Author: WolfSpatial
Co-Author: Lucifer
[I keep screaming but God won't answer.]
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{ALECSI LE ROARKE}
The walk through the Forest of Dreams was uneventful. I almost wanted something to happen; for some Felus or Fae, or even a Sprite, to come at us with ill intent so that I could bat them away and make a show of strength.
Knowing that the reason they hadn't done anything up to now was that Ilyiana sent word that we were her guests, made me a bit upset. They were too scared to act, which meant they were weak – not only in teams of combat strength, but strength of character, which I valued almost as much.. By placing her claim on us like that, she almost guaranteed that we wouldn't be disturbed by beings lesser than her. However, there were surely beings stronger than her. I was stronger than her, why couldn't other things be as well.
Wanting those things to come didn't mean that they would, though, and I knew that. My simple desire couldn't spring forth a being with enough of a spine to defy his Queen. Ilyiana was also probably watching and would send her guards out the instant she noticed the smallest fluctuation.
I also knew it wasn't for any safety of mine that she would do so. The Felus didn't have a high population as it was and me killing a couple would impact their breeding season. It occurred to me that there next season was in about a month's time, the young Felus – those about sixteen to eighteen years old – would be going into heat for the first time.
The first one was the worst according to Ilyiana. She had recounted her experience to me after I brought Vasel home to her, though I wasn't sure why. She also explained how to deal with the Felus who were in heat, though I couldn't be sure why she told me that.
Regardless, I walked behind Phinegos through the Forest. There was a stark contrast between the small frame of the Felus and the sheer breadth of the large black trees. Yet he moved and weaved through the trunks seemingly on instinct. I could tell he had been in this Forest for his entire life and was used to the slightly shifting trees that tried to black our path.
I had no trouble with it as I had been coming here fairly consistently to have tea with Vasel. She seemed to enjoy my company, and it was nice to be with someone who didn't care about our standings. Of course, we couldn't be completely rid of our stations, but Ilyiana didn't pressure us to treat the other a certain way.
Actually feeling more welcome in their small castle than I did on my own, I looked forward to being back there. My father's advisors always planning something, nobles parading around the castle as if they owned the place, or my father coming to me to tell me about a dispute he wanted help with between him and some other Leoni.
Safiya, on the other hand, seemed to be having a bit of trouble. She occasionally hit a small branch or got hit in the face by a stick. I could hear her muttering curses behind me, trying to keep up with the speed of the Felus who guided us.
The smell of the condensed wood that the castle was made of filled my nose as we neared, the wall finally coming into view. The Felus Royal Castle was one of two structures that the Felus actually had, the other being a shrine to their God.
Personally, I had no faith in any of the Gods. I absolutely believed in them, and I absolutely hated them. They had abandoned the Leoni a long time ago, leaving us the race with the lowest potential despite having a high starting point. But, I didn't need them, and they certainly showed that they had no need for me.
Besides, why have faith in them when faith in myself has brought me so far and crushed all of my enemies? Faith was a powerful thing; I figured it was the source of the Gods' power, but then, how could they have created the world if they had no followers in the beginning?
Did the Gods really exist? It was a question that scholars had asked for years, yet most hadn't found an answer. Some had concluded that the Gods would exist as long as the myriad races did, but what if the faith of myriad races that was placed in those Gods faltered and was shaken?
Would the Gods still sit idly as men, women, and children were slaughtered by the thousands during times of war? If there was a God that stuck around, surely it would be Death. He might even be the one pushing for war and conflict.
Regardless, the Gods were useless fucks that couldn't be trusted to watch a bale of straw, let alone an entire world.
My eyes curved into a smile as I looked to the gate to find a taller – about half my size – Felus standing there. She was wearing a simple pair of black pants with a white blouse, almost mimicking Safiya's outfit. She rushed out to us as we got within the clearing in front of the castle, jumping at me, "Al! You came to visit!"
Royal Felus were much more Human-like than normal Felus. They had descended directly from the Leoni after all, and were still gifted with portions of our traits. Vasel looked almost like a small Leoni, having hands and feet instead of paws. All Felus Royalty was larger than their subjects, one could tell this quickly as a young Felus like Vasel was about twice Phinegos' size.
Catching her in my arms, I smiled down at the little cat, "Vas, I'm glad to see you. Let me introduce you to my Quest Mate."
Setting Vasel up on my left shoulder as I usually did – which she seemed to enjoy for some reason – she stretched an arm over my head to set a hand next to my right ear. She looked down at Safiya, and spoke with a soft tone, "I'm Vasel Mi Owrec the Third. It's a pleasure to meet you. Any friend of Alecsi's is a friend of mine."
Her emphasis of the word didn't go unnoticed, but I simply ignored it and folded my arms in front of my chest. My shoulder was wide enough that Vasel could sit on it by her lonesome without any help from me, she had even gotten very good at balancing because of her constantly sitting on my shoulder.
Safiya gave a small bow to the Felus princess, "Yes, the pleasure is mine. I'm glad Alecsi has a friend like you, Princess."
Vasel pouted slightly, her small hand gripping around my right ear as she pulled herself down to whisper into my left, "Have you two mated? Is she expecting a kit?"
Vasel was, despite her soft voice and seemingly shy attitude, a very straightforward being. She didn't mince words or beat around the bush, everything she said was direct and to the point.
A small chuckle escaped my throat, a rumbling sound that reverberated quietly, "Vas, I currently have no intention of mating with Safiya."
"Currently?" They both asked in unison, though I could tell they meant different things based on their tones. Safiya sounded almost hopeful. Whereas Vasel sounded like she was disappointed in me for some reason.
"I don't know who my mate will be, honestly." My shrug caused Vasel to shift slightly, and I could feel her recenter herself as she sat up straight, "I'm not a Seer, I can't know what the future holds."
"Then lets go ask a Seer," Vasel released my ear, patting the top of my head and running her small hand through my mane, "There just so happens to be a few in the castle."
That was weird. Seer's were members of the Blue Sanctum in the Human's Creneel Kingdom. No matter the race, if one had precognition abilities, they would be accepted into the Blue Sanctum of the Stars.
There were seven sanctums; The Blue Sanctum of The Stars, The Red Sanctum of The Forge, The White Sanctum of Justice, The Green Sanctum of Life, The Brown Sanctum of Protection, The Gold Sanctum of Commerce, and The Silver Sanctum of Discovery.
The Sanctums were well respected across all the races, and it was an unspoken rule not to kill or harm their members as they were almost always neutral. Killing a member of the Sanctums was frowned upon and regarded as a High Crime in most countries. If a country destroyed a Sanctum, it gave way for other countries to declare a war of retribution.
The Blue Sanctum of the Stars was by far the most mysterious of the seven Sanctums, located within the Human capital of Creniel. They were able to tell the future and sometimes view the past. It was strange for the Felus to have one member here, let alone multiple. Unless it was a trade deal – the Sanctum wanting some of the wood from the Forest – or talks of marriage – I doubted Ilyiana would marry off Vasel or her brother, Adamai, for political reasons – there was probably not much of a reason for them to be here.
The Red Sanctum of the Forge created marvels of technological wonder that often confounded the world. It was located in the Dwarven capital of Crematoria. They also forged weapons and armor for others if the price was right. It wasn't often that one of their Forgemasters were seen outside as they usually sent a few Squires to fetch materials or funding from the Gold Sanctum.
The White Sanctum of Justice was a kind of mediator for when countries didn't want to resort to war, but still had a dispute. They reviewed facts and made judgment, which was usually respected by both countries. They were often called upon to resolve inter-country disputes and disputes that involved a possible future for a singular country, but new members sometimes resolved smaller disputes between companies or even private individuals.
The Green Sanctum of Life were healers. They stationed members in every major city to ensure proper healthcare was received by anyone who needed it. They charged a fee, of course, but it was most always negligible to those that used their services. They charged based on past and projected income, meaning that some got charged more and some less. It was never an extortionate amount, but enough to replenish materials and pay wages. If you couldn't heal yourself or get a weaker potion for your ailment, they were your best course of action.
The Brown Sanctum of Protection founded the Slayer Guilds in most countries, and sponsored Guilds in countries that they couldn't be directly a part of. As such, almost every country had a Slayer Guild where one could sign up and registered Slayers could look for requests.
The Gold Sanctum of Commerce sponsored trade between countries and helped businesses extend their reach. They stored money in vaults that were said to be impenetrable to even High Dragons. I didn't know about that, but if they could boast such a feat they must be able to back it up in some way. There was always the chance that they simply said that to ward off would-be thieves, though some higher end thieves may still try to break in at some points.
The Silver Sanctum of Discovery drew the World Maps that sat in Slayer Guilds and strategic garrisons around the world. They venture to new places trying to find new things, and they were the ones who decided the difficulty level of a Labyrinth.
There were twelve ranks for a Labyrinth, each one corresponding to a level for a Slayer. From least to greatest difficulty, they were: Brass, Copper, Bronze, Iron, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Mithril, Emporite, Adamantite, Obsidian, and Electrite.
Brass-ranked Labyrinths had weak and low-level monsters that pose little threat. Slayers could still die if they weren't careful.
Copper-ranked Labyrinths had slightly tougher monsters than brass, but were still relatively easy to defeat. Slayers should exercise caution to avoid death.
Bronze-ranked Labyrinths were of mid-tier difficulty level that housed stronger monsters that require more skill to defeat. Slayers should be well-prepared to minimize the risk of death.
Iron-ranked Labyrinths possessed a difficult level with tough and durable monsters that posed a significant challenge. Slayers need to be highly skilled and well-equipped to avoid death.
Silver-ranked Labyrinths were ones with powerful monsters that required experienced Slayers to have a chance of survival. The risk of death is high for inexperienced Slayers.
Gold-ranked Labyrinths are extremely difficult with rare and dangerous monsters that only the most skilled Slayers can handle. The chance of death is significant even for experienced Slayers.
Platinum-ranked Labyrinths were almost impossible to clear, with legendary monsters that pose a significant threat to even the most skilled Slayers. The risk of death is incredibly high.
Mithril-ranked Labyrinths had god-like monsters that only the most elite and experienced Slayers could hope to challenge. The chance of death is nearly certain, even for the most skilled Slayers.
Emporite-ranked Labyrinths were almost certain death for anyone who ventures into it, with monsters that were near unbeatable. Only a handful of Slayers have ever attempted this level, and even less have returned alive.
Adamantite-ranked Labyrinths are beyond human capabilities, with monsters that were nearly invincible. It's virtually impossible to survive an encounter with these monsters.
Obsidian-ranked Labyrinths had monsters that were so powerful that they could destroy entire civilizations. The chance of death is not just for the Slayers but also for the surrounding area and even the world.
Electrite-ranked Labyrinths are the highest level on the list, with monsters that are beyond comprehension and can cause catastrophic events on a global scale. The chance of death is almost guaranteed, and the consequences of failure could be devastating.
There had never been records of any Labyrinth above the rank of Mithril, but the rankings existed in case something did appear some day. The Silver Sanctum liked to be prepared, even in matters such as naming the thing that led to our deaths.
"Why?" I turned my head up to look at Vasel, her eyes contracting slightly as she looked into the blue irises held within my sockets, "Are they here for peace talks between the Felus and Serpenti?"
The Serpenti liked to pick fights. Before the Felus were separated from the Leoni fifteen years ago, they fought us in a long and arduous war that ended in them being pushed from the Jade Hills to the Forest of Dreams and then to the Alaris Bog. They had a strict policy of trying to convert others to their race via a ritual that stripped the affected party of their former heritage and made them more snake-like.
If they tried to do something like to the Felus, I was sure that the Fae wouldn't stand idly by and watch as the protectors and friends they had gained were turned into abominations that blindly followed some strange snake god.
"No," Vasel turned away from me to look at Phinegos who gave a small nod in turn, "They're here to talk about my future betrothal."
"To who?" Safiya beat me to the punch, voicing my question as if it were her own.
Not getting a response, I tapped Vasel's left thigh with the index finger of my left hand. She turned her head away from me and mouthed something, "What? What was that?"
"It's you…" That came as a surprise. I had never expected even the prospect of me being betrothed to Vasel. She was my best friend for sure, but I didn't think she liked me like that.
"I assure you, Mis-" Phinegos tried to speak but was suppressed by the laugh that came from Safiya, she bent over forward holding her knees, "Miss Safiya? What is the meaning of this?"
"A Leoni with a Felus!?" She howled louder, losing the breath in her lungs as my anger reached a peak, "What kind of-"
"Silence." Her mouth instantly shut as even the sounds of the Forest of Dreams obeyed my command. The trees we had come through stopped shifting, the chirping of insects fell to a grinding halt, birds stopped their chorus of melodies. Safiya looked at me and found that she couldn't speak, gripping her throat lightly.
Did you know that you made sounds when you breathed? They were quiet, but they were present. Under my absolute law, even their breathing stopped. I released my control and stared daggers at Safiya, "Do not insult Vasel. She means more to me than you do, even if you are from my kingdom. Do you understand, Safiya Wildstride?"
She released her throat and didn't dare to meet my gaze, "I… understand, Al-"
"What? I don't think I heard you right." She grit her teeth and almost found the courage to look into my eyes.
Then her resolve fizzled, "You are understood, Young Lord."
"Good," I patted Vasel's thigh again, causing her to look at me. She flinched seeing my toothy smile, "I'd be happy to discuss this with your mother, Vasel. We can clear up the situation and find an outcome that you're okay with."
Phinegos coughed before Vasel could respond, catching my attention, "Mister Alecsi, how did you control the Forest? Not even the Queen can do so."
"I have the ability to impose my will upon others," There wasn't an issue explaining this, it's not like he could subvert the Will of The Strong anyways, "I wasn't aware that it could affect the world as well."
"I see…" Phinegos' small upper right paw rested on his chin, possibly thinking of something.
"I want to…" Vasel spoke in such a small voice that even I had trouble hearing her.
"You want to what?" I sent a glance to Safiya, making sure she wasn't seething, before turning my attention up to where Vasel sat on my left shoulder. Safiya was doing alright, staring at the ground with a pensive look on her face.
"...m…ry…y…" Her mumbling got quieter, which was quite strange for the Felus Princess. She usually had no issue explaining herself or telling me her feelings. It was one of the things I liked about her, she was free-spirited and open.
"You have to speak up." Pulling her from my shoulder, I cradled her in my arms so I could look at her without craning my neck, "Also, why are you having so much trouble, Vas? You don't usually have difficulties expressing yourself."
"I do want to marry you…" She still turned her head away from me, causing me to frown. I wanted her to say it to my face, to be the girl who wasn't afraid to speak her mind.
"Look at me, Vas." She hesitated but turned her head nonetheless, "Say it again. Look at me this time."
"I… I can't…" She buried her face into the lighter fur of my chest, and I could feel her warm breath as her chest rose and fell.
"If you mean it," I lifted her a bit higher, holding her entire body in only my left arm. With my right hand, I grabbed her chin gently from my chest and tilted her head to look at me, "Say it to my face."
"I want to…to…" I could see the skin of her inner ears turn a bright shade of red. Her hand suddenly reached up quickly, striking me as she fled from my arms. She landed nimbly, as expected of a cat, and ran toward the castle. She stopped about halfway and turned to point at me, "I WANT TO MARRY YOU!"
And then she fled the rest of the way to her little castle. I couldn't help but touch my face where she had struck me. It didn't hurt, far from it as I barely felt the strike, but I did feel it. There was some strength behind the little cat that I didn't know about. And she did as I asked. She looked at me and declared her intentions.
"Okay…" I removed my hand from my cheek and looked down at Phinegos. He gave me a questioning look, "Let's go greet the Queen and discuss my betrothal."
"You're not-" Safiya didn't complete her sentence, simply nodding despite me not making any action against her. She took in a deep breath, "I wish you luck in your betrothal, Young Lord."
"Yes," Phinegos began leading us toward the castle, "Shall we go?"
The castle was large and gave a rustic, natural feeling. It was in the shape of a giant tree that stretched high above the others around it. It felt like something an Earth or Life Sprite should be living in, not the Felus Royal family.
At the bottom of the massive trunk was a wooden gate that was pulled up into the wall of the tree, hidden away from view. Just inside the gate was another gate about twelve feet past the first which could be closed independently from the other.
Inside of the small room created by the two gates, there were many portholes that guards could use to subdue or kill any attackers or unwanted guests.
As we entered the castle, I got a look at the interior. It was almost exactly as I remembered it being when I was here last month.
The wood looked carved – though I could tell it was formed from Magic, perhaps that of the first Felus Queen – and winded up on both sides of the entrance. The wood was a few tones lighter than its external counterpart, though the bark played a part in that.
Inside of the castle was very well made, statues of wood layered with armors of bark, a fountain in the center of the entranceway spewed steady streams of water. The fountain was in the shape of a tree, the branches of which were the streams of water that extended from a central column which acted as a trunk.
Phinegos led me up the stairs and into the Throne Room. It was a large room with even more soldier statues lining the wall. I could feel faint Magic coming from them, the same as with the rest of the wooden statues that donned bark armor.
At the far end of the room was a large Throne made of bark and a cushion made of leaves. Sitting on this throne was a Female Felus who stood about the height of the top of my navel. She was the Felus Queen, Ilyiana.
Sat next to her, in a much smaller Throne, was a bashful-looking Vasel. She sat with her hands tucked between her legs and her head down.
"Alecsi," Ilyiana called out as I entered, her voice resounding loudly and proudly. It showcased her position and didn't give room for argument if there was even something to be argued, "I'm glad to see you've come. Though, I haven't called for you and you usually don't come for a few more days."
Off to the right side of the room was a group of five beings in Blue Robes with different numbers of stars on the hoods that covered their heads. One of them had two stars on the lip of his hood, the other four had one star.
"I've been told that you are proposing marriage between Vasel and I. Is this true?" Stepping up to the Throne, there was no surprise in Ilyiana's face when I didn't bow, nor were the guards surprised.
"It is." Ilyiana turned her head to Vasel, the gesture not lost on me. She was telling me to focus a bit more on Vasel, "She loves you, is it so wrong for a girl to chase her heart? Are you so against mating with, what you consider, lesser species?"
"The Felus are not a lesser species…" I glared at the Queen before me for daring to call Vasel a lesser being. If she wasn't the Queen, I would have snapped already, "And, Vasel certainly is not lesser. Do not call her as such, even through the words of my kind."
"Do you accept then?" I could tell immediately that I had fallen into Ilyiana's trap. She was clever, I'll admit, but I was more so.
My mouth twisted into a grin, causing Ilyiana to flinch back, "Why not? Vasel is certainly better suited to me than you are. I dare say that you've gone a bit past your prime, Ilyiana."
She seemed to have regretted telling me her name, I could see her mind wrapping around the fact that she wasn't somewhere far away from me, but instead standing right in front of her. Powerful Felus and Fae had a harder time with it than weaker ones, which I found to be counter intuitive.
"I'm glad…" She sat back in her small throne, holding her head as Vasel looked up at me in surprise.
That was when the Two-Star Seer from the Blue Sanctum walked in front of me, "Candidate, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am Vanchure, a Seer from the Sanctum of The Stars."