***Gaius' garden***
"So, how is the condition of the Human Saint?"
"Still not good, milord," Seirna answered, never daring to lift her head to look at the former god, Gaius, eye to eye. "I constantly worry that she will fall under her mother's influence someday, as long as nothing is done to her."
Gaius chuckled, "But you are doing something, if I'm not mistaken."
"Of course, milord, that is a given. You entrusted Chersea and the four realms to me, after all," the Saint of the Flame then added, "But, we need your guidance. I don't know for how long my talismans will last. And, knowing that accursed creature of the Void, she must be working on something to counter me."
The former god stood up and gave Seirna a pat on her shoulder. "I commend you for your tireless efforts to protect my favored people. Nevertheless, I must ask you to hold out for a little longer; my plans are nearing its fruition, but it isn't easy. I have to convince a lot of people to agree to my vision, and follow my ideas. Can you do that for me, Seirna?"
"You don't have to ask, milord! I'm your faithful servant."
"Good. I appreciate that."
Silence. The former god returned to his laptop and continued typing. His saint, however, remained on her spot. Deep inside, Seirna wondered on the actions of her master. It looked like he was not aware of what's going on…
"What's keeping you, Seirna? Do you have any other concerns?"
"None that is pressing, milord," she answered, "However, if I may ask you on the matter with the otherworlder…"
"What about Kuro?"
"He has already met his old student, Alexa."
Gaius paused for a bit, seemed to ponder on what he had just learned. But then, he asked, "What's the problem with that?"
"Aren't you alarmed about it, milord? Greg Santos is the teacher who influenced Alexa Cassandra David, after all. And because of him and his principles, she rebelled against you."
"I admit, before I get to know him, I was afraid. The greatest and mightiest of heroes that I summoned looked up to him," the former god laughed. "Oh…I remember how I shivered back then, just before Alexa stabbed me with her sword, and made me mortal once again. But getting to know the man behind the name is something else; Greg Santos is a weakling. He always tries his best to save everyone, yet ends up losing more than he has bargained for. The man's a loser, and this situation is never different from his past."
"But the god-powers…he has those."
"The god-powers? Let him collect those from the saints. I have no issues of allowing others to borrow what is rightfully mine."
The Saint of the Flame was silent. While she hated the man from Alexa's world, she didn't like how her master sees him. True enough, Greg Santos was unremarkable; always prodded by his ideals, and tries his best to be a 'good person'. If anything, for Seirna, he could pass off as a boring human, who—in all his life—was constantly influenced by how others see him.
However, Greg Santos was more than what her first impression of him. Of particular note was when she was trying to convince him to return to Chersea. The otherworlder's desire to help the Lady Rubinforth was genuine, yet he was also determined to protect the demon children—his students—from the horrors of war. He was only trying to hide his true sentiments by connecting the matter with the Human Saint to the situation of the scholars.
In his heart, Seirna could see the otherworlder's complaints. Like a normal person, he was tired of getting himself involved in dangerous situations. If he had his options, he would gladly choose the life of an inconspicuous man, who would be forgotten the moment he dies…save for those who were closest to him. Nevertheless, he suppressed those thoughts.
For Greg Santos, now isn't the time to think of himself. Others might end up dead, especially the demon children…
"…"
And what's even more strange is that, it isn't even required of him! Why is he worried about them, the traditional enemies of humanity even in his world? The burden of his conscience? The way he was raised by his family?
For someone who grew up in a land where demons were feared and hated, the otherworlder was willing to go to great lengths just to fulfill his promises to those who were not even his people! In her entire existence as a saint, Seirna knew only a few individuals who were like that…
And they are called heroes. Those who rose to confront the evils that ran rampant in their time, even if it wasn't asked of them.
"…"
The Saint of the Flame never noticed that she was smiling. She couldn't believe that, after all this time, she might be fighting against the wrong person. Alexa might have a point in her admiration of her old teacher.
For, even though she hates to admit it, she is also starting to admire the otherworlder's resolve…
"…"
Greg Santos is never weak…he may be soft, but no one can deny that he is a formidable man, faithful to his friends and principles.
"Seirna, what are you thinking?" Gaius' voice returned Seirna's consciousness to her current self. "You keep on silently smiling there as if remembering something."
"M-Milord?"
"I'm asking about your thoughts; you suddenly fell silent and smiled."
"M-My apologies, milord," the Saint of the Flame shook her head. "Just some…err, pleasant ideas about the otherworlder."
"Pleasant ideas? Are you being sarcastic? Well, I understand that you abhor that man ever since he gave you that ugly scar on your neck," the former god returned to his seat, and typed away. "However, Kuro is useful to me. I appreciate it if you will lay your hands off him, even when you have the chance to kill the man."
"I will remember your words," Seirna bowed and left his presence, somehow relieved that her master wanted to keep the otherworlder alive.
----------
***Castle Darkmoor***
It's been several days since the Lord Haya returned and deposed his sister, Princess Noir, as the head of the House Usarved and effectively, as the demon lord of the all Cherflammen. However, the entire land was in turmoil, so he wasn't able to secure the fealty of the other major demon clans just yet.
And that was what the Usarved princess was working on…or at least, trying to. Though she was outwitted by her brother through the use of mind control, she would not let it happen again. During her idle time—and she had a lot—she worked on a magic circle that could nullify the powers of her brother. Nevertheless, Princess Noir had to work in secret; if the Lord Haya learned of that, her chance to save herself would fall even slimmer.
"…"
In any case, her next priority was how to get herself out of Castle Darkmoor. After the Lord Haya's 'bloodless' victory over the Usarved Household Guards' Retinue, he strengthened his grip on the demon throne by sending those demon solders away (reassigning them to other places), and installed his own 'Elf Guards' Companions' as his elite guards. The only ones permitted to keep their jobs were the butler, George Venelli, and the maids, led by Angelli. The Lord Haya knew where their loyalties lie, and he won't let them ask for outside help in freeing their mistress.
As for the Usarved princess, she was chained to her bed, though her restraints allowed her to stand and walk a few distances away. Her brother also treated her well, though she was forbidden to wander around the castle without his permission.
"…"
George and the rest of the servants continued performing their duties to Princess Noir as usual, though this time, a pair of elf warriors would always accompany them inside their mistress' room. The entry of food and drinks were regulated, and even the books—often requested by the Usarved princess to relieve her boredom—were thoroughly inspected for hidden messages.
Because of those measures, Princess Noir was out of concrete ideas on how to escape. The chains at her feet suppressed her magic abilities. Her only hope of rescue lay on Shevaun; if the chamberlain would notice her mistress' unusual 'silence' (they agreed to write and update each other on their activities), then Shevaun would surely do something to save her.
Though, it will take weeks. Noir has already sent a letter before her brother appeared. Until then, she has to hold on to her sanity…
"!!!"
Princess Noir's train of thoughts was interrupted when she heard someone knock. Well, it's not that she could open the door herself; the knocking meant that the person behind the door was one of servants.
The elves treat her with contempt; they disregard her privacy all the time.
After making sure that her mistress knew of her presence, the maid let herself in. And as usual, a pair of armed elves entered the room with her.
"Is there anything you need from me, Angelli," Princess Noir asked, taking note that it was the middle of long sleep. Visits like that must be of utmost importance.
"Milady, m-my…my apologies for waking you up," the servant bowed.
"No, it's alright," she reassured her by smiling, "I can't sleep as well."
"I…I was s-sent here by the Lord Haya," for some reason, there was a hint of worry on Angelli's face. "He's asking for your presence in his chamber."
"Why don't he come to me himself?" Princess Noir countered. "I can't possibly walk far from my room with my feet chained into my bed, would I?"
"Err…uhm, m-milady…" the maid was shivering, "the Lord Haya sent the keys to your chains."
"Good," she stood up and fixed the wrinkles of her clothes. "Lead me to him."
However, Angelli's shaking never stopped. She also kept on glancing at the elves, who remained in their spots like statues.
"Angelli," Princess Noir noticed her strange behavior, "what's wrong?"
"M-Milady…" the servant's face looked as if she's about to cry, "…m-my apologies! Y-Your brother…he w-wants to h-have you take a bath!"
Now the Usarved princess realized what was happening, and why Angelli was behaving like that. As a noble, she was always attended by her servants whenever she took a bath. However, with her brother's rules that his elf guards observe them whenever they do their duties…
For short, they'll watch her take a bath…his way of humiliating her.
"…"
And she knew the Lord Haya. If his whims were not followed, Angelli would end in a worst situation.
"…"
Taking a deep breath, Princess Noir took hold of her servant's hand, and said, "Please ask George to bring my bathtub here, thank you."
----------
Although Princess Noir never showed it, she swore to herself to make the elves pay for the humiliation she suffered. True to their orders, the elves never left the room, all the while Angelli helped her mistress clean herself. Of course, their eyes never went elsewhere; they saw the noble lady in all her naked splendor. The maid could only look at Princess Noir with pity and indignation in her eyes; she knew that she was enduring all of these for her servant's sake.
"…"
When Princess Noir was finished, Angelli—acting on the Lord Haya's orders—put on fragrant oils on her mistress' body. Then she unlocked the chains of her feet. The elves immediately took hold of the restraints, and told the noble lady to go to their master.
"Wait, I need to put on my clothes, of course!" the Usarved princess protested.
"That won't be necessary," one of the elves answered, complete with a lustful grin. "Our master wishes that you come to him, without clothes."
"What?" her eyes fell on Angelli, who stood on the sides, silently crying. Realizing that it was the Lord Haya's plan after all, and that she could do nothing about her situation, Princess Noir stopped her resistance and held her head high. "Alright," she spoke with dignity, "Bring me to him."
----------
Princess Noir kept her head high all the while she was led to her brother's room, stark naked and chained like a slave. The elf warriors posted on every corner of the castle never took their eyes off her, for the Usarved princess was beautiful. Angelli, for her part, was the one who couldn't keep her emotions from showing. Tears fell from her eyes as the princess endured humiliation.
Upon reaching the doors of the Lord Haya's chamber, Princess Noir told her servant, "You may now leave me."
Angelli, however, stood her ground, "At least, let me be with you until you enter, milady."
Her mistress smiled, "It's fine. As of now, I'm a slave to my brother, and I can't do anything about it. Please leave now, sparing yourself of my pathetic sight."
At that moment, Angelli burst crying. She held her mistress in a tight embrace, never intending to let her go, until the elf warriors forcibly separated them. Though she was asked by Princess Noir, the maid stayed until the second her mistress disappeared inside the Lord Haya's room.
"…"
Without a minute to waste, Angelli hurried off to the servants' quarters, where George and the other servants waited for her.
"I swear, by the saint's name," the maid stomped her feet, "I will kill the Lord Haya with my own hands, and lavish at his slow death!"
"Hush now, child!" George rebuked her. "Those long-ears outside might hear you!"
"I don't give a care anymore! I'll fight them with my magic, and with my bare hands if I have to!" she blurted out. "I can't accept how that accursed demon treated our mistress!"
"I understand your sentiments, Angelli," the butler talked in whispers. "However, as of now, we can't do anything about it. And the dead can't possibly be useful, won't you agree?"
"Then kill me! That's better than watching milady's suffering!"
George softly smiled and gave the maid a pat on the head, trying to calm her down. For a while, and in low voices, he just let Angelli rant her heart out, until the latter got tired of crying and complaining.
"Are you fine now?" the butler asked.
"How can I be fine, George? Our mistress…you know how much the Lord Haya lusted after her!"
"I know. That's why we're not staying silent. And don't die, either; I need you for something."
Another maid, Leiver, joined in their conversation, "Sir George, you have a plan in mind?"
"Shh! Not so loud," George gestured for them to lower their voices. "Of course. I served four Usarved masters in my lifetime, and I saw this castle grew from a rudimentary fortification to a splendid palace it is today. As such, I know the secret paths of this place that even the Lord Haya and Her Highness the Princess Noir are unaware of!"
"Damn it, George!" Angelli quipped. "You should've tell us sooner, so we could've sent someone to Lady Shevaun at the Conclave!"
"You have to understand, I have to move carefully, or everything will go to bust. See, I observed our enemies first, before I hatched my plans," the butler defended his actions. "We can't simply let someone escape to the Conclave. You know that the Lord Haya cast a mind-control spell all over the castle that activates once the hours of the long sleep is over. And during the long sleep, all the elves are awake and on guard duty."
"So, if you're telling us that, then it means you already formed a counter for those obstacles, right?"
"Yes, my observations of the behavior of the elf warriors has paid off," George confirmed. "Listen, this plan will only work if the Lord Haya isn't walking around the castle. If, by pure coincidence, he goes out of his room, then we'll have to cancel the breakout."
"Understood. So what's the plan?"
"After the hour of long sleep, some of the elf warriors would go to rest, effectively halving the guards around the castle. However, the Lord Haya's mind-control spell is up along the corridors and the courtyard, and we can't possibly move without getting noticed, or influenced."
"Yeah, about that…"
"But, don't worry, Leiver and Angelli," the butler fished something out of his pocket. It was a pair of medallions. "These are amulets developed by our army to fend off the succubi and incubi seduction powers. Unfortunately, a great number of these were sent to the Conclave before, where the students and part of our forces resisted and deposed the Lord Emile Biorno. We didn't expect that the danger—the return of Lord Haya—is closer to home, and that he has developed his skill in manipulating people. These are my personal amulets, see?"
"Oh…"
"It's pretty effective in keeping my expenses in succubi brothels low, see?"
"We don't care about that, George. We need the plans now."
"Right. Anyway, we can't implement the plan during these sleeping hours, for the security is tighter than before. So, we'll execute it when everyone else least expect it," George reached out under his bed and took out a paper with a sketch of the castle's library. "On the third bookshelf, second level, there is a fake book with a key hidden. We get that out of that place, and bring it to the pantry. A secret hatch under the coals of the furnace can be opened by that key, and that led to the city's sewage system, and into freedom."
"The…sewage?" There was disgust written all over Angelli's face when she learned that.
"If you got any other brilliant ideas to escape this place, Angelli, then better say it," George told her. "Otherwise, our time is running out and we'll have to take what's in front of us."
"I-I got none…" she conceded. "We'll have to use your plan."
"Who's going? We only got two talismans available. And how can we go past the elves in the library?" Leiver raised those points. "Their eyes can notice even the slightest change in our clothes!"
"I'll create a diversion," George offered. "As for ones to go, you and Angelli will."
"But…"
"I'm old, Leiver, and I can't run in this condition anymore," the butler admitted. "Best I can do is to create a ruckus that will distract the elves, so you two can escape and ask help from Lady Shevaun."
"I hope you know what you're getting into," Angelli commented. "If the Lord Haya learns of your plans, you'll be executed."
"It's fine, child!" the butler smiled. "I told you, I already served four Usarved masters. Honestly, I was thinking of retiring after Her Highness returns from the Conclave. However, with the current situation, think of my death as an early retirement; and I won't pass this opportunity to offer my life to a kind mistress like the Princess Noir."
----------
***The private chamber of the Lord Haya***
The cold wind of the desert gently touched Princess Noir's skin as she stood in front of her brother, the Lord Haya. He was on his bed, his paralyzed legs kept him sitting. However, the disability didn't prevent him from scrutinizing every part of his younger sister's body. Of course, in a vain effort to keep what's left of her dignity, Noir covered her 'most intimate' places.
Nevertheless, the new demon lord asked, "What are you so embarrassed about your beautiful form, my dear sister? You are a member of the noble demon race' you should be proud of your body!"
"Let me remind you that while I never rejected my demon blood, I'm also human," Princess Noir countered. "And I'm not ashamed of my body; I just hate to show it to you, Haya!"
The new Usarved lord didn't take her words well. While he kept a poker face, he chanted a flight spell and drew near her. Then, without warning, he gave her a slap, before grabbing Noir's face in a vice-like grip.
"You are a fine demon lady," he insisted. "And you are mine, my dear sister. I won't let you go, so you better watch your mouth whenever you address me, the new demon lord, and your dearest brother."
Princess Noir said nothing, and the elves—who stood on her sides—held her arms, so she couldn't defend herself from the Lord Haya's abuse. However, she showed her defiance to him by glaring back, at which, his brother was amused.
"Ah, really…when those deep crimson eyes look at me, I can't help but be reminded of the human blood in you," the Lord Haya gently caressed her cheeks he slapped a moment ago. "It is as what they say; truly, humans grow beautiful as they age, just like the finest of wines."
"I'm more than a commodity!" Noir protested. "Though I'm a lady, I led this realm to peace—even if it's temporary, while you and your cohorts kill and abuse people!"
Another slap brought the Usarved princess to reality. The Lord Haya, though with a disability, had free rein to dominate her. And she couldn't do anything to reverse her fortunes.
"You're really like your mother," the Lord Haya commented. "Fierce, defiant, doesn't understand her situation. I can still remember her screams, her angry cries for help, as father—"
"Stop it," Noir blurted out.
Nevertheless, he continued, "I can always take everything from you if I wished for it." He touched her in the most private places in her body to show his resolve.
"Is that all you can do?" she asked, chuckling. "You may have the power to control the minds of others, or the might to crush those who stand in your way, but I will never bow, nor give my heart to you."
Silence aired between the Usarved siblings for a few moments. The Lord Haya was taken aback by his sister's determined defiance, but like her, he was not willing to back down. He knew that he could do as he please, and so, he grabbed her by the hair and flung her down his bed. His elf warriors joined him in restraining her, and Princess Noir couldn't physically fight back.
"You're so evil, Noir…" he said as he caressed her, "Even when as when you exiled me to Chersea, I touched no one. These hands are only for you, and I always looked forward doing this…even when we were young. And yet, you've been unfaithful to me, your brother! While I longed for you, you're forming connections with a despicable human!"
"You don't know that man, Haya! He's definitely way better than you! And whoever my heart wants to connect with is my problem, so don't talk like you own me!"
"No, no! You are mine, Noir!" the Lord Haya's gentle caresses slowly grew violent, and he whispered to her, "I can give up everything else, but you, your body, and your spirit is mine alone!"
"Y-You…" Noir tried her best to keep her sanity, "…you're insane, Haya! You surely take up after our father!"
"I am different from him," he bellowed, and bit her in the strange places. "If that accursed demon changed partners as if they are clothes, my heart remains faithful to you!"
"So those other ladies you kidnapped with his help don't count?" she was sarcastic, as she tried keeping her pain from seeping out.
"No, no, no, no! Those human females…they are whores! They only worth as our—demons—playthings! They only deserve such treatment—l
The Usarved princes had enough. Out of spite for her brother, she spat in his face.
Of course, the Lord Haya was dumbfounded by the gesture, and he stopped what he was doing for a few seconds. But when he came to his senses, he pushed Noir flat on the bed once again, declaring, "Such a feisty little sister I have! Your disrespect for me is not without consequences. I swear I will do my best to break your spirit; my guards will assist me. I want to hear more of your sweet moans and desperate screams, my dearest Noir."