Niro planted her forehead into her palm, she sighed deeply. Hoping some kind of miracle happened to prevent this entire ordeal from happening.
A candlewick lit up her gloomy face, trying to show her a brighter future for Koroth if every disagreement between two Legions were settled with peace.
Bloodshed. It was a word she came to hate through the years. Her other hand fingered a large coin made from Mantrats, the black felt soothing to her thumb.
Something warm swelled up behind her eye, a tear. It slowly rolled down her cheek until it splattered on the wooden desk.
Thirty years without any sort of conflict, the first record she held after gaining traction and power. So many leaders and elites rested their hopes within her to guide them away from the suffering.
Yet here she was, weeping at the thought of another war. And if who those that dawned the attacker's banner be who she assumed it was, she feared for the worse.
Even in that moment of fear, she understood there was nothing she could do to stop it. The bloodshed was in their nature, they were animals with added knowledge.
She sighed, trying to recover her thoughts before completely breaking down. There was no use for it because no matter what she drafted, she knew the outcome would remain the same.
Infinus had the potential to change for the better, to lay down their differences and bring forth a new era of peace between the regions. Niro knew that, the leader seemed loving and very happy.
However there was one thing that troubled her, and it was not the enemies. Right in her own region was a brute. One bred for this kind of lifestyle.
When this brute was young, it was taught to follow a directive until the very end. No matter what that end could be. Everything else was fair game for them.
Niro drew a long breath, trying to recount how the story went. She shivered at the thought of trying to bring Uvurim to peace, that region unsettled her.
"I can't. Nothing will deter it. That thing, it was given an order," Niro struggled to speak over the knot in her throat. "It's order... that I do not know. But I know it is part of something bigger. I don't know what will happen to us when it gets what it wants."
More tears fell onto the desk, each one splatting to create a horrible noise for Niro to listen to. And she did. Her ears were filled with the sounds of her own weeping, the faint flames, and the tears.
"One day - just, maybe. When I wake up, it will be gone and I could guide my Variants freely. But for now, there's nothing I can do about it. Not even he is strong enough to deter Hitirus," she continued.
"He?" a second voice joined.
Niro instantly cleared her throat and eyes, trying to seem fine as the familiar voice got closer. He was humming with each step, trying to be gentle around her.
She felt the comfort of two loving arms encase her in a lover's embrace, shielding Niro from the world. In response, she hugged him back. This was Niro's partner.
Arexx, a former warrior. During a rally against the Light Legion, he noticed Niro's beauty. And she noticed his cold stance. Over time, Niro brought warmth to it and his heart.
"Who is this 'he?'" Arexx asked.
"Excallar, Resistant to the Unstoppable. He hides in Hymo, keeping a close eye on that thing," Niro answered.
Throughout her years, Niro took the time to thoroughly research Hitirus and those connected to him. Looking for any possible way of stopping something so relentless and near-unkillable.
All of that research brought her to Excallar and her deal with the Zegus. This deal was one she keeps true in her mind, even when Hitirus grows deprived.
"Just hides? Someone with that kind of title has to be capable of doing things none other could," Arexx said with a haste to his voice.
Niro nodded. "To Hitirus, he does not exist. Excallar is a mercenary hired by the brute's very creators with the intent of keeping him in check. Even if Excallar wanted to, he couldn't kill that thing."
"Mmm," Arexx caressed her shoulders. "But why were you so sad earlier? You're a warrior of the purest kind, it takes a lot to make you sad."
She leaned back, allowing her lover to engulf her in more of his warmth. Arexx felt concerned when she did that because it only happened once before. When the Light's forces were at their strongest.
"Infinus, they can change. Hitirus cannot. I bet I know why they are invading... because of the 'rebels.' They are not rebels at all, only misunderstood," Niro began to tear up.
Tears fell down her cheeks, landing on the wine-colored dress she wore. Arexx kissed her on the cheek, feeling the saltiness spread to him. His hands drifted down to her stomach.
"Coming across that tyrant was the worst decision I have ever made... Variants living under his order are afraid of him and hope he dies. We all do. But we cannot get it right," Niro continued.
"Short-tempered and undefeated. He is a thorn to us, and will continue until the day he dies," Arexx murmured.
Niro sighed. "I wouldn't call him undefeated. Something... I cannot tell what it was, defeated him. Whatever it was, grey hood and white mask, it cleaned the floor with him and let him go with a warning."
Arexx groaned. "Should've gone for the throat."
"It should have killed him without a warning. But ever since I witnessed that attack, I have held hope for whatever that thing was to come back and finish the job," Niro echoed.
The couple held each other with care, hoping they could push through the curse known as the Self-made Siege. Together, they prayed to the Nine that Infinus survives its arrival.
Because if they don't warn them before Hitirus gets to them, another Legion could potentially fall to his feet. Just as Conqueror nearly did in the past.