A/N: Wifi or DATA connection recommend playing the audio above
Salt's name was supposed to be Pepper
__________CHAPTER THREE__________
MIRROR
A few days later, this challenge father posed on Zero has arrived, and for some reason, I too was dragged into participating "Tell me Hibiki?- How on RHEA did you make me do this shit? You better have an explanation for this or so Athena helps me I'll obliterate you." I growled at him as Hibiki just laughed it off and gave me a few hair ties that I taunted him with. Already perplexed, just a few hours ago I was enjoying my breakfast and subsequently became cognizant here. RIGHT FREAKING HERE BELOW THE GLADIATOR ARENA was upon all the plebs and scums who lie about fighting for their freedom that is completely bogus beyond their wildest dreams once you become a gladiator you either die in a fight or starved by your Lanista at first father had told me to pick the victims they'll be shooting he never informed me that I shall participate.
I loathe being surrounded by such filth there is no good thing in this wretched place, a place where those who oppose my father are forced to fight for the entertainment of RHEA's high ranking profiles, for most of the part profusing times Elites habitually held duels here to prove the brute of their gladiators among the citizens of RHEA in which I enjoy? in a way? watching from time to time "I kind of... drugged you?" Hibiki murmured his actions to my abduction only for Madeline to voice out his confession exposing him. "Oh, he definitely drugged you-" Hibiki's eyes shot up yelled in annoyance "MADELINE!" Madeline laughed at his childishness while braiding my hair rolling my eyes to the both of them and proceeded to stare at my reflection in the vanity mirror in front of me while Hibiki pokes out his head in the background trying to be innocent in the process denying the exposed fact.
Father sure did an excellent job in pulling the strings to manipulate Hibiki and I'll confront him later for that, to be honest back then in Lireo, I never did had the impression I will ever go against my Father's bidding, and yet I still obeyed his will no matter what even after that incident...in Xeris. The only thing that lingers in my scape from time to time is the fact even though he's my father and I'm his favorite daughter, I did not once hear him speak nor brag about what type of talent he uses, a piece of information that is also not known by the masses, even the officials of RHEA are left in the dark. The main reason why Father cannot cease but keep hunting down Loki Nimue's whereabouts, as he is the only person that grasped the knowledge regarding my father's talent, it also just so happened I was seemingly right about him, creating a bring in regards with consuming power. As I spied on Conri doing father's biddings on a daily basis, hence Conri has been his most trusted stooged even before the time I was born according to Mother, so I had my orb do a perusal on him only to uncover the most ludicrous truth behind his loyalty to the King... he's infatuated with living in luxury.
The task he was given to fulfill led to a secret passageway that leads to a room-no a laboratory of Faust Efelria, a physician and world-renowned boffin known for his preposterous mad ways that no-one in their proper wits shall ever interact with more or less appoint and that person is none other than Raios Verity. The things that lie beneath the laboratory was of course inhumane just the way my father likes it and let's not deny it I was amused by it too... experiments that had failed was held there to be pursued as weapons for a war that soon might come again? to further damage RHEA in its wake, what bothered me the most were the Hydraulic Chambers, but before I could get a good look on what's inside of those Chambers- I saw my sister's real right eye floating inside a cylinder placed on Faust's desk, I am mystified upon why he took my sister's eye hence Father never did once took interest upon her repudiated existence so why now?
The reason is this since I've been spying on Virgo's life through my orb for a while now and I noticed that she is constantly crossing the borders of Helium every night I assumed that maybe she was just going to Panacea's place however that was not the case since she's not even close with our grandmother "Right Milady?? - HELLO MILADY!" Hibiki waved his hands in front of my face breaking my train of thought as I slapped his hands out of the way in annoyance the both of them staring at me with grins on their faces and what the heck was that for? "Are you thinking about Zero, Milady?" Madeline teased and caught me off guard a soft hue of color rising to my cheeks "You have the wrong idea," I began "I wasn't thinking about him." the two doltish never fizzled to get on my nerves restrictively, for the most part, its just Hibiki, just like when we first met, therefore, that river was full of hypermnesia sleeping on the comfy clouds that cradled it up till now.
~
While I was gathering a piece of much-needed information that could appease Father, matters were getting in the way like seriously! these things what are these?! Do they radiate colors this often? and why do they smell rather good? the amazons passing by seem to be aberrant by my odd actions towards these things hanging off the walkway it is not my fault Father did not teach me about whatever these things may be or what they are called "Those would be flowers" I heard someone spoke up but yet when I turned around to see who could it be there was no one there "Looking for me?" AHHH! I mentally screamed careful enough to not lose my balance when the unknown presence presented itself to me in an unrefined manner of my times' attention, upon most of these occasions people might say that it made their heart skip a beat, well to mine it froze. It was Hibiki, the son, and heir of Loki, King of Aulora, and he was hanging upside down alongside all the hanging tunnel things here in the walkways of Ephedia I couldn't bear to be in the same place he is right now so I pulled him off the arch using my talents making him fall to the cobblestones with a loud thud.
It'd be great if he broke his neck but he didn't and instead followed me around to the point it annoyed me "Give me one good reason not to break all you're bones." I warned him summoning my orb ready to slam it onto his thick skull, making him immediately raise his hands in defense I withdrew my orb placing my hand back to my sides and when he noticed I'd calmed down a bit, the idiot started to explain himself "Okay..? that was, completely sadistic! oh and by the way, my talent allows me to read your mind so I thought why not help you understand the things you don't know? " I was about to hit him with the nearby plant pot but he was so right in every way and I could use his knowledge to my advantage but first, I need to place barriers to my scape obviating his magic to my echt intentions "Can we restart?" I offered my most manipulative fake smile to Aulora's heir.
~
"Milady?" I was in a trance for a moment staring at my reflection strenuous of what is about to commence, damnit father don't you dare shoot Zero "Could you give us a moment?" Madeline and my two other servants left the quarters giving me and Hibiki space to discuss as they proceed outside to watch the ongoing warm-up battle of the gladiators trying to walk unto their rainbow paradise "Mirror, is this about Sting? or your Father?" Hibiki spoke up he never calls me by my second name unless it was just the two of us I was unable to answer what he just asked me since I had completely forgotten about how Sting is back and alive, there are still a lot of questions that are needed to ask upon how he survived his near-death experience no it is definitely a death experience not just near death. "No it's not about Sting, I just remembered something about Virgo." I curled my long eyes lashes "Don't you feel kind of weirded out?"
"What? about blondie?" I lazily re-materialized Hathor three times for accuracy of it later on "Yeah, everyone saw his corpse get buried. Literally, everyone knew." Hibiki scratched his nape "I personally killed him and I'm a bit annoyed upon how he's even alive." I stared at my nails before taking a small glance at him over my shoulder "I'll do a run on his scape and if I find out he's been brought to life by your father, you know what to do Milady." He shrugged his shoulders via taking initiative "I can also do that but sure do your thing, I appreciate it." Hibiki stood up from where he was sitting walking towards me with my back facing him massaging my shoulder to calm down my nerves since I've been completely out of the norm seemingly like a beauty-obsessed person staring at her own reflection until it drowns-is it my talent? seemingly unctuous and ostensible that possibly could be the reason that might have kept him alive all this time. Hibiki looked at me upon the mirror's reflection "Ready to pick out the targets?" he asked with a very hopeful attitude "Let's go."
"MAY I PRESENT HER MAJESTY--THE HEIRESS OF HELIUM!" The guard yelled announcing my arrival at the field, I'll admit it was vastly satisfying to hear that I and no one else is going to be the successor of Helium "CY-MIRROR VERITY!" By not saying my first name in front of RHEA's ruling emperor had just cost him his life. There was a small crowd of people present to watch "Father, Mother." I greeted the older raven kinou and my mother "Have you brought them?" he asked calmly in which turn I stepped aside showing a large bunch of lowlifes tied up together by Hibiki's talent, I looked behind my father's shoulder blades seeing an open tent has been put up for shade and above the table's surface contained several guns of Zero's choosing.
"Release three first, upfront as a warm-up." father did not advert his stare at me, who snapped her fingers for Hibiki to proceed with doing the spouted order, whilst the orangette was busy preparing the said targets I darted my eyes across the table about to pick up one "You won't be using any of them, my beloved daughter use your talent." Father caught on picking up a pistol, removing its safety lever sliding it harshly, "HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS OF LIREO--ZERO YUGEN EDURNE!" I turned away the table before me to greet my betrothed "Sorry I'm late, I had to finish up a few papers given to me." he gave me a peck on my forehead, "Well you're here now, by the way, I was asked to join your little session." whilst the sound of my father loading a magazine into a second pistol was highly evident in the eerily quiet landscape of Helium "Even better." Zero smiled placing an arm on my waist.
"Your Majesty." Zero greeted the old raven, who was standing on his left and me on his right, filling his brought riffle to the brim with pulses "Save up your excuses...begin!" father paid no eyes to Zero as he yelled at Hibiki to release the plebs who wasted no time in running in hopes that could escape such an ill fate given upon them today, gunshot after gunshot can be heard echoing about the open vicinity, as expected Zero dismissed the first one easily, mine was second and father was last much to his displeasure "You're a little rusty, Your Majesty, you must be getting a little too old for this." Zero commented synergizing his talent, Mother had to secretly hold down father's emotions regarding the matter "Put up the next!" RHEA's emperor ignored Zero's commentary yelling for the real match to start. Conri was in charge of keeping tabs on the scoreboard.
Five were thrown into the first fray and like the first ones they wasted no time in scurrying, I purposely only discontinued one to give my father a chance in redeeming himself from the humiliation he suffered moments ago but alas Zero took down three and Father shot one "Raios 1, Mirror 1, and Zero 3." Conri yelled from the front row of seats, his arms crossed on his chest "Throw in the second." RHEA's emperor was infuriated and the tone of his voice showed it clearly, Hibiki swallowed a lump in his throat giving me a knowing look as he released the second batch of ten "Raios 3, Mirror 1, and Zero 6." the way father reloaded his gun was violent, to say the least, it sounds like it's about to snap into two pieces from how tight he's holding it.
A bunch of wasted gun shells littered my father's feet, Conri took initiative in yelling to throw the third batch upon noticing his boss current sour mood, after a few more rounds of shooting Zero remained at the top part of the scoring board, I was second and my father was last place, he seemed to to be personally attacked on a deeper level despite being the one who started all of this shit in the first place "Raios 20, Mirror 40, and Zero 90." Conri wrote down the scoreboard "Throw in the next!" none was yeeted into the bloody fray "I said throw in--" the brunette kinou was unable to finish his words properly as Hibiki interrupted him mid-sentence "There are none to throw."
"Then go pick up another bunch!" Hibiki was one of the people who wanted Conri dead more than anyone else due to what happened in the past, but for now, he had had to suck up all his pride within and obey my father's most trusted guard dog "We'll take a ten-minute break!" Conri yelled from his high seat as Hibiki went out to fetch a few more targets, the said break also gave my father a chance to calm himself down from losing so much to Zero and Me on this ridiculous challenge of his, by slamming the gun he's been using down the table indicating his already mad mood walking off to the other side of the field, yelling at Conri to get him a bottle of refreshment and a chair under the tree's shade. Mother immediately walked out of her seat to his side "You okay?" she asked him whilst massaging his tense shoulder blades, Zero had offered to grab us seats whilst waiting for Hibiki to return.
Zero handed one of the chairs he picked up and we sat near the table where Zero had set down his rifle by a first look it is already obvious how heavy its weight is, in fact, it amuses me how Zero manages to carry that big ass rifle everywhere during our teen years studying and training in Ephedia. "Do I look okay to you Evergreen? you of all people should know with that silky talent of yours!" his pent-up anger exploded on mother as she almost retracted her hands back to her sides. But instead of doing so, she used those hands to calm him down her talent can be seen flowing out from them "I know so...relax." mother leaned down on his left ear whispering in an alluring tone "You'll win..." I secretly listened to their conversation with Hathor's help "You're thinking too deep darling...relax," Mother's eyes glowed hues of pink as she did that, Zero leaned back in his seat eyeing me "My mother is encouraging him to win this."
"Will he?" I gently took Zero's hand placing them on my right wrist taking my attention of my parents, giving him a few of my pulses can give him an advantage upon the next rounds of this challenge "He'll make up a sudden rule once we start shooting down on the second batch Hibiki is collecting as of the moment." I focused on remaining calm expression as the process feels similar to that of being pricked by a thousand sharp pieces of needles, it might look harmless and smooth at a glance but it's not "And what is this rule your father will suddenly impose?" He asked tapping his pinky finger on the outer regions of my palm to tone down his talents pricking "That each stowaway will cost two points to who shoots the fastest."
"Isn't that just going to make him lose faster?" a valid point "He needs the rage." I looked up to Zero upon saying those words to implore that I wasn't joking "Rage?" he asks in confusion "My father is always angry when he's using his talent." I chuckled at the past memory of him using his talents on a few of our palace's servants because they gave him the wrong dish of platter "And what is your father's talent exactly?" I bit my bottom lip to prevent myself from wincing as Zero retracted his hand off my wrist "That is something I do not know myself." He took my slightly numbed wrist in his hands massaging them to ease out the pain his talents had left behind as an aftereffect "Seriously?" He paused from what he was doing surprised that I have something in common with everyone else "Yeah..." I chuckled, upon knowing exactly the visual representation of what is about to happen next.
~
Father will arrive shortly, and by that time all the pain and suffering he's feeling will finally come to an end. Sting actually thought I'd let him get all this information to Queen Minea, he was so blinded by the façade I manipulated him to believe... he actually thought I loved him--how hilarious! "You'll doom us all!" I laughed at his pathetic wailing oh Sting unrepentant of my actions "If only you minded your own business, I guess you could have lived longer. " A huge gust of wind echoed in the entire east side Ephedia's forest announcing his arrival the jet imperceptible to the naked eye. Sting gave me with a sour look only for me to tighten the restraints on his body as his demise being inevitable at this point, I can still see it in his eyes the hope of someone-anyone that might come to save him in the terrible fate he's about to soon indulge in I placed an enchantment so that no one can hear nor see us in these parts of Ephedia. With the aid of my talent, I made a temporary clearing for the jet to land upon the very moment the wheels touched the ground the plug door soon opened revealing my Father and that signature evil smirk of his greeting me.
"Father," I bowed down to him while Sting is trying all his might to escape "Excellent work my dear," he began and gestured for me to rise "So tell me Sting how does it feel to be in the presence of an Emperor?" Father gloated only to be spitted on the face by Sting rest assured that his expiration date will be quicker than expected "You're no emperor Raios, you're nothing but a filthy tyrant!" I smacked him across the face with my orb with his jaw cracking could be heard in the process, his already being severely bruised up body colliding with the yew tree "Now, now my dear don't hog up all the fun~" Father satirized loading up a magazine on his pistol as I levitated Sting near him the lips of the gun directly at his head "Well my boy I'm afraid this is goodbye! Do hope your relatives take it up well HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" I purposely allowed the gunshot to be heard throughout the entire academy, Father shot him directly at the head the bullet punched its way through his skull bashing his brains out I felt their presence a mile away so I proceeded to prepare an illusion for them to mourn upon scorn when they arrived at the exact moment I counted they saw what they feared the most. With I, being irreproachable in the circumstance.
"Sting, Sting...? Sting! STING!!!" Arcana desperately cradled him in her arms tears flowing down her eyes.
~
When Hibiki came back a minute late, explaining that the last pleb was quite a handful to restrain as she tried to escape. "Good luck," mother gave her tyrant of husband a kiss on his temple "Shall we continue?" Zero smirked at father, who in turn stared daggers at him "We'll resume in five!" Conri reminded, Zero and I got up from our seats preparing our ammunition. Mother sat back to her seat in which case she was offered a tall glass of refreshment, in the form of a strawberry milkshake, something that the queen of Zoldanga took upon liking since she got into her second marriage saying that it reminds her of her siblings that passed way a long time ago and reminiscing those memories made her eyes teary like the waterfalls in Xeris.
"In 3...2...1--BEGIN!" The chains attached to our targets chuckled as they aggressively ran for their lives upon the open field, each pulse bullet Zero shot reeked of mana...I took a side glance at him in the millisecond that I was preparing to shoot the next imbecile running...the way his frosted colored eyes focused ever so dangerously on the vital points of his target, strands of his well-kept locks framed his face and subtle glow of his veins on the left wrist every time he pulls the riffle's trigger. The sight of it whiffed a reminder of how people addressed his talents most expressive quality of trait Sirius, and I'll admit I hated hearing that epithet back when we were in our youth but it was justified when he scrunched up a persons life like a piece of paper that is ready to be thrown off into the burning fire of abyss.
"Raios 100, Mirror 80, and Zero 174." there was only a seventy-four difference between them "You know Zero..." father called him upon placing his gun on the table's surface eyes narrowing at my lover "Yeah?"
"Do you consider yourself to be an ethical person?" I gave a side-eyed glance at my father "Are you?" Zero returned the questioning "Answer the question boy." the way he belittled the age of my lover implied his annoyance "But are you?"
"No, I'd be foolish if I was."
"Then that makes my answer a yes."
"I knew you were pathetic."
"Yet your daughter loves me."
the gates reeked of his mana just like a wolf taking up the trail of its prey whose ready to kill its meal, I can hear chains chuckle as his footsteps echoed down the tunnel of the opposite gate I walked out of, Queen Minea stood upon her seat as her hands covered her lips it appears she's praying for his safety due to Raios's influence upon this land. Our land. Our territory. RHEA's balancing tribe--Helium.
"SIRIUS OF LIREO!!"
Yells of the chains grew louder as his approach was near, beats can only be heard as silence grew louder than noise the crowd emanated with Queen Minea praying to Soteria to have him walk out of that gate unharmed, beforehand the notion of it dares to threaten no--entice the crowd with anticipation making them lean in due to suspense making it hard for them to breathe...once the gates we're hauled up violently by the guards above the arena Zero's silhouette became present as smoke bombarded the tunnel it almost looked like he's showboating due to it but to no avail- Queen Minea squealed with overwhelming joy as her one and only beloved son walked out of the gates unharmed, as it fell with a loud thud sand being thrown off in the closing of heavy metal colliding with RHEA's bare soil whose been here to witnesses history upon its unreasonable grasp upon amazons, the crowd joined Queen Minea upon her happiness cheering for him and stopped for me as I was infamously known by my actions towards tribes of RHEA the crowd chanted. "KILL HER! KILL HER! KILL HER!"
It rang over and over again in their mouths loud enough to shake the arena as Father took one last grape from the golden fruit bowl before standing up he laughed first and smirked at me putting his thumbs up for the duel to begin. Swords clattered with shields sporting the image of Medusa, a sign of protection like a gorilla pounding its chest showing off an intimidation display to its foes, it took five beats meaning to take stances as Father kept staring at me intently swaying my attention off the fight in which he successfully accomplished, therefore, those wicked eyes told me something making me lose my focus "BEGIN!!!" those words came out of his mouth but my eyes we're so fixated on him that I forgot to stand my ground in this stupid duel he'd held for his own entertainment moreover when I looked over Zero's direction my eyesight became hazy. My iris dilated due to his words and my stance became an eyesore... an eyesore? Huh? his eyes blazed furry. Queen Minea has all the right to be worried about her only child he was heavily drugged... Conri, the imbecile smirked midway when I shot daggers his way making him chuckle in the process as I blocked Zero's counter-attack with my orb.
~
I dodged the attack with my talent with just a wisp of my fingers mana glided through the tips knocking Zero down the ground, dirt flying alongside his fall. King Loki was seemingly not happy with my display of such combat keyword combat meaning no talent nor weapons involved just bare brute and muscle strength--a straight-up fight, he slapped the staff he's been holding to a nearby post the sound crackling like a whip within its wake I turned to his direction facing in the bloke as his face giving off an unimpressed look at my actions proving that I will still remain his lowest student even if I could match and disembody these imbeciles with a flick of a wrist... if only I could manipulate him to being his top student that would be great but Mother advised otherwise since using my talent is unruly upon those who are innocent of the crime, come to think of it Father would agree with me pushing aside the values and virtue of my Mother to perfectly align with his own set of values-codes and rules but this time Father would be sagacious to agree with Mother thus manipulating our Luxian Anuva would put his plans in jeopardy after all he was no ordinary amazon.
As the title King is invisibly written upon his face by just simple glances of an eagle hovering above the blue sky, the grass below his shoes bowed down while he took a step upon it. Arcana following behind King Loki like his guard no--lapdog is the more appropriate way of saying it obeying his every command at wills ends "Just how many times must I tell you to stop, stop using your talents during combat." he spat a frown decorating his pink lips with me letting his words pass on deaf ears, oh honestly did he really think I would listen? King Loki glared at me making me stare right back at him "How long do you plan to glare at each other?" Arcana broke off as King Loki blinked and HA! I won against him...again Hibiki offered to help Zero but the latter dismissed his help forcing himself off the ground, Larcade was laughing his ass off from the sides and if Sting had still been present he would have facepalmed himself from the embarrassment of them losing again.
King Loki checked on Zero's wounded arm from when it got grazed by my orb "I'm fine jeez." Zero brushed past King Loki taking a seat beside Larcade "Tend to his wounds before Minea yells at me." King Loki ordered giving Arcana a vial of yarrow from his pocket as she opened the lid an unruly smell came out of it, but despite the unbearable smell a drop of yarrow can effortlessly remedy any wounds and permanent scarring you may have gained or earned in your lifetime, courtesy of Panacea by the way, with the added bonus of a burning sensation "Laeh worray yht desuac doolb" Arcana read the words to be spouted once applying the solution to Zero's minimal cut, that illuminated a small dash of light to slowly healed the wound I've inflicted, the blue-haired kinou's flesh crawled out like spiders web regaining back its solidarity.
While King Loki gave me his full attention once Zero's grazed arm was fully healed in a matter of seconds "...disciplining you has been a piece of work" I heard King Loki muttered under his breath with a snap of my fingers Hathor materialized in my hands, briskly attempting to point it at King Loki my actions we're reflected by Arcana as she stood between me and King Loki acting as his shield "Get out of the way Diaz." I warned her, the entire team knew I never called Arcana by her last name unless it's something serious, unfazed by my words she took one step forward provoking my ego "I said get out of the way." I repeated myself once more but still, she refused to move an inch and unlatched her own weapon firing a shot at me, the tip of the arrow almost caught my arm.
~
"Medicara Elihpolah! ot laeh ot eruc, ouht laed fo thgil-!" that spell better have brought him back to his senses or else his bones will be batter, not letting my guard down I summoned Hathor "Uh oh! Looks like Her Majesty Verity misspelled her spell HAHAHAHAHA! Get it folks? HAHAHAHAHA! " the Herald announced and alongside it was a cringy joke disgusting I noticed Father laughed among the plebs but it was not due to the joke the herald made but the fact that I was being overpowered by someone below his standards of blood purity just like what Arcana did the sun was high and it illuminated a great deal of bright light and intensifying heat inside the arena, alongside the stupid gush of wind. It was Medicari not Medicara shit! I turned Hathor into a lasso and tied him with it "Deelb, Deelb, Deelb! Illumunari moolb taht sekam ti erup htiw yht emit!" I chanted "Dnarg Toirahc!" he countered, that's good he finally calmed down the variation now.
Queen Minea clapped with joy without the knowledge of the current state her son is under since Possession is a type of spell that anyone with dark intentions can maneuver to a person, it can also work as a transferring spell and medicament spell, in short, its a rage type of drug that makes you do things against your own will long term uses of it can kill a person in just a single-use. I dodged his spell in every direction that it took place upon trying to weaken my tactics but in all honestly- I am holding back against him in consideration that Father would find it unamusing if I struck him down before the duel can even begin. I stopped dodging his attacks and gripped him by the neck therefore the mania controlling his wits is starting to confound me, I used an hourglass against his grappling figure.
~
I was fumed with anger upon what she did to me. I've lost sight of what's important the matter at hand didn't matter anymore and making my melancholy become so dignified upon my grasp making me want the abyss more than anything I could ever wish for thy eyes flared with the anger of such actions bared by my past time defies time as it glides upon our salvation to save, to protect and purify RHEA was somewhat always present among chaos as they clashed for dominance of a Lady striking fear like lightning, roars like thunder and kills with air when thy eyes became exposed she saw danger upon her... She was unfit to rule so crowns were passed on but the one's who caught it only became mad and corrupted by the ages slowly becoming lost as power rose with dark lines of the future it mined under the waters, the ice broke off to the sea until it vaporized leaving the world behind like a cup made of gold that poured wine.
~
"Tell me, dearest, what scares you the most? " I held his neck like thin paper as he choked for life struggling to loosen my tight grasp, father let go of him. Those actions were enough to make Queen Minea stand up from her chair making way to run down off the high walls surrounding us, both Hibiki and Madeline had to hold her back since interfering would do her no good, Father and her made eye contact through her impulsive actions "Break the oath, and I'll punish your tribe, there will be no room for discussion." Queen Minea restrained herself to jump down to the arena and aid her only trove left. The infliction on his scape slowly drained away from his being.
"You sure are stupid." Hibiki mocked his best friend who is currently lying on the infirmary bed while the latter gave him glares in the process "You call me stupid? and yet you're the one that convinced me to do all this shit in the first place." the blue-haired kinou bitted back at the orangette"It wasn't my fault you agreed!" Zero wanted to whack him in the head as Hibiki just laughed at his state. Madeline assisted me after the duel and when I reached my chambers Virgo was caressing the swords displayed in my room she was lost in a trance as her fingers brushed against the cold blade upon her grasp scrutiny by her actions before speaking up therefore if she picks up the sword someone might get hurt and by I mean by someone I mean Virgo.
"You lost or something? Because last time I checked this is my room." she stopped her actions as she slowly lifted her head and swiftly turned around with her hands lying back for support on the table where the sword sleeps dormant "Miss Virgo could you leave-" Virgo adverted her eyes towards Madeline and looked at her from head to toe chuckling to her self "You lack respect Madeline, as far as I know, you're nobody here and that's Your Highness to you bitch."
Virgo walked up to Madeline as she spoke lowly of her, my sister never took keen upon giving shit upon those lower ranking than her and you could say that she's trying hard to imitate me to please our father she pressed a finger to Madeline's nose and walked out of my room "By the gods I hate her walk." Madeline blurted out as I just rolled my eyes honestly she strives hard when it comes to imitating me "She just wants to be loved Milady." my orb Hathor spoke up since Father seemingly doesn't care shit about her existence by just looking at her brings upon a wave of distraught "She needs to love herself first." I took off the tight hair ties of my braids "Do you love yourself Milady?" my blonde handmaiden asked as waited at my feet "What do you think?" I looked at her through the mirror "You do." Madeline answered her own question.
"How are the preparations going Madeline?" I demanded a vast report startling her whilst unraveling my braids "Oh yes right away--the tulips have been replaced by roses, most of the original guests have been reduced to only those close and related to both you and His Royal Highness." father had the audacity to incorporate the Council members to be in attendance hence they do like to stir up drama in moments of someone's matrimony and I wasn't about to stand idly by to let that happen "Good, what else?" once done with my hair I walked to my closet taking off my clothes, to switch into my robe "Ethan has safely arrived at the palace earlier and is currently playing with Salt, Ignatius almost got pricked by a needle during her dress fitting, nourishment from Lireo has been allowed only during the ceremony..." Madeline continued on and I carefully listened to each detail spouted by her lips. Whilst my two other servants entered my chambers starting the bath ...Your garment has been perfectly cinched to hug every curve by the seamstress..." I allowed the robe to drop down to the floor as I walked down the waters.
Here in RHEA, if you want to break off your marriage with someone-one of you has to die, either from each other's hands or you book an appointment for an execution. You need to be truly sure beyond repose that you indeed want to spend the rest of your lifespan with the person you want to be in matrimony with hence once it is done, there is no turning back to where it all began. Hence committing adultery and cheating is a heavy crime in our planet's litigation, for example, my father may be an arrogant bastard and the evilest drenched kinou alive but he himself does not dare to by law his union with my mother. In order to marry and make Evergreen Thoris Vermilion his spouse...father took the most drastic measure and killed her original husband with his own hands by saying "You can't stop me." in front of everyone present during it
"Milady should I remove Sting Muriel from the list of guests?" Madeline asked as I was taken back on how he managed to be on the guest list, opening my eyes I tilted my head to the side as my servants massaged my shoulder removing the knots that formed during the duel "No, I think Zero was the one that invited him to attend." I calmly responded but it made Madeline stare at me for a good minute thinking why on RHEA did Zero invite his frenemy who also happens to be my ex, well the answer is simple--he wants to rub it in the blonde's face. "Milady I thought they hated each other?" she asked confused "Get the bigger picture, Madeline." I waved my hands up hence she's still having a hard time thinking about why "Oh! I get now Milady....oooohhh that's why." she can be a bit--no not just a bit Madeline's a dullard.
The next day went by like the vast wind on a cold sunrise, my mother Evergreen was the amazon given the opportunity to officiate our matrimony. None of the annoying Council members were present, the only two officials of RHEA that were present here today were Azula, leader of the Diamond Authority, and Iroh Yugen, Zero's uncle who is a member of Gisele. Despite being on the guest list, I did not see any signs of Sting's presence within the vicinity. Father was in a rather good mood--hence he's high hopes for Queen Minea surrendering her governed tribe to him after my union with Zero.
"In the congregation of today's resplendent pinnacle, we all give recognition to the worth instituted by devotion, that has been occasioned by joy despite our current mundane era. It is, therefore, not to be entered into lightly or unadvisedly. It is to be entered with praise and delight for its inexpressible gifts. Let us be factful enough with ourselves to know that there is no true union, except the inward bond of trust and passion that dwells in the ticker of those in matrimony. Only the two of you will solemnly know what amalgamation exists between you-the outer forms are only signs and covers over the fondness of your hearts. We, that are all present here today genuinely wish that your matrimony last longer than your lifespan here on RHEA...If any of you may object please speak your peace now." A minute-long pause was present when no one spoke up once it has passed mother continued on
"Cyrene Mirror Verity, will you have Zero be your spouse, promising to be besotted, to comfort, honor, respect, and care for him for the eternity of your life span?" she turned her attention back to me asking the most important question of all "I do." damnit I usually cringe when I see someone else say this word but fuck it, I'll say it just this time for the sake of the ceremony. "And do you...Zero Yugen Edurne, will you have Mirror be your spouse, promising to be besotted, to comfort, honor, respect, and care for him for the eternity of your life span?" mother turned her attention to him asking the same question "I do." his husky voice walked out of his soft lips as he stared deeply into my orbs, once the agreements were done, mother raised her hand above head were our halo's will appear--such matter can be a bit nerve-racking hence if they do not appear it means that RHEA does not approve of your union but only mere seconds into lifting her hand out they manifested without a hitch, those present in attendance applauded especially Queen Minea she shed tears of jubilation for her only child.
Hence when she was married to her adulterous of a husband their halo's did not appear--as RHEA did not approve of their union, in cases such as that they provide their own halo's forcing something that is not meant to be, such defiance will cost both of your happiness. Sealing our union mother offered her palm out to us allowing the halo's to levitate on our ring finger binding us for eternity and lastly to close off the ceremony we both kissed each other's marriage token "Your's until my heart dies." we said in unison. "May RHEA bless your union beyond repose." mother congratulated us and whispered the second half "I know it won't come to that point--but if you two ever want to break off your matrimony, you already know what to do." a frown etched on mother's lips as she said the last part "It won't come to that I assure you, Evergreen," Zero whispered back a response.
During the banquet, Father kept on giving me a few glances here and there, as we made round in chatting with those present in attendance, my vile father was making sure that his plan goes to fruition. "The full course will be now served, please our esteemed guests I kindly ask you to now have a seat." A delicacy from RHEA's third tribe was the first to be placed on the long table and the mere sight of it made father scrutinize his eyes in irritation, mother had to slip her talent on his wrist to calm him down from throwing a fit over a mere food that he hates. The type of food Helium has to offer contains mostly of soups, Zoldanga provides organic nourishment and dairy, Lireo offers a type of nourishment that can be stored for a long time, in Aulora you can find the best grilled and fried dishes, whereas Xeris offers every type of seafood you can imagine, Calix is different hence if you have a sweet tooth then you will feel like in euphoria they are the best providers of desserts, and last but not the least Borealis they mostly offer natural nourishment.
The meal commenced and for me? this was satisfying, therefore, I just have enough of Helium's viaticum. Conversations were flying everywhere making the dining hall lively than it originally is, in the midst of dessert Father tapped his wine glass with the dessert fork he hasn't used yet for his plate of tiramisu catching everyone's attention "I would like to propose a toast," he began and shot a small glance my way "To my newlywed favorite daughter Mirror and her husband Yugen..." he acknowledges the fact that Zero hates his second name on purpose "Cheers, to your matrimony!" he held the glass up like everyone else's "Now that is out of the way," and here you thought he'd be sitting his ass down "Surrender half of your tribe to me, Minea." his words astounded the pale-haired Queen, I informed Zero of my Father's ideals once he forms matrimony with me so this scenario isn't much of a surprise.
"I will do no such thing!" Queen Minea protested against the Emperor's demands "And why not? it has been said in their union's contract that you will hand half of it over to me." Father insisted as Conri offered the papers to Queen Minea which promptly took and scanned for the words detailing my father had just spoken off to her luck--finding no such thing exists hence my mother rigged--no removed it to help her dearest friend out of the misery my father is trying to impose "The things you so highly spoke of has proved no evidence on this paper you have given me." upon hearing Queen Minea's relieved voiced father immediately turned his attention to mother who was keeping her expression to be unfazed by his deadly gaze "What did you do?" he growled at her in which turn my pink-haired mother smirked in victory "By what are you talking about Raios?" it was the first time anyone unrelated to us saw him scold? no, accuse his own wife of a crime"You did change it! did you Evergreen?!"
My parents held a staring competition between the both of them, I expressed a sigh to their fiasco "Celebration is over, if you value your lives please leave at once." I recommended to our guests who vastly got up from their seats to leave, Queen Minea gave one last congratulatory to Zero and one thank you to my mother for what she did. Once they've all left the huge double doors were closed leaving only the five of us and some servants inside "After all these years, I could never really bring it upon myself to lay a single slap on your face Evergreen." father caged her in the chair she was sitting at my placing both of his hands on her shoulder blades "Is that so?...then do it." mother tried to remain calm as she provoked father whose face was mere inches away from hers. Growing up I've never even seen my father lay so much as a finger to harm my mother no matter how much they've argued but I knew he wanted to, and that can only mean one thing--their souls' are bonded together. If one experiences any type of pain, the other person will feel it too without any ounce of remorse necessary.
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