The Emperor trod down the steps to stand on an equal level with Sarakiel. As he walked, he observed the mien of his knight.
Sarakiel was one of his oldest and treasured comrades. Thus, he was defiant of sending the knight to his demise, but it was ultimately inevitable.
The trial-and-error approach would be carried out by Sarakiel in his endeavour. This process relied heavily on the uncertainty that Angels, archnemesis of Demons, would notice their call of distress. They summon the angels by using the timeworn scrolls that they happened to discover in a certain remote island.
Angels were demanding and fickle creatures. For them to provide help, their ultimatum invariably consisted of tangibles beyond the humans' reach, or conquest of missions that were impossible to accomplish in a hundred aethras.
The inclinations of the Angels caused the knights to perpetually redo the summoning ceremony till one of them abided. Angels were beings that resided in a higher realm, so for them to manifest a spiritual body for a few seconds in this world, a stupendous amount of mana should be provided. In consequence, the ceremony would surcease with the life force of the summoner depleted.
"Sarakiel"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Do you know why I haven't sent you off on your journey yet?"
Sarakiel cocked his head to the side, bewildered by the question that came out of nowhere. Still, he gave an answer, "Is it to make sure that I am prepared?"
"You're not wrong, in a sense. Mind listening to me?"
"No? Of course not, Your Majesty." Sarakiel became even more confused about how the Emperor was phrasing his words. Though when the latter put on a stern face, the knight realized the seriousness of this discourse.
"I will be briefing you personally on this mission, Duke Sarakiel Helian."
Unknown to anyone, the Emperor seemed to have devised another way of triumphing over the Demons.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Presently, Lauviah was en route to the Empress' palace. She was riding her horse as she glided the wintry air of the Inso. The Countess was on the tail of Duchess Haniel Tristan who took the lead. No pleasantries were traded between the two and momentarily, they arrived at the palace.
Lauviah and Haniel vacated their saddles. They proceeded to tie the leashes of their horses on a nearby tree. Ensuing was their short stroll on the rocky pathway directly to the main entrance.
The instant that they arrived in front of the palace's main door, Haniel knocked on it to enlighten the hosts of their visit. On the other hand, Lauviah simply felt awkwardness slinking in the space between her and the duchess, so she broke the quietness.
"Duchess Haniel, I apologize for my mishap earlier." The Countess sheepishly said while rubbing her palms together.
Lamentably for Lauviah, the Duchess did not acknowledge her apology nor did she even glance at her.
'I guess she finds me annoying.' Countess Lukan thought, surrendering to the concept of befriending the aloof Haniel. She just straightened her back and tarried on the doorstep.
Minutes passed and there were still no signs of the door opening.
'The maids are taking their sweet time. Are they asleep? Looking at it closely, the lights aren't on. Well, it is already the 3rd Inso. It won't be unthinkable that they're comfortable in their beds.'
"Duchess Haniel, we should go back. It seems that they are already sleeping, let them rest."
Again, the Countess was ignored. It was to her benefit that she got used being neglected by the Duchess.
'Well, it is like talking to myself, I don't really mind.' Lauviah comforted herself as she heaved a sigh.
Shortly, the sound of creaking woke the female knights from their musings. In a few seconds, the double doors were unlatched by a pair of maids.
"A pleasant Nasha to the two noble ladies."
The maids, who were identical from head to toe, greeted their visitors with perfect conformity.
"Good Nasha to the two of you too." Lauviah cordially uttered while Haniel plainly nodded to show civility.
"What might be your business with the Empress?" The maid on the right interrogated them of their purpose straight away.
"What might it be?" The one on the left supplemented her sister's query. This was the unique parlance of the twins.
"I am here to give an urgent report to the Empress, and to a-" Lauviah found it hard to say the words. She was originally a person with a high self-regard. Thus, she rarely assumed the role of the one giving an apology, but contemplating on her wrongdoing affirmed that she was solely at fault.
'I said some things unbecoming that of an upright noble. I will set aside my pride for now.' Lauviah spoke of her will inside her head before resuming her conversation with the twins. "I came here to ask for the Empress' mercy."
Lauviah's statement prompted the maids to stare at each other, then to the Countess.
"On behalf of the Empress, we will receive the report and also the apology."
"Yes, we will."
Lauviah relaxed instantly after hearing their suggestion. She was glad to finesse lowering her ego for a petty mistake.
"That will do, Than-"
"No." Duchess Haniel intruded the Countess' speech.
Lauviah was stunned when she heard Haniel speak. Even so, it was an opportunity to converse with her, so she instantaneously replied.
"What do you mean no, Duchess Haniel?"
"The Emperor ordered you to apologize in person, not through the maids."
"But I cannot do anything regarding that. The Empress doesn't want to come out."
"You can appeal to the maids so they would let you inside the palace." Haniel's tone implied that she was done chattering, coercing Lauviah to push further.
The Countess couldn't do anything but heed Haniel's order, thus she turned towards the maids and spoke.
"Will it be alright to talk to the Empress? I can settle outside of her room if she can't be bothered to get up." Her articulation was passive-aggressive to a degree. Lauviah was evidently peeved about the hindrance.
"I ask for your understanding, Countess Lukan."
"The Empress cannot be disturbed during this time."
Lauviah was at a loss. It was a guarantee that Haniel wouldn't let her step out of this place until she's acquitted. She decided to push her stance further, joining her hands ahead of saying, "I guess the Empress is already asleep. If you don't min-"
"The Empress is not asleep. The Empress is doing a prayer."
"She had been praying the moment she woke up. We cannot disturb her conversation with the almighty beings."
The twins duly interrupted the countess for misinterpreting their master's status.
"Praying? Praying for what? What prayer?" Obviously, Lauviah would be curious about the particulars if the Empress was devout on it.
"She's been uttering the same phrase for the whole dier."
"Yes, the same phrase."
What the twins would say next baffled their guests. The maids goggled at the noble ladies, dead in the eye, and vocalized in unison a spell that they have not heard of before.
"psalmus David Domine clamavi ad te exaudi me intende voci meae cum clamavero ad te"