A/N: WI-FI or Data Connection recommend playing the audio above
Forgot to mention that Jaromirs or Sikota's that live in Xeris are hypervores--meaning they are always hungry.
_______CHAPTER THIRTEEN_______
HATHOR
"Yours until my heart dies."
Zero burned out from signing and reading the mountain tons of paperwork given to him for the day, it was the second time this week, the sun has long rested and RHEA's three moons hailed up high in the chilly night sky along with the drops of snow falling ever so gracefully, the bluette kinou's rest was disturbed by the cold air getting in, making his brows knit. Squishing his cheek onto the hard surface, peeking outside the glass doors without moving an inch watching the snowfall out the balcony made his eyes drowsy lulling him back to sleep ignoring the cold air.
Hours have profused on and it was now 9:34 pm, the bluette was sound asleep Milady materialized her time out his chambers therefore opening the doors wasn't an option when you are in a hurry to see someone you missed. Milady walked down out the hallways barefooted only wearing light clothing which is a black satin nightgown that reached up to her knees, the ending hems flowed beautifully in each step she took. For the first time since she attended Ephedia, I was once again worn as a jade necklace melancholia's cold night made everyone sleep to preserve the warmth of their beings for the following day. Ethan will surely choke from so much joy once he sees Milady tomorrow morning, the redhead alcoholic and Milady's adoptive son will their eyes out, Hibiki won't stop talking about how he missed the commanding presence of Milady every time she orders him to perform a task, and lastly, Sting will be sealing his fate in tartarous once his carnal sin is seen.
Milady admired the door frames of her husband's study tracing her fingers on the smooth oak, controlling the doors time enough for her to pass through hence if she chooses to unlock it from the inside the softest of click might wake up the sleeping bluette inside, upon entry, Milady scanned her eyes seeing that he still kept all his books in a neatly in order, his favorite cookies stacked in a jar standing at the far corner, but frowned when she saw that the curtains were left wide open by the servant's such poor service allowed melancholia's cold song to seep in without a hitch, Milady picked up the folded wool blanket from the sofa placing it around the shivering built of her sleeping husband.
With a wisp of her fingers, the cluttered papers were now placed orderly on the coffee table, and closing the curtains while she's at dimming the room, Milady sat down on the right side of Zero's desk watching him doze thinking how easily he could be assassinated as a joke, running her finger on his soft locks that he loves to finger comb back when he's frustrated either with himself or something else entirely as Milady did this however the bluette managed to sense a pulse's presence incredibly near him vastly grabbing the hand that dared touch his hair, to be fair Milady saw this coming and allowed it to happen to let him know who he just mistaken to be someone else.
Once the bluette kinou's hand touched Milady's porcelain skin he felt a pang of a beat in his surroundings that should have vastly made him shot up awake from his senses but for some reason, he did not felt the need to do such actions instead he allowed his drowsiness to open his eyes looking up ever so slowly like a sloth, seeing a Junoesque woman dressed in a black satin nightgown that showcased her crossed thighs sitting on the right side of his desk, and her long soft wavy hair perfectly down "Hello Zero." her deep mellifluous voice greeted him for the first time in over a year "Wha? who are you?" the drowsiness is still within his system Milady chuckled at his restlessness "It's Ultear," she cupped his face "Ultear?...ULTEAR?!" the bluette finally got hold of his awareness, vastly standing up knocking the chair back to fall on the marbled floor wide-eyed staring at Milady.
"This is not a dream nor a hallucination right?...please not again, please." he begged with his lower lips quivering downcasted at the thought of Milady vanishing before he could even embrace her "No, I'm not," Milady reversed the beat time of her pulse convincing him, he pulled Milady to his chest hugging her tightly "Ultear..." he began to sob, burying his face at the crook of her neck unintentionally getting a whiff of her natural aphrodisiac scent "Stay please," Milady returned the affection back to him "I'll never leave," she promised him, they appreciated the silence surrounding them hence it was pretty clear to everyone that Milady isn't the most expressive amazon in RHEA and Zero has gotten used to it, he perfectly understood the meaning of her acts even if she doesn't say much.
Words aren't that necessary to understand the person as it was only a recourse. Lireo's crown prince began to softly play with Milady's hair not letting go "I'm sorry I couldn't save our daughter." he spoke first "Nor could I." they both regretted Riona's uneventful death at a hand of a mercenary they've yet to hunt down "From what I've told everyone seems to be getting over it in their own pace." I told Milady everything she needed to know from the past year that she had missed due to the loss of her daughter and the Meshuga spell...lastly the part about Sting raping her whilst she was unwell? wasn't dodged either "Yeah, they are." Zero kissed her temple pushing back a little from the hold to get a proper look at Milady's soft demeanor that was only displayed for him only "Didn't I told you already not to scare me like that?" he changed the topic into a lighter one hence the bluette feared that Milady might break down again if they talk about Riona too much when she's just recovered.
It was a good connotation to have, but he doesn't need to frantically fret about that anymore like before, Milady won't allow herself to be subjected to that kind of torture again...never again "Hmm, you missed me too much." Milady smirked teasing him a bit, caressing the left side of his face making the bluette kinou lean on to it "So what if did?" he watched each tiny action she did "I don't blame you." her finger slithered down to his chest tracing circles suggestively "You still need to rest." his adam's apple bobbed as he spoke, smoke coming out when he breathed indicating the cold song's presence "Help me." the things sitting above his desk bounced, some even got swiped off it and took a temporary settlement on the marbled floor below. Following a familiarly missed instinctive rhythm without any rules.
The morning light peaked through the snowy skies of Lireo and when it reached the windows of the bluette's chambers he covered his face from it not wanting to get up yet as the paperwork in his study are still awaiting him more than ever and the thought of it annoyed him, lifting his arm a bit he noticed that all of the medical apparatus had been neatly placed aside on the far corner of the room and upon turning to his side he found Milady's presence sleeping peacefully, her wavy black hair sprawled out like the blooming flowers of spring, for the past year he woke every day worrying about her, whether she'll get better or not despite having great faith in Panacea as a physician the outside intervention of those that hate Milady cannot be stopped nor barricaded by simply just setting an example for them. What Rhiannon people needed was good authority not an authority by bloodshed.
The safety of Milady's health persistently ran round his clock of profusing, it is heavily obvious from what you've seen in the previous narratives I've told you mortal reading this, he propped his left elbow on the side getting a good view to admire her features his eyes traveled down to her neck seeing an unfamiliar necklace that Milady has been wearing all this time since she has gotten better from her previous state, using his free hand he touched the pendant inspecting it carefully not to wake up Milady "Where did you come from?" he asked himself as Milady never did take up that much of a liking to jewelry unless it was necessary for her appearance out in the public eye, amazons of RHEA are given the free life to both be strong and beautiful at the same time it was due to the unpleasant past of their founders.
Men underestimated their counterpart to that of an ant that can be easily squished whenever they wanted, in the end, their arrogance lead half of them to their early graves when those they've trampled on fought back with great vengeance, those who have been lucky enough to survive their anger were abandoned by their spouses and daughters to live a better life in RHEA leaving behind all the painful experiences they've been given. They lived in prosperity for thousands of years without a companion, cultivated an entire planet throughout their prime, and established a well-functioning government but peace was never an option to the empress' third daughter hence the moment their mother had passed on from life she did not waste any hesitation to ruining everything they worked hard for.
"It's Hathor jelly, I wore her to stabilize my talent, that haven't used for over a year." Milady called her spouse by the nickname she spouted when she turned into a baby a year ago and explained why she had a necklace clinging on her person "That mannerism of yours is truly mirthful, and good morning." Milady kept her eyes closed despite being awake for a few minutes now, snuggling closer to Zero as sleeping unclothed during melancholia is not the wisest of choices "It's a habit for a good reason." Milady breathed out as she washed away her drowsiness "A scary one at that, I could see you pretending to be dead with that habit of yours." he bantered taking a few exuberant glances at the marks he left like a tattoo on Milady's porcelain complexion "As if I could die easily." Milady chuckled wrapping her arm around his neck finally opening her eyes to look at his gorgeous features, a playful smirk crept up his lips "There's enough firewood on the furnace." his free hand found its way on Milady's hips tapping his fingers on them to stop her from pressing her knee on his biological organ "Then let it burn." the touch of her soft pink lips on his made him so much more of her.
The bluette kinou pulled away for breath before returning back to devouring Milady making her moan, due to being busy with themselves they ignored the soft knock on the doors by Panacea who still had no idea that Milady has finally extinguished the meshuga spell that was inflicting heavy amounts of surging pain through her scape, opening the door just enough to get inside once closed behind her the old woman cannot believe what she's seeing "Ultear?" she dropped the clipboard she was holding completely befuddled that she was now cured, covering her mouth with shaky hands "Grandma," she greeted her grandmother and physician with her neck tilted to the side, whilst her arm was still wrapped around Zero's neck who was a bit annoyed at Panacea's unfortunate timing.
The moment Panacea immediately ran over the king-sized bed, Milady released her hold on Zero, to face Zoldanga's former queen who tackled her granddaughter into a tight squeeze pulling back vastly as she hugged checking Milady's entire body meticulously, giving the bluette a few death glares for railing Milady when she just got back up from her disease "Your head doesn't ache right? are you okay? does it hurt anywhere?..." even though their familial relationship wasn't that strong the old woman still felt the need to embrace her undaunted granddaughter, Zero sat up from the mattress with the sheets covering the lower part of his body "Well, I hate to admit it but I am grateful for your care. I wouldn't be here right now if it wasn't all for your hard work, Panacea." Milady felt a little bit weird thanking her grandmother "You were my most annoying patient," she began "So I too, am glad that your treatment is successful."
Panacea smiled at her second granddaughter "Ahem." the bluette kinou fake coughed and Panacea gave Milady a light squeeze on her hand excusing herself out of the room so that they could change into a more appropriate attire than the current suit they have on "Oh and one last thing Panacea," Milady called out her granddaughter before she could turn the doorknob open "Yes, what is it?" the old pinkenette physician turned around to face Milady "Do not tell anyone yet that I am well, I'll do that myself." Panacea smiled "Sure, shall I not let Odette come here today as well?" she inquired making sure "Yes," once the old woman has left the room Zero yeeted the blanket off of him, getting up "Now that I have you all to myself. Let's go." he scooped Milady out of the fluffy mattress carrying her in his arms to the bathroom "Impatient are we now? I like it." of course, she did not forget to lock the main doors with her talent nobody is allowed to bother them a second time.
"I'm sooo boooorrreeddd uugghhh! can we please go out of the palace?" the little ravenette monster whined slumping his face on the table's surface "Ethan you just woke up an hour ago and no, we can't go out." Nox turned to the next page of the book he's reading "Ignore him Nox, he's a waste of time." Ignatius has long been missing the taste of alcohol so she took a sip and that supposedly sip turned into a couple of bottles "Excuse me bitch? You're a waste of time, not me!" the teen raven retaliated "What's going on here?" Hibiki walked into the dining hall taking a seat beside Ethan "Oh you know the usual brat, being a brat." she glared daggers at Ethan "shut the fuck up bitch." he threw a table napkin in her face "You stupid--!" Hibiki held her in place with his talent "Oi, oi! it's so early in the morning, you two can both argue once breakfast is over." Ignatius angrily crossed her arms across her chest as the orangette carefully placed her on her seat beside Nox who was completely engrossed in the book he's reading.
"Morning." Sting greeted "You are the morning." Hibiki greeted back grinning from ear to ear, "What?" with a confused look on his face the blonde sat down with them on the long table "What's your talent?" the orangette thirty-seven-year-old asked Sting who was puzzled beyond repose hence everyone in the team knows each other's talents but he still answered anyway "Luminescence." a type of talent that allows its user to create, shape and manipulate visible light, which is commonly referred to as light or optics it is an electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the human eye and is also responsible for the sense of sight. Primary properties of visible light are intensity, propagation direction, frequency or wavelength spectrum, and polarization, while its speed in a vacuum (299,792,458 meters per second/186,000 MPS) is one of the fundamental constants of nature. Visible light, as with all types of electromagnetic radiation (EMR), is experimentally found to always move at this speed in a vacuum.
Any visible light is emitted and absorbed in tiny "packets" called photons and exhibits properties of both waves and particles that are referred to as the wave-particle duality. The limitations of this talent are following, could be overwhelmed and weakened by the talent Obsidian Loom, the little ravenette's talent can bend light, no matter how powerful light might be it will pass through anything that is transparent, and lastly the distance, energy mass, and precision all depend upon the knowledge, skill, and strength of the user and their own natural limits. "What does the sun provide?" Hibiki did some jazz hands asking Sting the next thing "Light and rays of sunshine?" the blonde answered still not managing to piece things together, morning things you know "Bingo!" the orangette pointed a finger at Sting as he said it.
"What is your point here?"
"You are the morning! Cause you got blonde locks and use Luminescence as a talent...get it now?"
"Are you kidding me Hibiki?" the orangette just laughed while Sting was not impressed as he just woke up a few minutes ago, the joke solidified Zero's chosen nickname for him. Before they knew it breakfast was being served and even Kalil was allowed to eat alongside the monarch of Lireo everyone was present within the vicinity except for Zero his seat remained empty "Why isn't Zero here yet?" Ethan asked curious as to why Milady's husband is still not coming down to the dining hall, it was very unlike him "He didn't fall asleep in his study again did he?" the redhead asked next, Queen Minea turned to Irina to verify if it was true "I did not find His Royal Highness in his study this morning, and half of the papers sent to him yesterday are placed in the coffee table." Irina informed her served Queen who was a little bit worried that her son might have spent another all-nighter just to sign those papers.
Panacea kept all to herself not uttering a word hence she knows that it was Milady who kept him pre-occupied at the moment, Virgo wanted to comment but she choose not to hence Zero was the son of the amazon that ordered to save her from freezing to death out there "I'll check up on him later." the pale-haired monarch informed them before taking a bite from the nourishment she's eating. The sound of a spear being hit down the floor echoed from the other side of the door catching the attention of Virgo and Kalil while the others remained unbothered already used to it "What was that?" Virgo asked "It is a round call we execute at the beginning and after two months, melancholia has calmed down enough, an indication that it will be safe to go out in the next following weeks." the pale-haired monarch of Lireo explained to Virgo who was unfamiliar with their tribe's customs during melancholia. "Oh, okay."
Hence back in Helium and Zoldanga, they will simply just receive a message from Queen Minea about it she never knew that the process was like this, since while everyone is already going out to celebrate surviving winter the citizens of RHEA's balancing tribe will just start to hide from the cold deadly song it was about to inflict. Ethan was overjoyed to hear the words that came out of Lireo's monarch as he will no longer be cooped up here in the palace all day. The little ravenette monster asked for another pour of water in his cup, the doors of the dining hall opened once again with the missing bluette entering and a familiar amazon by his side, all the servants present within the hall stared in an awe of surprise "How eventful everyone's here." Panacea just smiled eating her fill not bothering to look, Queen Minea paused in the middle of slicing the meat she was eating.
Virgo's brows knitted in annoyance seeing her eldest sister for the first time in a year, Kalil swallowed the lump in his throat frightened of seeing the most infamous amazon of their era standing in the same room as him, Ethan choked on his drink when his eyes landed on Milady standing in the door frame, Ignatius and Nox's lower eyelids began to gather up tears, Hibiki grinned happily too much for his own good, and Sting felt chills creep in his spine seeing the amazon he took advantage of "MILADY!" the three youngsters exclaimed in unison jumping at her direction "We missed you so much!" they clung to her tightly as if Milady was their lifeline. "So this is why you came so late," the orangette chuckled, standing up from his seat abandoning his breakfast for a while walking to the bunch.
"Was he good?~" Hibiki laughed whereas Zero just stared daggers at his friend "Remarkable." Milady humored the orangette kinou "Welcome back Milady," he congratulated her "Glad to be back." while the rest of the team exchanged words with one another, Sting remained seated delaying the inevitable "Panacea?" Queen Minea turned to the old woman sitting at her left "Hmm..?" she looked up at Queen Minea "She got better? When? and why didn't you inform us?" the pale-haired monarch bombarded her with questions regarding why Panacea didn't tell them straight away "Ultear said she'll do it, its the least I could do for walking in on them earlier this morning." Panacea chewed the vegetable in her mouth as Queen Minea just placed a hand on her forehead at the thought of Panacea walking in her son and Milady being intimate "I don't even wanna know."
Virgo and the kidnapped peach-haired kinou listened to their conversation "Are you okay?" he whispered to the pinkenette princess who's angrily slicing the nourishment on her plate, not answering Kalil's question "You'll slice the plate with that attitude." Milady commented sitting down beside her sister who gritted her teeth upon hearing Milady's voiced the second time "Why are you there." Virgo growled not making any eye contact with Milady as she propped up her elbow on the table staring directly at Virgo's irritated self, entertained upon how uncomfortable she's become with Milady sitting beside her "To eat breakfast, it's not obvious is it?" Milady had a smirk plastered on her lips Virgo noticed it through her peripheral enough to make her blood boil, she vastly turned to Milady with a table knife in hand wanting to stab her eye with it but Milady held her sister's time in a place before she could even attempt to.
"I love the way you welcome me, Virgo...it's something." Milady released her sister after the servant has placed her's and Zero's platter of food down the table, they all saw firsthand how Raios' children interact with one another--hostility has always been present to the both of them no matter where they are ever since the old raven kinou started to display who is his favorite and who is not. Kalil silently sank into the background hoping to not get any sort of attention from Milady, the orangette wouldn't stop talking about how he missed the commanding presence of Milady every time she orders him to perform a task the whole entire time they've had breakfast.
Later on that day Odette got a first view of what kind of person Milady actually was, hence she when she first started to serve Milady as her personal handmaiden her scape wasn't exactly in the right state of scape, and now that it was she couldn't help but stutter here and there every time she was near the amazon she served "Odette." Milady called the greenette handmaiden's name as she picked up the cup of steaming cocoa "Yes Milady?" she answered preventing herself from stuttering any further fearful that it might decrease her salary "Do you like flowers?" at first it seemed like a random question "Pardon?" Milady took a sip from the cup raising a brow at her subordinate not liking the way she answered the question "I will not repeat myself a second time." she held the cup in her hand's eyes boring into Odette's person who was focused eyeing around the marbled floor as if she's searching for something with great value "No, no, Milady." she answered wondering why her master was asking such a question about flowers. "Shame."
Milady looked down on the brown liquid "Odette." she called the greenette a second time unhappy that the greenette was staring at the floor and not at her "Yes, Milady?" she answered a little bit lively than the first time around "Do you consider Helium a safe tribe?" such questions were never bothered to be answered by the masses as their opinion could mean their life span "Ye, yes! Milady." fearful to admit the obvious truth she lied instead disappointing Milady in the process as she was well aware how much of a people pleasers the servants of Helium can be to those they serve "How old are your children, Odette?" Milady leaned back on the comfy sofa, wanting to lift Odette's gaze on her vastly but she was being tempted by the chocolate "Ten and eight years old, Milady." watching the way her hands fidget whilst answering "Let me rephrase, do you think Helium is a safe place for them to grow up in?" it hit the greenette like a bus "No...no, Milady." Odette avoided Milady's gaze on her "You finally said the truth," Milady crossed her leg over the other.
"From now on Odette, I want you to always speak the truth to whoever it might be that you talking to, I hate it when people lie, especially to me...never lie to me. Do you understand?"
"Y-yes, Milady."
"And lastly, do get rid of that annoying instilled mannerism of yours ."
"Yes, Milady."
"Look at me when you answer, I am not Medusa."
Odette raised her chin up looking back at Milady's dark orbs, "There you go, isn't that much better than staring at the floor?" the greenette handmaiden nodded as a response watching how Milady brought the cup of hot chocolate to her soft plump lips, now that she got a good look at Milady she noticed how alluring her features were, she did not wear any extravagant jewelry on there was just a simple jade pendant attached on her necklace, her nails are all painted white, on her left hand the token of her matrimony with Zero resided, the inherited wavy raven hair flowed down perfectly, she had three lobe piercings on each ear, long eyelashes batted beautifully whenever she blinked, her figure resembled that of an hourglass, and her skin complexion was porcelain just like the reigning emperor of RHEA.
Servants in Helium mostly just saw the appearances of their masters on holo photos but not up close nor personally, no matter how long they've served them however Madeline was an exception to that rule, none of the other servants knew why so they got jealous of the privilege she got and Odette was one of those people, but now that she got the chance to serve Milady she found out the reason--Milady loathed it when the person she is speaking to is not looking at her. It was I who taught Milady to have people look at her, hence what is the use of having a face if no one can stare at it? you should have been just a blank wall instead of a living being who doesn't want to be appreciated for their looks, no most elites of Helium are just arrogant bastards, that's quite a fitting word for them.
A loud hyper knock came to the door "Let them in." Milady ordered the greenette handmaiden who promptly followed opening the door slowly it suddenly slammed open almost hitting her in the face if it wasn't for Hibiki stopping it "Milady I'm here!" the little ravenette announced full of energy "Oi! it's not just you that Milady invited here stupid brat!" Ignatius pinched Ethan's ear harshly turning red from the pain "OW! OW! let go of me bitch!" he punched the redhead amazon's bust it forced her to let go of him, Nox helped her balance herself from the short lack of breath she experienced "That little..." she growled with gritted teeth "Let it go for now Tia, jeez." the white-haired kinou helped her sit her ass down the sofa opposite of Milady, the little ravenette sat happily beside Milady like he's her own child.
Odette closed the door once the four of them got settled in, the greenette still refused to believe that Ethan isn't Milady and Zero's child hence if you look at the seventeen-year-old kinou his features bore a resemblance to them, his curly raven hair that bounces softly whenever he jumps and his piercing winter gray eyes that always holds a ton of exceeding adrenaline in them "Where's Sting?" Milady asked despite knowing, placing the now empty cup on the table's surface "Sky excused him for a while saying that she needs to speak to him about something." Hibiki added a few firewoods in the furnace to warm up the room, the reason why Sky pulled the blonde aside for a chat is that his elite family--the Diaz family (the former leading duchy of Xeris that now resides here on Lireo in a city named Neus) had sent a message asking how he was doing and writing in detail of what is their current situation.
"And Zero?" Milady put a question to the orangette hence he was always voluntarily playing the temporary role of being Zero's assistant "He'll be here, just had to finish up arranging the papers that he signed and approved." the orangette removed his gloves warming them up by the furnace "Odette, find a suitable kinou to be my husband's assistant." Milady picked up a piece of roasted salted almond from the bowl "Right away Milady," she was able to close the door on her way out but popped her head back for a moment "Should I also fetch you a new kettle of hot chocolate when I get back?" Milady nodded her head as a response and Odette left leaving them so that they could banter privately.
"So what's with the necklace?" Nox pointed a finger at the jewelry that hung around the neck of his adoptive mother, Ignatius snuggled up on the fluffy pillows spotting the accessory as well "Yeah, why are you wearing this Milady?" Ethan reached for the jade pendant inspecting it, Milady did not mind how close the little ravenette was to her "The necklace I am wearing is Hathor," Milady began, the orangette glanced up from the furnace taking a look at fine jewelry "I'm wearing her like this since I wasn't able to use my talents for over a year, my time only needs to adjust is all." she explained the reason a second time today, another knock came about on the door with the blue-haired kinou walking in his mood was better than it was a few days ago "Finally HE has arrived!" the orangette presented the arrival of his best friend as he sat down the west single-tub seat sofa between the two huge ones.
Who just playfully punched him in the arm, promptly sitting down beside Milady like the little ravenette monster placing an arm over her shoulders "I've passed by Odette on my way here, and she said that you've tasked her to find me an assistant, did you really?" the bluette catechized, as he didn't really want an assistant saying that he's capable of doing all the work by himself obviously Milady wasn't about to watch idly by while her beloved spouse buries himself in tons of paperwork all-day or in the future for that matter "Yes I did, they all agreed you need one and you can't stop me." Milady motioned for their fellow team members inside the common room, Hibiki even winked at the bluette when their gazes met "If you say so." he did not argue with it anymore seeing that they've all agreed to it and besides he could just dismiss the assistant if he doesn't like the service provided.
"I bet Zero only agreed so that he'd have more time to rail Milady!" the little ravenette laughed irritating the bluette and Hibiki joined Ethan hence it was true "You are sooo right!" Hibiki cannot help by slap his own knee from it as he read Zero's mind regarding it "I'd also be like that if I had a lover." Nox laughed unaware of his words, both Milady and Jellal shared a knowing look at each other that they failed to notice "Bruuh I need to see you be all dreamy and shit." the redhead amazon chuckled "We would gladly love to meet her if had had one." Milady had a fake smirk etching across her lips, her elbows propped on her crossed left limb, the white-haired kinou apprehensively scratched his nape "By all means Nox."
The four members were not aware of the fact that Nox is a pedophile, far as they see it he's got a normal state of scape but oh no, no he doesn't--he needs help, immediate help from a mental health professional but he's scared of being judged so he never considered it. Of course, it's not just him that needs help, as his close friend Ignatius is heavily depressed from her eldest sister using her as payment for unpaid debt and the only treatment she wants to take is drinking firewater 24/7, do you see now why they are the best of friends? and Ethan? well, he doesn't have any mental illness whatsoever, he's just extremely hyper and loud, to that point that it could make your ears split if you are not used to it. Because of his attitude, the little ravenette was the best candidate to annoy the redhead alcoholic.
Zero and Hibiki had told him constantly to annoy Ignatius in order to make her stop destroying her own liver and he happily agreed to it, in exchange for five gallons of water a day. Another knock came about on the door's surface with Sting the only member missing in the room, the person behind that knock was expected to be none other than him "Sorry I'm late." he apologized whilst closing the door behind him "So what did Sky say?" the teen asked popping his head from the sofa "Come on Ethan don't ask him that its a private matter." Ignatius intervened as what Ethan did was quite rude "Nobody asked for your opinion rotten liver--bleh!" he dissed the redhead alcoholic "Then stop getting in everyone's business and a pain in the ass, stupid brat!"
While they argued, Sting sat at the other single tub sofa placed on the east side "That's enough you two, continue that later." Ethan clung to Milady's arm as he stuck out his tongue yet again at Ignatius "Now that we're all here, Milady can you please say what's the purpose of this again?" the blonde heaved a sigh at Hibiki's words "As you may all know, the reason why we're all currently here at Lireo is because of me," Milady began with her words and levitated a cookie in the middle of the coffee table "The meshuga spell that was inflicted on me, sadly did not work out the way it was supposed to, it only took a little bit like this." Milady moved her fingers taking out a small piece of crumb from the cookie as an example "I am amused by the fact that the person behind it covered their tracks perfectly as if they did not exist at all."
By a simple pinch of her pointer and thumb, the cookie's time ceased to exist, just like that. "Now imagine if that happened to the person that cursed me, shame it did not...yet." despite working for Milady for years now her the three youngsters still felt uneasy with the way Milady speaks when she talks about discontinuing something or rather someone, Nox swallowed the lump in his throat unable to move his eyes away from the crumbs left on the table "But I did not invite you all here to talk about that, I called you all here for something else entirely." Milady got up from the sofa, walking to look outside the window, her back facing them "Before we left for Lireo, something unruly happened." Milady's voice was so calm that it became hard to determine what kind of emotion she was currently displaying.
Sting however immediately caught wind of what Milady was trying to say and became anxious in his seat, whereas Zero started to rejoice in his head "Did you feel happy when you raped me, Sting?" their attention all turned to the tense blonde, as Milady's words slowly sunk in their sense of hearing "You did what!?" Hibiki furrowed his brows unable to believe the sneaky stunt Sting pulled when he, Nox, and Ethan were basically watching Milady while she was in Helium "Raios got in my head, It was never my intention to rape you okay, I'm so--!" the blonde finally spoke unable to handle all the disappointed scowls being given to him but Milady cut his words short before he could even finish them "It was never your intention? but knowing you, it was probably...an achievement of sorts." the tone of her voice seemed a bit fruity.
"Why did you let Raios influence you?" the little ravenette's voice had become dejected unable to believe that the blonde would do such things, now he knew the reason as to why Seigrain was always around Sting the past months "How could you take advantage of Milady like that!?" Ignatius grabbed Sting by the collar her talent manifesting in her eyes "You purposely did not kill all those mercenaries so they could kill Riona? is that it!?" the blonde was unable to answer the accusation thrown at him, "I think we should leave, you guys need to talk about this privately." Nox wanted to respect the topic being imposed hence he too has a transgression on Milady, that was inflicted by Raios "No, nobody's leaving me alone with that rapist." the way she described the blonde deeply caused a surging pain to his feelings, all the window and doors locked on their own accord via Milady's talents.
Nox and Ethan sat back down their respective seats, the redhead amazon loosened her grip on Sting's shirt pushing him off her walking in the far cabinet of the common room rummaging for a bottle of firewater to chug, Milady's husband mouthed an 'I told you.' to the tense blonde "Unfortunately, sunrays here impregnated Ultear." the bluette revealed with gritted teeth as he recalled the thought restraining himself from beating up the blonde right there "Why are you only telling us this now? You could have told us sooner, then maybe we could have--!" Hibiki averred but was cut off mid-sentence "Could have what Hibiki? sliced Ultear's abdomen while she's mentally unhealthy? Could have what honestly? what could have you done if you were in my place?" Zero laid the table of what if's against his best friend.
"No! WE could have either kicked him out of the team or have someone rape him, so he'd get a taste of his own medicine." honestly his statement isn't half bad in Zero's opinion but trampling over Sting's fate to be in Tartarus once he passes on is not bad either, this kind of instances remind of me of my previous wielder's wise words saying that 'You should never magistrate someone just because they've sinned distinctively than you.' she loved reminding her only daughter that when she was queen, "Zeus' pole! where on RHEA is the fucking alcohol!" the redhead amazon persiflages in the far side of the room "Why help me anyways in the first place?" Sting implored "It'd be a waste to throw away your potential when you are capable, don't you think so?" Milady turned to the side answering "Is that it?" unsatisfied he pleaded
"Yes." a simple answer to a scant question "Then tell me...did you ever love me?" the blonde asked, a little bit hopeful that Milady would reciprocate an answer he'd like "No, I never did." she became a little bit annoyed with this narrative hence she've already made it crystal clear to Sting "Why!?" he still refuses to believe the answer provided seething Milady's patience "Because I never did--I NEVER LOVED YOU!" Milady called at the top of her voice losing her composure with the bonus of tipping time to shook a bit, silence prevailed for a minute after, once it profused the blonde gained the courage to ask yet again another concern of his "Then why did you date me back then? what was the reason? tell me the reason why?"
"I only dated you so that I could kill you myself." the blonde became like a deaf person as Milady continued on with her words "You died the first time around at my means and you know it, how many factful truths do you want? how many times must I slap you with reality Sting? if you want me to murder you a second time I will do it, right away without any hesitation nor guilt! tell if you want to die right now I'll kill you!" Milady's outburst had the little ravenette frightened in his seat, Ignatius tried to ignore it by drinking the wine she found, whereas the three watched the exchange between Milady and Sting "Will you give birth to the child?" Hibiki had to be the one to break off the silence echoing around "Obviously that's the only way to get it out of me." Milady answered the orangette's question not breaking off her glare at Sting who excused himself over the other room's side picking up his broken emotions.
"How many days till your due date?"
"Two weeks from now."
"What is the biological coordination of the child?"
"Amazon."
"It's dangerous to give birth during melancholia, a newborn child won't be able to handle the extreme weather, heck even adults die from Melancholia ."
"Then what's the plan for this?"
"For extra precaution, gather up aulorian cloth, have Ignatius be there and I'll cover the child with my talent as she's coming out much as possible."
Aulorian fabric's mostly have a scale-like texture to them and at first glance, they may seem like your ordinary light material but it generates a comfortable heat and warmth once exposed to any cold weather and provides a cool refreshment in the heat, it works similar to that of a solar panel it transforms natural sunlight into a current that can help you survive melancholia. People from aulora heavily wore, hang clothes, and fabrics outside of their homes as much as possible during the hot red desert day so it can suck up the heat they need during nightfall, Aulora's tribe might have fallen, and luckily enough for them, Lireo had maintained--no solidified a stable trading system with the red tribe back in the day. RHEA's third tribe heavily benefited from the heat-generating fabrics and Aulora benefited from the ice and fermented foods they've offered in exchange.
"Nox." Milady turned her attention to the white-haired adoptive son of hers that almost choked her to death a few months ago "What is it Mo-Milady?" box can freely address Milady as his foster mother but when the entire team is present he calls her Milady just like the rest of us hence when work is present proper manners to your boss must be distributed equally "What did you feel when your grandfather fragmented your sense of right?" Milady still did not take the time to know what is the talent of her Father so I convinced the idea to her scape hence the charade of Raios' talents is a bit annoying at this point she deserves to know even if she didn't want to previously.
"Fragmented my sense of right...? huh?" Nox repeated bewildered by Milady's word choice "How did it feel when my father manipulated you." Milady made it clear for her foster son who mouthed an "Ooh okay." before letting Milady have the table again "I brought up the topic about Sting hence Nox also experienced the same manipulation when he was choking me to death in the midst of my disease. We need to figure out the odds we'll play if the halyarding of my Father occurs again..." Milady sat back down the love seat sofa beginning a discussion of action with Hibiki and Nox, the little ravenette monster promptly crawled up to her side snuggling, "Since melancholia's descent on Helium has just begun that would probably keep him busy for a little while..." Zero secretly eyed Ethan as he sneakily wrapped his arm on Milady's waist inhaling some of her aphrodisiac perfume, "The fake bitch pretending to be grandma lead me out the gardens..." flicking a bit of his talent on his limb making him mewl catching Milady's attention whilst she was in the middle of discussing with Hibiki and Nox.
"What's the matter, Ethan?" the teen in question flashed his best pleading eyes at Milady "It's cold, my arm hurts." Milady cradled the shivering seventeen-year-old teen in her lap after hearing that he was cold rubbing his limbs with her hand, Zero just gave Ethan a side-eyed glare as he was chilling on Milady's hold like a baby, Hibiki had some firewood rest more inside the furnace with the graces of his talent continuing his conversation with Milady "So this fake lured you out the garden?..." the bluette had collected a good amount of pulse earlier and it's resting on the firearm strapped to his thigh, "Yeah, she placed her hand over my face and I felt a soft electrifying but satisfying sensation of sorts spiked around my scalp and eyes..." Nox demonstrated what happened to everyone.
Ethan smirked at Milady's husband "Father's original plan when I was a toddler, was simply to collect fangs for experiments, then when I turned eight the plan expanded to that of taking down the other tribes, killing the respective heirs which did not reach its completion and collecting the resources they've built throughout the years of their individual establishment..." Zero was only able to tap his middle finger down twice the armrest. "So what's Raios' plan now? Milady?..." As Ethan stopped the gravity of his finger from tapping any further than twice with his eyes staring straight at it, Ignatius finally went back to join in the discussion sitting on the armrest of Hibiki's seat offering him the bottle she's holding but he declined the offer kindly "Father plans to hog all of RHEA for himself and attain the same talent I was born with, hence he was proud that he and mother were able to make a time mage--Me, so he thought why not attempt to have Faust alter a few people to see if it'd work..."
Milady gave detail to the plans of her tyrant father in hopes of making himself a time mage, the redhead paused from drinking grabbing a biscuit from the plate full of it. "Far as I know from what Hibiki taught us," she spoke with her mouth half full of alcohol and biscuit "There can only be one time mage per era in reasoning that time is too delicate to be handled by anyone and everyone, so for the talent to be passed on, the current wielder of that talent must first die, correct me if I'm wrong." Ignatius was listening to Hibiki's little lectures quite well it's nice "There's nothing to correct, what you've spoken out is all clear as day." Milady congratulated the redhead alcoholic for knowing and remembering such important facts, the bluette had more attempts in forcing Ethan to drop but to his annoyance, the teen raven refused to be beaten "How many time mages have been there exactly? because that part has been a complete blank in our years of education at Ephedia."
Zero put his voice in the conversation fully giving in ignoring the little ravenette teen that hugged Milady as if she were a plushie for his happiness "Now that I think about it, that part in the history books and holo records are either torn off or excluded completely." Hibiki rubbed his palms together feeling a bit cold himself as he recounted the times when he read a few books back in his teenage years, Ignatius threw some of her talent into the furnace burning it up much than before, in a regular-season this amount of heat will be similar to that of the red deserts blazing heat but during melancholia's cold song? it is still not enough to compete with it "Three amazons had used Antiquity Yore before me and in the future? maybe? there is will be another candidate to wield Hathor." I am picky when it comes to choosing my new master, but at the same time, I have no control over who gets the talent as it depends on my current wielder's wise decision. "Wait only three? Are you serious Milady? and here I was expecting that there'd be more than that, as RHEA has been here for a long period already." Hibiki pouted, resting his head on the 29-year-old amazon's hip sitting beside him.
"You clearly arent' listening to your own father," Zero began and pinched the bridge of his nose "And what exactly did you mean by another maybe candidate to wield Hathor?" Zero questioned perplexed at the unsure words of his wife "I cannot give our the details about the future, as where is the thrill in that?" Milady patted the thigh of her husband, Hibiki paid attention to what Milady had verbalized "Come on Milady, tell us." Ethan insisted "No." the knowledge upon who will be the next time mage cannot be imparted as she might be targeted because of it, the little ravenette whined like a spoiled child "Quit being a brat water boy." Ignatius scolded the teen raven "Oh please, don't pretend like you are not curious either." he smart assed her into her own contradiction "At least I don't insist on it."
She clapped back before frustratingly sucking the alcohol from the bottle, irrevocably Sting made it back into the main room as the furnace's warm cannot reach there all the way and the cold was getting to him, Sting sat down on the single sofa opposite of Hibiki hiding half of his face in his hands "You want to leave the room don't you?" Milady asked the blonde who has his eyes shifting around the room avoiding Milady's gaze "Badly." his voice almost cracked still hurt by Milady's words "Then why don't you? you know it will help." Milady suggested to him as staying in the same room with the person that rejected you is pure torture on its own "Then you can go." Milady unlocked the door for the blonde waiting for him to make a move on but he didn't "I'll be fine and thanks, but I'll stay." he sighed heavily.
"Quit lying." Milady raised a brow at him "Ultear look..." the blonde began, calling Milady by her second name, despite the fact that it has been made clear that none of them (except for Zero and Nox can only call Milady as his foster mother when the others are not present) shall call Milady by her name when they address and speak to her "You always point it out whenever some of us lie to you, but you're a liar deep down." Milady's calm expression turned to that of a crazed smirking maniac as she chuckled softly at Sting's green light "That's the point Sting, I am a walking contradiction and I do not care in the slightest. " there was a glint in Milady's eyes as she spoke it, the tiny pieces of Raios's upbringing showing on the tone of her voice.
"You've asked Nox earlier about how he felt when Raios had fragmented his sense of right?" sting changed the topic "What did you feel when it was fragmented? I know it is different for everyone, as its own style." Milady asked, intrigued upon knowing what he felt as the tyrant raven was messing with his scape like its a faucet of water that you can easily turn off and on without caring how much the bill will cost on the payment day "I felt a huge void of emptiness after he talked to me that day, you know that type of thing you feel when you are burned out the second thing I got were headaches whenever I closed my eyes--" Sting was cut off mid-sentence "And you were caged in." Milady stopped running her palms over Ethan's arms who promptly looked up to her when the gestures stoped "Milady?" he perturbed "Yes, I was caged in..." Sting trailed off kinda iffy. "Ultear...?" Zero placed a hand over Milady's shoulder "Caged in huh...how interesting."
Nox wasn't able to experience the premium delicacy of Raios' talent hence it was indirectly given to him, but to those who have been given the full dose like Milady? it could leave you demented on rare occasions, luckily for her I was there to save her from it, Zero's words of my existence as a psychologist to Milady is resonating in jest of manners. "I felt the same fragmentation when I was commanded to destroy Xeris when I...you know." Milady was unable to finish her sentence, with her smug expression almost falling to that of a dejected frown at the flash memory of Arcana Diaz dying by her own hands, Zero was the only one who noticed how Milady's lips trembled, pondering the time when I've told him that Milady was traumatized because of it "Wait, but you just said the manipulation is different for everyone, how come we had the same fragmentation?" Sting brought attention up to the info provided moments ago.
"Let me rephrase, it is different when he wants to play with you but if he wants to use you, there might be some lingering similarities which I hate because I do not want to have something in common with the other Rhiannon citizens he's been halyarding for the past years." Milady hugged Ethan as she hissed the words out of her mouth like potent poison, the little ravenette monster however enjoyed the embrace that Milady gave him "Hey, you tried to halyard us too you know, you really are his daughter." Hibiki poked fun at the serious conversation "Difference between them is that Ultear changed." the blue-haired kinou added, "Yeah right, except the change is that she's now obsessed with you, like what the fuck on RHEA is that?" Hibiki was overly dramatizing as if he was being antagonized by their matrimony.
Ignatius almost fell off the sofa's armrest due to Hibiki's theatrics, quickly grabbing a fist full of his orange locks leaving him to whine from it "Oi! Oi! Not the hair!" Once the redhead amazon has balanced herself back up, she let go of her grip on Hibiki's hair that has experienced a few loss prior to melancholia's descent from the task Queen Minea had given him and Odette "Then don't move around so much." Ignatius pulled again one last time on the orangette's locks as a warning "Yes madam alcohol!" he spouted a nickname for her in the midst of it "Eh!?" displeased with the thrown nickname she pulled on his hair with a little bit more of force "I take it back! I don't want to be bald!" Hibiki frantically pleaded in which turn the redhead loosened her grip circling back to drinking the wine she has in hand, Hibiki massaged the area on his scalp that has been pulled as if I'd magically sprout new batches of keratin.
Once they've calmed down from the banter, Milady resumed "Don't relax your selves too much just because melancholia's cold song is rolling heavily around Helium once you leave this room, since my beloved father likes preys on those who are laid back the most. He won't stop doing his hobbies once he sits an opportunity to do it." upon saying that a round of Odette's knocking came about on the door's surface "Milady, it is Odette." in which turn Milady had given her permission to enter, "Listen up kids--and Sting!" Hibiki beamed a reminder to the two that had been manipulated by Raios and to the two that haven't been victimized yet, "We're all good Milady, all we have to worry about is rotten bitch over there." Ethan pointed a finger at the redhead amazon who was minding her own business.
"Excuse I am fully capable of standing my own guard!" (Ignatius)
"Yeah right, and how'd that went for you the past months?" (Ethan)
"I strongly agree with Ethan on this one, Ignatius tends to be drunk most of the time." (Sting)
"In my defense, I was enjoying my drink." (Ignatius)
"LIES!" Ethan called her out mimicking Milady in a way of a jest
"One of these days that bottle is gonna bite you from addicted you are to it." (Nox)
"Who cares, I love my alcohol." (Ignatius)
Odette came in holding a tray that contained two kettles of steaming chocolate and one kettle of hot water, Hibiki closed the door for the greenette handmaiden since her hands were full, via initiative Odette refilled Milady's empty cup with the brown liquid once done she proceeded to open the cabinet on the other side of the room plucking a few mugs for the others to use. "No water?" the teen raven pouted in Milady's arms upon seeing that both two kettles contained chocolate, "Of course not sir, here you go." Odette picked up the third kettle that contained his desired drink "GIMME! GIMME!" the teen extended both of his upper limbs excited to take the cup in his grasps, but immediately gave a look to Odette "Why is it hot?" Odette paused from pouring Nox his cup turning her attention to the teen sitting comfortably in Milady's thighs "Oh, you don't like hot water? I am sorry sir, I just assumed that since it's freezing you'd not like it cold." the greenette handmaiden apologized to Ethan and even offered to get a brand new pitcher of cold water.
But Milady told her not to bother as it would turn into solid ice once she gets back. Milady gave Nox a knowing look to make a few ice cubes in Ethan's respective mug, once they've settled in harmony Ethan downed the entire cup in one go and demanded another from Odette and Nox "How did the search go, Odette?" Milady brought the cup near her lips blowing of the steam that emitted from it, the team ceased in discussing further their previous topic in front of Odette hence she might be targeted by Raios with the added bonus that Milady doesn't want any new handmaidens anymore "I've found a couple of few, and they are currently waiting outside of His Royal Highness study." the greenette apprised "It's splendid how you have completed the task in such short notice, unlike my...previous handmaiden." Milady commended Odette's work that made a flush of color present in her cheeks from delight, Hibiki chuckled at the memory of Odette panicking beyond repose during the task they've been sent together.
"Thank you, Milady!" she bowed down showing gratitude "Odette," Milady called her making the greenette shot back up on her proper posture as if her eyes would sparkle "Yes, Milady?" she asked excitedly "Find these respective books in the palace library, I'll resume teaching Ethan later on." Milady pulled out a piece of folded up paper from her pocket handing it over to Odette, upon hearing that Milady will be the one educating him again after a year of being in Hibiki's temporary lectures, the raven almost spilled the hot water on Milady's legs in too much anticipation as his lips erupted into that of a grin "He's eager." Ignatius whispered to the orangette sitting beside her "It's good for him since he constantly yaps to me about how he misses Milady's way of teaching." the aulorian noble replied smiling.
"I will see to it at once, and there are servants outside waiting to clean up the dishes you've all used, Milady." Odette bowed down again turning to the doors to leave in search of the books. Odette was spoiling Milady and she was intrigued by the greenette's ingenuity when it comes to doing her duty congruously "Don't endanger this one Hibiki...I like her." Milady smirked "Of course Milady, when did I ever?" he levitated a vanilla cupcake into his hand giggling. Before they knew it the invitation has come to a close and eventually they all had to return to doing their own stuff, Milady held Sting's arm by the door the height difference evident, stopping time to avoid the servants eavesdropping on their conversation"Let's agree on one thing before you leave here Sting." Milady's deep voice spoke in a low tone "Agree on what?" the blonde replied with a question "After I give birth to your daughter you'll stop pursuing me."
"Certainly...Milady."
"Good."
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