A/N: Wi-Fi or DATA connection recommended playing the audio above
For the sake of the narrative ~~ in the middle, will be used to indicate flashbacks and ~~ on the left means visions. Chapters one to six are flashback chapters, the present timeline will start on chapter seven.
__________ CHAPTER ONE___________
"Never let the forces around you, dictate who you are."
MIRROR
~
His footsteps can be heard trampling over the cemented dusty ground "What are you moping around for?--Do it." he cynically kicked a pebble near his feet, both hands tucked by the pockets of his black pants "Why? So they can suffer again?" I simply replied in the midst of grieving the owner of this gun holster, holding it tightly in my hands as I stood up from the boulder-sized rock I was sitting at for the past days, back facing the kinou who survived a life purging devastation with me "Come on now, you have to admit it's getting kind of boring, with just you and me standing around here." He shrugged his shoulders "I'd rather prefer to suffer alone with you than return back what has been lost." I side faced him and a devilish smirk etched upon his lips "Liar~" a strong gush of wind blew by, and once again we played the charade.
~
"May I present the Emperor of RHEA, Raios Verity, and his daughter Cyrene Mirror." the Queen of Lireo whose ever-glorious looked down to us raising one brow in disapproval of my Father being here in her standing ground "Raios, your visit is unexpected. I could have told my Grande Dame to prepare a meal for the King and his daughter." Queen Minea spoke as she spat the words like poison, sarcasm flying along with it "Gracious as always Minea, let's cut to the chase--I came here for your son." Queen Minea looked intently furious at my ass-hole soooooooo called Father "My son? What do you want with him?" the pale-haired queen asked "Oh, Minea ever so naïve are we? that bastard boy of yours, I want him to marry my daughter-- " but before he can finish Queen Minea chuckled not even believing every single word that came out of his pathetic sinful mouth.
"To be honestly clear here Raios. You almost killed my son for having this so-called love with your daughter, and now several years later you come back here, just right here on our turf asking me to approve a sudden marriage between my son and your daughter?" Father smirked at her words and walked slowly to her "My, my Your Majesty I am terribly sorry that the wonderful execution was interrupted." They both looked eye to eye at each other none of them backing down from the staring contest that commenced.
"I'll agree with what you want this time around, but just so remember that I am not doing this for you Raios. " Queen Minea turned away from him with a graceful twirl of her blue long gown and sat back to her throne "Still soft aren't we Minea? and that's the reason why they all died don't they?" Father walked a nearby urn and picked up the frosted leaf inside of the sparkling diamond jar examining it then looked playfully at Queen Minea she was watching his every move, her guards took their stance and pointed their spears threatening us. "It's so fragile isn't it?" He twirled the frosted leaf in his palm and then crushed it by clenching his hand with it.
"I'd watch my tongue if I were you Raios. Just so remember you are standing at my ground." Queen Minea threatened him while Father just laughed it off and started to walk away not caring about what Queen Minea had to say in the matter "I own RHEA, Minea you own nothing of it haha- HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA! " He laughed as he left, disappeared with a puff of black smoke at the end of the hall "So, do you agree Zero?" Queen Minea jested as she looked at her son beside her as Zero just snickered at it "Only if I get to kill him." his endearing words to my father made me smile.
"How's Evergreen? she isn't you know?" the pale-haired monarch trailed off. "Mother is doing just fine Queen Minea, Father wouldn't harm a single flesh on her," I assured her, hence Father values my mother beauty and usefulness "Now then, if you two could excuse me, I will not keep this talk any longer my dear, therefore, I have a business to attend to. " Queen Minea walked down from her throne and patted my shoulder as she left the throne room to do her Queenly duties to their tribe. "I knew you'd come." Zero offered his hand to me while I just looked back at him taking his hand "Of course you do." We walked around the palace gardens hand and hand, conversing about the possibility of finding new members to join the team "How's Hibiki doing?" he asked as we sat down at the fountain "He's coping, heck orange juice is even started to antagonize me lately." I expressed while Zero seemed amused at the thought of Hibiki regaining his lively personality back up, and let me tell you he's good at getting under my skin.
"I can imagine." he teased, sprinkling a few drops of water on my face "Hey!" I shielded my face hence the water might be dirty, when I dropped my hands to my sides Zero's face was mere centimeters away from mine "Oyu veloi." his adam's apple bobbed when the words left his mouth "The servants are watching~" I tempted him as a few of the palace servants were spectating us from afar "I don't give a fuck...can I?" he placed a finger under my chin asking permission in which case I nodded and he closed the gap, his lips were soft like melancholia's forth snowfall and his tongue a mouthwatering intimation of mint, there was a delicate touch of his fingers along the side of my jaw a sign that he wants to continue, I softly bit his lower lip telling him to stop but I have to admit his kisses always have managed to leave a feverish feeling on mine.
"Oyu veloi," I played with his soft blue locks, which looked black from afar a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips "I should have taken you to my chambers." his strong arms wrapped around my waist pulling me closer to him "Agreed." I dangerously ran my pointer finger down his chest teasing him, a loud screaming of excitement echoed from one of the servants watching us flirt with each other "Always so popular." I jested pulling away from him "They're a bother to my life." he finger-combed his hair back whilst following me "Going back to where the conversation left off..." I began and materialized Hathor to show a photo of this fascinating young kinou that idolizes me and all my grim endeavors to the bone "Whos' that?" Zero asked getting a good look at the kid "His name is Ethan Rael, his family is concerned over his interest in me, and our original team."
"Rael? Do you mean the family that studies Medea Kyle's sagacious disclosure throughout her lifetime serving RHEA?"
"Bingo!"
"Sounds promising."
"You know the rumors spread around about me appearing if they mention my name?"
"Yeah, and that's hilarious."
"We're going to use that to recruit the kid into joining us."
"He'll die of happiness Mirror."
"Oooh, I know he will."
After discussing the rest I bid Zero goodbyes to go back home--Helium. Days later, after I arrived from Lireo, Madeline was out of breath from looking for me saying that my Mother wants to take a walk with me and so here we are now. "Mother tell me, how could a Beauty marry the Wicked?" I asked my mother as we're walking down the halls of our palace she halted at my sudden choice of question she had a look in her eyes saying you are unbelievable "Dear, he is not a monster, he is your father no matter how you look at it." I nodded my head sarcastically and placed a finger on my lips pretending to be convinced with her words of politeness to our oooooh so good-hearted father "Not to disrespect mother but he is a monster--wait did he use a love potion on you? Maybe that's the reason why you're so obsessed with him?"
She playfully smacked me in the arm with the hand she's holding "He did not!" she chuckled "It may not look like it but you're Father genuinely loves me and more things I cannot tell you." she insisted earning a chuckle from me "Mom, I'm an adult now you can't keep saying that forever." I implied our walk was interrupted when her eyes ran a shade of pink indicating that she had more far-reaching affairs' than taking a walk with her firstborn daughter "We'll continue this later?" She offered which I nodded in response she turned started to walk away from me to her agenda with her hand maiden's following closely behind her.
The whispering campaign of guards, dames, and gardeners around me we're staring who I am positive eavesdropping on my conversation with the Queen of Zoldanga who just happens to love her second child more than the first. I knew that urgent matter that she had to leave to patronage my sorry excuse of a sister "WHAT ELSE ON RHEA ARE YOU LOOKING AT? GET BACK TO WORK FOOLS! " They all scrambled in fear and returned to their duties, and just when I was about to walk out of palace grounds there was yet another ever so faithful pawn of my Father that emitted behind me "It is such a beautiful day doesn't it? and yet you tend to shout at innocent people who just witnessed how their future Empress would be like?" It's so typical of him to always send his pawns to annoy me. If only we had no common ground I would have already killed this kinou.
But Father protects him like a dog on a leash "If I were you I'd stay ten kilometers farther away from me if you still want to live." I threatened him as I stared blankly in his direction and the henchmen he brought who's standing cowardly behind him "Why good morning to you too, Your Majesty." he bowed down paying respect to the beloved daughter of his boss "What do you want Dobengal? whatever it is, I do not care and I am leaving." I turned on my heel from him walking away from him and his filthy men but before I could thoroughly place a good amount of distance between the ground we're standing upon he gave voice to a given command that I cannot ignore "You're being summoned by his Majesty."
"What do want Father? and this doesn't seem urgent in my perspective." I mocked him there's something else I'd rather be doing than be in the same room he is right now "MIRROR!" He shouted in a commanding voice and I just rolled my eyes at his outburst, it is just idle threats and they don't really matter to me anyway the old geezer tried to murder me on many occasions before this, I won't be surprised if he pulls out a gun and shoot me. He is glaring down at my figure with him comfortably sitting on his throne. No longer wanting him to yell I played the role of an obedient daughter "Whatever demand you want I'll do it, father." He has been looking down at me like I'm just one of his pawns for at least a minute now after all the suffering I've been through in his upbringing I don't really care anymore about what he might think of me "Now that's more like it."
Unlike Mother, my Father always addresses me exactly based on how many eons I've been living "Is history repeating itself before my eyes? You have the same reaction as Queen Minea the other day we went to their tribe." I impudently responded tilting my head to the side inspecting the new decors and freshly imported flowers sitting on the vases when did Father start to take interest in flowers? "I want you to destroy Calix." These were the words that left his lips, I gave him a look asking him to repeat it again "Destroy RHEA's strongest tribe." the events during the siege of Xeris washed over me, Father took notice of my stiff being whilst eating a grape "Is there a problem Mirror?" his tone was impending dread "No, father...I will do as you ask." I bowed down to him "Good, the army is waiting for you outside." So this is the reason why Dobengal and those imbeciles standing behind him earlier are wearing such garb.
Calix is known to be RHEA's strongest tribe when it comes to physical strength, a valuable reason to fear them hence people think that they rival Helium when it comes to that and today Father will prove that such beliefs are nothing but mere words only. So instead of sending only me to wreck it like the other tribes, he was smart enough to not underestimate Calix by preparing double the number of soldiers they have--leaving them all to die an honorable death, they fought well that's why the world seems so unfair in moments like these, the lives of those people hold no value in my father's book, to him their simply just weaklings who refused to die out when they had a chance at it and now? those pathetic beliefs have discontinued them. I intended to feed the families of those I killed to hate me.
When someone dared to provoke, scare and threaten my father's ego--all he has to do is have his favorite daughter throw a spear made of gore at their innocence of silence, such an ironic calm personality to reclaim calamity. I watched the tribe crash and burn till nothing was left but ash and rubble, when I was a toddler all I can think of is how lucky I am to be loved by my father hence he was someone dear to me...but in the end, I realized that I was nothing but a pawn and another slave to his conquering superiority. Hathor had informed me that Galaxia (Diamond Authority member) managed to rescue a good amount of Calix's citizens and is now taking them to a safe location away from here--away from my father's thirst for power, the fact that she managed to save even a few makes me wickedly smirk.
Calix is now part of his collection, he took the strongest out of the weak. The difference between him and foes is that he won-- I won the war he demanded "Your Majesty! Your Majesty!" one low life soldier came in running as he called for my attention "Speak." that was all I had to a to the likes of him, the way he's trying to catch his breath was infuriating my soul "Speak before I chop off your head." he swallowed the lump in his throat as stared down at him in fury, I am infamously known to not give second chances nor mercy and pity to those who dare oppose me in the slightest of times "You're Majesty, we fond one survivor in the capital despite the genocide here in Calix--" my eyes widen in vexation and grabbed the soldier by the neck choking him to death as he tries to release my grasp on his life "Haven't I made myself clear earlier?" I began, putting more pressure on his neck.
"NOBODY shall live in this damned tribe!" I dropped his corpse on the ground and it made his comrades back away in fear of being the next victim of my anger "QUIT STANDING AROUND AND CATCH THAT KINOU AND KILL HIM!" they scrambled as soon as they can before I can say anymore "None of you will do such actions ." Zero's voice made them halt in their tracks and me furious upon seeing him carrying a feeble child in his arms, I quickly made my way in his direction "Give me that child." I asked him politely to hand over the brat, but he remained unmoved about what I just said and it made the crowd of soldiers murmur to themselves upon why Zero isn't complying, "No." my fiance's answer disappointed me "Give me that child now, Zero." I warned him "I'll take in this child whether you like it or not." he's blunt I'll give him that "You will do no such thing." I yanked the child out of his grasp using my talents.
Throwing him harshly on the burning ground "I'm going to fucking murder you now kid." I maniacally smiled at him as I turned Hathor into an ax, the white-haired child helplessly crawled out in an attempt to escape from me whose eagerly ready to kill the living soul out of his being. "Haven't I already made myself clear?" Zero caught the blade with both of his hands.
After the seize at Calix, father had given me a mouthful of his anger upon letting Zero take in that stupid child with us here on Helium. Zero... without his intervention, that young kinou could have kicked the bucket when I first glanced at him. Only three tribes left Father thinks that if Queen Minea falls along with her kingdom that will prove enough power to make Mother surrender her kingdom and half of Borealis to him, Xeris, Aulora, Half of Borealis, and Calix have already fallen and along the way. Every time I look at my hands all I could think of is the damage I've done, especially the times' when King Loki was nowhere to be found after the fall of his empire whilst I sparred Hibiki(his son) on my behalf although Father was not too keen on letting him live due to him being part of the Kenna bloodline that has been a thorn on his side ever since.
~
"What is this treason I see my dear daughter?" While I was walking down the halls of the throne room his voice beamed across the thick bricked wall that surrounded the crown of Helium "Treason? Father do not flatter me with idle words. I brought him here alive because I wanted to." Those words were enough to make him more furious than he already is with me. After I said that I nodded at Hibiki to leave along with Madeline because I still have to talk to my wise royal Father and as soon as they were out of sight fired the raven-haired Emperor fired back at me "You wanted to? touche. Believe me, daughter, he is not your friend to put it simply he's just a mere slave to you" I raised a brow at him laughing off his words, "Speaking from experience father?" to my surprise he smirked and leaned back on his throne giggling to himself until the guards and dames started to laugh alongside him until he silenced them with a sign from his hand "No daughter. Believe me, you are only keeping your enemies closer than you already have" as he said those words I stared intently at his dull eyes burning with fire "And I'm looking right at him"
"Sooo, you're looking tense how did the talk? go? " He made this gesture with his fingers pointing out quotation marks emphasizing the word TALK I just shook my head put my arms up and trowed my orb over at my couch and grabbed the chair nearby and flung it across the room as I blew off my puff cheeks and walked out to the balcony to let out some steam looking down at the kingdom "Mirror, " Hibiki placed his hand on my right shoulder following me outside the balcony, as I looked at his side as he gave a heavy sigh and closed his eyes for a second and went beside me on the railing of the balcony leaning on his back "You know... You shouldn't let your Father get to your nerves too easy Mirror-"
I gave him a cold icy stare as he said those and held his hands in defense and let my gaze fall back down again at the empire, he already knows how over egotistical and prideful Father can be, over the years we've spent studying in Lireo "Look what I'm trying to say is, Its okay to fight back- especially to him, Mirror you of all people should know that, you've done things that aren't humane--Sorry about that by the way no offense, but maybe it's time" my eyebrows knitted in confusion what is he talking about anyway? I think he got the idea of what I thought so he decided to lay it out on me "We need to rebel against him."
~
Those thoughts rang to my head like a bell bringing me back to realization "Milady? Are you okay?" Madeline waved her hand in front of my face as she stared at me in disbelief along with a huge heavy sigh "I've been talking to nobody then?" I shook my head off the thought and focused on what Madeline was saying "I just remembered something. Anyway, what was it you were saying?" she opened her palm where a holo chip is attached as a projection of a new sword came into view "It is already finished Milady and Mila is only waiting for you're approval to release the weapons to the army and Panacae also wants to have a word with you later Milady at your study--" I placed my hand in front of her to stop her from talking "Tell Amora to hand it out to 30% of the army and please personally tell her to report to me tomorrow morning after she've equally distributed the new weapons Mila has crafted, but before she does that have first one of the weapons to be sent out to me tomorrow before breakfast I want to check it one last time just to make sure every single diamond fang is in proper placement or I'll end up annihilating them in the process and tell Panacae to meet me some overtime, therefore, I have more pressing matters to attend to than a cup of tea and nuts."
Madeline started to rapidly type and record every single thing I said and sent out the order to Mila as I started to walk away she called out to me one last time reaching her hands out "Umm Milady, Panacea said you have to meet her immediately after you have breakfast but I haven't found you yet by that time so I'm telling you this now I'm very sorry Milady-" I turned around to face her "It is alright you won't be needed anymore, in my time I shall take my leave now Madeline." my handmaiden's following words had me to halt in my tracks "SHE SAYS ITS URGENT!" She called out loud and it made me stop on my tracks for a moment and walk down the hall casually not caring about what she said regarding the talk Panacae wanted, leaving Madeline's words to fall on deaf ears.
"I have already picked out the flowers that you wanted Milady, and other than that everything is done and completed according to order." I slow clapped at his organization of the tasks I handed out to him, a little bit impressed that he didn't mess anything up like he usually does on a daily basis "Well done Hibiki, I'm impressed I was kind of expecting you'd mess it up." I raised a brow smiling a little to tease him "You know it-" the orangette's words were cut short when a loud screaming voice came in ringing "AAAAHHHHHHHH!" Hibiki quickly turned his attention to where it came from while I took a minute late to turn my head to it, hence it might not be that important either way.
Countless more screams of fear erupted and something exploded behind it all, as a huge gush of wind along with a large amount of dust with it, I held up Hathor in front of me shielding the both of us from the vast gushing sands, when the dust settled into a clear, people started running once again around in a complete panic down the market place none of them even dared to bump to either me or Hibiki in their means of escape as we ran over the opposite direction they were heading. I've decided to grab one person running by past us and when I did a loud crunch of her arm came into Hibiki's sense of hearing, the woman started to wince in pain Hibiki's expression looked like he was about to protest upon what I just did, but decided not to comment on it
"What is the commotion all about pleb?" the woman proved to be a useless cretin as she kept trembling in fear spouting only one coherent word "L-light!!!!" she screamed and I let go of her arm the moment she said the word light "Is is light outside." the orangette shielded his eyes as he looked up at the shining sun above us "We should evacuate the citizens to safety right?" he asked while still looking at the sun trying to figure out what the woman was so scared about it all "Hathor who is it?" I asked my orb as she levitated in the palms of my hand when I felt a living being's time enter Helium's lands "An old friend, Milady." Hibiki stopped looking above, giving me a confused look "Did I just hear that right? or not?" he pointed at Hathor indicating what she said whether he misheard it or not.
"You heard right."
"No offense but--they're all dead."
I turned to give him icy glares, at the terrible joke as he swallowed the lump in his throat "What you used to laugh at it." he shrugged his shoulders, whilst I rolled my eyes at him turning my attention to the direction where the imbeciles ran away from. I have to confirm my suspicion.
~
"H-how c-could he do such a t-thing?? " the blonde girl sobbed as her twin brother comforted her while the others grieved for their loss while I just stared outside where it was raining cats and dogs, thunderstruck illuminating a bright light... light I punched the window in anger and took my coat from the rack "Where do you think you are going, young lady?" the orangette King yelled after my figure that didn't bother turning around and continued to walk, halting by the door gripping its frame making my fingers turn pale in the process "Leave me alone..." was all I said before disappearing from their earshot. Once reaching my quarters I cannot help but cover my eyes with both my hands--at how hilarious it was to watch them suffer over such trivial things, a sick grin made its way up to my lips, I had to contain my laughter in so much that it made my body tremble in joy behind the others side of the door.
"Milady." Hathor's voice called me making me lower my hands from my eyes to get a good look at her glass figure "It felt good Hathor...I knew it until I did it myself--murdering one of Xeris' possible heirs." my orb did not utter a response as she carefully watched me lavish in my elation "King Loki and the rest of the team did not suspect a thing Milady, they perfectly bought your act off." I dropped my hands to the sides "Good because it's time to murder the next heir."
~
"VERITY!!!!!" a kinou's angry voice yelled my last name, bright light of hurricane surrounded him "Hibiki get rid of all these imbeciles this instant," I commanded him as the thick crowd of people came in rushing "Of course their safety first Milady." sarcasm flew along with his words as the orangette smiled sweetly bowing down in respect of my orders, he levitated them all off the ground giving me a freeway to deal with this kinou stirring up a ruckus, with only seven steps left near him the ground started to rumble and shake as white sparks of lights pierced it exploding like a bomb. Temporarily blinding us...I hated this type of talent for a reason.
It is fucking annoying beyond eternal repose.
~
Hibiki said that there was a ce-celo-! Ugh! I don't know how to say it but from what I can observe everyone in Lireo was busy preparing from I don't know war? Maybe? Anyways most of them bought new garments women busied themselves making their appearance look more beautiful to those close or for their beloved ones, children played around ate junk food and annoyed their parents to buy them these ridiculous things called toys. I mean what kind of parents equips their defenseless child with these so-called toys instead of swords and shields to protect themselves from harm? Instead, they tend to act foolish and be dumb? I never understood why and kinou's are the dumbest of them all, as they tried to pick up girls they saw pass by them by complimenting them but then again women ignored them and kept on walking-- "You know someone in the team can read your mind and hear your thoughts right?" my eyes widen when he said that and I summoned my orb and hit him with it "You got to change your perspective Hiroshi or else you'll attract Verity's attention." I tilted my head to the side and took a glance at him for a split second.
"Verity?" I pretended not to be dumb, I had to suck it in none of them can know who I am and where I came from because that would ruin Father's plan. Sting was staring intently at me waiting for an answer none of us broke off the staring contest until the orangette did "If I recall the last name Verity is the Royal Family of Helium " Hibiki spoke up to break the unbearable silence "They're impostors. " Sting spat the words like poison and glared at me I already know that he's on to me and by the time he knows more about me he'd be deceased.
~
When the light dispersed Hibiki and I shared cautious looks at each other before summoning weapons of our own. He gave me a nod as a signal to attack and when he did, the kinou dispersed the hurricane made of light surrounding him, arms open wide cockily, the sight of his blonde hair irked me it was covering almost half of his face on how long it is, his breath was shallow and bruises decorated his abdomen, wounds and scratches tattooed his arms and hands smoke can be seen coming out of his body like he's been steamed "S-stop Idiots," he spoke up as he caught his breath doing so and placed both his hands on his knees composing himself from standing -- and wait? did he just call us idiots? I was about to strike his head off when Hibiki grabbed my hand stopping me from doing so and shaking his head 'no' his eyes piercing through my cold gaze I force my hand off his grasp and we both looked back at the kinou standing in front of us "Y-you know you o-once said. That-"
"That you would gladly love to kill people for the sake of your father.. "
"That I would gladly love to kill people for the sake of my father-!"
We both said it in unison and I gritted my teeth in annoyance, upon how is he alive in the first place. There is only one person I ever told those words to and I was sure that he died that day, there's no doubt about it. The light of RHEA navy tribe "How have you been idiots?" he greeted us, Hibiki's mouth was left agape making him drop all the people he was levitating up in the air, and the moment they fell to the ground they all scrambled out of the scene that was about to unfold here at this very moment "How the fuck are you alive?" I scoffed at him, who promptly chuckled at the question "Sorry but that in itself is also is very much of a mystery to me, too."
I saw him take his last breath, back then. Still unmoving from where I was standing Hibiki rushed to his side and helped our former teammate and friend stand up. I can't help but stare at his being those bruises, wounds, and scratches were still fresh from that time I and father played fun with his impending death, the only massive change was his physical appearance, it perfectly matched up with our aging here in the real world "Never thought you'd be so damn tall." he shot a glance my way, a smirk was at the end of his lips "And great glow up Hibiki. You're no longer in the scrawny category like me." he chuckled in his not so okay state.
"Once father sees that abomination on his domain, nothing of him will be left." I reminded the orangette as he passed by me, who promptly stopped in his tracks "Where should I take him then?" Hibiki asked both of us back facing each other "Take him to Lireo." was all I had to say and Hibiki immediately vanished with our old comrade. I took a heavy sigh before kicking the dirt under my heels in frustration. Zero will have a heart attack once Hibiki arrives at the palace doors carrying that cretin of a blonde, whose bloodline no longer has any stature in RHEA since the place he calls home? is nothing but pure debris and rumble now. Sting Muriel, you won't be able to do anything now that Father's plan is already set in motion.
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