he smirked as he noticed that only the girl remained standing.
"Despite the fact that all around you have fallen to their knees, you still stand, girl. Let me ask you then."
Holding out his hand and pointing to the girl, Huberos grinned.
"Are you arrogant enough even after seeing my power... to believe that you are not weak?"
Tera was surprised at being called out, but she stood forward with confidence.
"I..... am weak."
Closing her eyes as she bit her lip, she understood well her own weakness.
Yet she had seen the weakness of the demon before her.
Her weakness was a physical one.
And his, an emotional one.
"But..... is there anything wrong with that?"
"An interesting answer. Then, let me ask each and every one of you. I would like to hear a verbal answer. To you."
Teleporting in front of Richtor, Huberos stood before him.
"Are you weak?"
"I..... am."
Richtor replied with shaking hands, unable to say anything further.
"And to you, boy?"
"I..... am weak."
Teleporting around the room, Huberos asked each and every person the same question, receiving the same answer.
"I am weak."
"I am weak."
"I am weak."
Of the 100 people here, each and every one of them had admitted their weakness.
Their powerlessness.
Their inability.
"And if I were to take away those gems from you all, then you would be sent into a coma on the spot. How truly fragile."
Appearing back on the balcony, Huberos fiddled with a gem in his hand as if it were a toy.
It was then that Tera reached into her pocket and realized that her gem had been taken.
She began to feel woozy, as if her energy had been sapped from her. It was hard to stay awake, and even to keep herself standing was a challenge.
"Yet..... it is in accepting your weakness..... that you will become strong."
[Exalt]
At that moment, something spurred within the body of Tera.
She felt energetic like never before, as if she was brimming with power.
She no longer felt tired, and her eyes were jolted awake.
Looking around, she felt her own perception increase.
Her body felt light and agile, and as she looked around she noticed that the others were staring at their hands in shock as if they too had experienced the strange feeling within themselves.
"There are no weaklings among my subordinates. For how could I call myself the best, if everything around me were not to improve with my mere presence?"
----
To exalt.
To raise up.
To put on a pedestal.
To increase in notoriety.
To hold in high regard.
To think highly of.
To dignify.
To exalt something is to take that which is low, and present it to all with head held high.
And so, Huberos exalted the weak.
He exalted them after they had declared their weakness, raising them up as powerful warriors.
"While your greatness does not match my own... it is very acceptable. The 9th tier..... has been reached."
With a light chuckle, Huberos turned his back to exit the balcony.
"We move out as soon as possible, my slaves. And do not lower your heads for a moment. Understand well that there is power even in weakness.... and there is weakness, even among the powerful."
And with that, Huberos left the room.
Tera looked around at the people who were distraught just the moment before.
They were now dumbfounded.
'I..... need to take charge.'
Thrusting herself forward with a smile, Tera shouted out with glee for all to hear, pumping a fist in victory.
"Everyone!!! Huberos has given us this power! He has made us powerful. Now..... we owe him. It is our responsibility to finish this, now that we have been granted these powers."
One by one, the people stood up.
Before they were hopeless, but now they were filled with light.
"I..... Tera....."
"This energy..... it is..... amazing."
"We.... no longer need these gemstones?"
The people stood up with smiles, asking Tera for forgiveness.
"We are sorry to have doubted you!!"
"You were right!!"
"We should have trusted you in the first place!!!"
The people one by one thanked Tera for her foresight, however she quieted them down with a hand motion.
"Enough. We have a duty to perform now. Let us head out."
"Alright!"
"Of course!!!"
"Tera, you are our General!"
"We will follow you anywhere!!!"
The flippant words of the people meant nothing to Tera, but even so she smiled with delight.
After all, when they had been on such a rocking roller coaster of emotions, who wouldn't be swayed by them?
'I am the strange one perhaps. But even so.... I knew that he wouldn't just throw us to the dogs like that.'
With a nod, Tera led the people out of the mansion.
"We've been awaiting your arrival."
Ferdinand, the mustached butler, stood at the head of a line of servants who had prepared the carriages for transport.
"We will be heading outside the city to the rendezvous point where we will be meeting up with the armies of the dragonic demons. From there we will head towards the domain of the antiheroes."
"I see.", Tera replied. "Everyone, please load onto the carriages. Don't make a fuss, and prepare yourselves for battle at any time."
"Understood!"
Suddenly filled with resolve, the plant kin were excited.
Richtor and Niko too were smiling as they stood next to Tera.
"Did you know this would happen? I've never seen anything like this.", Richtor stated.
"I didn't know this would happen exactly, boss. But I knew that something would happen.", Tera replied.
"I see."
And with that, the plant people lined up onto the carriages.
"Ah, Madame Tera, my Lord requests that you are to travel in the carriage in the front."
"Oh.... I see. Then, I'll see you guys later."
Waving goodbye to Richtor and Niko, Tera was quick to agree, however the two had sour expressions.
"Wait a minute."
"Will you... really be ok?"
The two were clearly concerned, even though they knew that she was the person who they should be least concerned about.
She was strong, and they knew it.
"I'll be fine. Keep the people safe while I'm gone. I know you won't let them go through the same things you did, boss."
"You can bet on that. Now that I have.... power..... maybe I can protect myself.... and everyone else around me."
"I'll do my best as well.", Niko added calmly.
With a firm nod, Tera headed over to the front carriage.
It was not any fancier than the others, yet the fact that she was being brought here suggested that they were placing her into a position of honor.
"Go right in."
"Of course."
Stepping inside, the coach was extremely large.
There were two benches facing one another, and sitting on the opposite side which she entered, Huberos lounged with his elbows on the heads of two people, one on either side.
The two were his maids, and they were smiling to themselves as the demon used them as armrests.
However as Tera entered, they eyeballed her with light irritation and jealousy.
"Have a seat, my General. I.... would like to converse with you again."
"You would? I.... see."
Sitting down on the cushioned bench, Tera nodded.
"You two may leave.", Huberos stated as he took his arms off the two.
"Yes, my Lord.", they responded in unison as they stood up with bows, and exited quickly.
Huberos sat back as soon as the two had left, letting out a light breath.
"It would seem they have made some misconceptions about us. Well, no matter. I called you here because I truly did wish to speak with you once more. I suppose.... I enjoyed our conversation."
Huberos fumbled with his words, darting his eyes about to ensure that nobody was listening in.
"Do you enjoy someone telling you things the way they are?"
Tera cheekily responded, to which Huberos merely chuckled.
"Why don't you tell me. Who are you really?", she pressed as she leaned forward, resting her chin on her elbow with a snarky grin.
"Who am I really... eh? Did I not ask the same question of you last night?"
"And I gave you the true answer. Now you tell me. About who you are."
Huberos let out a sigh.
"Ferdinand. Come here. Two glasses of our finest wine. Surely you have nothing against cannibalism, given that you consumed plants the other day, no?"
The butler entered the room with a nod, looking to Tera for confirmation as he whipped out his pen and pad.
"It is not cannibalism to eat meat of another type, no? Then for me, to consume something as pure as fruit couldn't possibly be cannibalism.", Tera responded.
"What type of plant are you?", Huberos questioned with thinned eyes.
"If I tell you, would you tell me about your past?"
Closing his eyes, Huberos smiled greatly, his fangs pressing into his lower lip, causing more blood to drip.
"Fine. Tell me then. What type of plant are you, Tera?"
With a grin, the girl looked to the side with self depreciating eyes.
"I am a weed."
----