A/N NOTICE:
Greetings readers! Is anyone actually caught up to the current chapter? If so then please leave a comment! if there are some of you that are current then I'll release some more chapters with frequency.
Chapter Twenty-four
"Well, what do we have here?" Erikson grunted out, gawking at the figure calmly sitting at the table in the middle of the arena. His men came into the storm barrier practically falling over themselves. For them, this arena was like an oasis in the desert.
The voice of what seemed to be the woman spoke in the back of the minds of the invading force.
"You know, it's really a lovely day for some sunbathing, but you all are in the way. Would you mind dying for me?"
The bandits shambled about, most still thawing from the brutality of the blizzard only yards away from them behind the storm wall. Those of whom could respond frailly stumbled about on the floor, looking around, frightened and confused. Like lost geese to a mother, the bandits crawled towards Erikson, fighting the frostbite threatening to take their extremities.
Erikson himself stood like a monolith, unmoving, and though his men couldn't see it, his face was stricken with fear. Unadulterated, abject fear.
~I've heard the stories. They say that to trespass on true demon ground was akin to committing suicide, but demons aren't real. They're not supposed to be real!~
The woman idly looked over at the gaggle of humans, sipping from what was a small white teacup with a golden trim on its lip. She was truly bewitching. Her bushy eyelashes and refined features lent well to the glossiness of her skin. And her hair, something out of a tall tale told by mothers to their children. But behind the veneer of a goddess, something far more sinister watched them. Like an endless void.
Erikson tightened his grip so much he had caused the steel itself to buckle underneath the pressure. Sweat grew plentiful under his pits, making him a veritable monsoon. His and his men's deaths lingered like old friends, longing to talk after many years.
"I'll take your silence as an affirmation of my will. I appreciate it. Try to struggle as much as you can against the land."
The woman's… no the snake's voice, racked against the insides of the heads of these dead men crawling. Those who realized their situation but still had a flicker of hope took up their arms and stood behind their bastion.
"I-It's just one girl boss! I'll take em meself!"
The cannon fodder rushed forward axe overhead, screaming at the top of his lungs.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH-"
*Splat*
The man's figure had been reduced to a colorful display beneath one of the many pillars that lay around the arena, though this Pillar had arms and legs.
"A… Phantasmal Golem…!"
Erikson stupidly uttered.
His remaining men looked to him, not quite hearing what he had said. It was exceedingly rare to find creatures such as the one that had just flattened one of them out in the world. After the Great calamity thousands of years ago such beasts all but vanished. For one to be here of all places only confirmed what Erikson knew to be true.
Erikson burst out in laughter as though the sight was comedic in nature. He doubled over, holding his stomach from the sheer force of the laughter bellowing out from him.
"This… This is ridiculous."
The woman's eyes idly watched the man as she took another sip from her teacup. Of all the things here, her tea was still the warmest, at least, far warmer than the blood of Erikson's men.
More golems took shape from the remnants of the pillars in the arena, casting shadows that threatened to blackout the light from above the bandits.
Erikson continued laughing even as more of the golems had taken form.
"Well… I guess I won't have to wonder which circle of hell I'll be going to now."
The statement broke the morale of all of the fighters present. You could practically see in real-time as their eyes glazed over, giving way to the abyss.
The first golem that had crushed the rushing fodder walked forward, standing stories above Erikson.
He and his men looked up and made not a single sound as its arms came crashing down.
*Splat* *Splat* *Splat* *Splat* *Splat* *Splat* *Splat* *Splat* *Splat* *Splat* *Splat* *Splat*
*Splat* *Splat* *Splat* *Splat* *Splat* *Splat* *Splat* *Splat* *Splat* *Splat* *Splat* *Splat*
*Splat* *Splat* *Splat* *Splat* *Splat* *Splat*
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Inside the office of the King of Fairies, Tryamon sat upon the throne looking out of a large circular window, pinching her chin in between her index and ring fingers.
"What's got you looking so Pensive Trya?" Oberon said, peering around his own seat to look at her. She spared him a glance from her eyes before turning back to look out into the scene once again.
"It seems that the humans have forgotten the fear that kept them docile for so long. Recently a band of the wretches trespassed on one of the training grounds for freshly released Fairies."
Oberon hopped up on the arm of the chair sitting crisscrossed. He dipped his head down until his face was a mere inch away from hers, his long silver hair hanging down on her. Like a cat, she cringed as he invaded her personal space.
"What is wrong with you?" She asked as she leaned on the other arm, getting herself as far away from Oberon as she could whilst still sitting in her chair.
"Plenty of things! Would you like to hear about them?"
Tryamon pushed his face away with her hand as he continued to dip towards her.
"No! I already know too much about you. Anyway, aren't you worried? The humans may collectively do something stupid again. Every single time they've done so it's made the world the manifestation of all hells."
Oberon stubbornly pressed forward still, licking the palm of her hand in an effort to get her to relent. Tryamon pulled her hand back, instead kicking Oberon off the arm of the chair. He nimbly landed on the ground, brushing himself off.
~Whoa! Good thing I'm wearing my favorite star pajamas and not anything considered a cultural treasure!~
"Well, it's like this you see. I only care about our people. Simple and easy. If the humans become a problem that we have to deal with then I'll handle it as I have done in the past. Perhaps the thing that has occupied my mind the most is your uncharacteristic investment in matters you used to avoid as a rule. You've always been one to shirk tradition and do as you please, so why are you now choosing to turn your eyes to the world above?"
"It's just because of the little one."
"Suzuka?"
"Yes. She cannot stay in the Abyss forever nor does she want to."
Oberon grinned, slapping her shoulder.
"Oh come on now. Just admit it. You feel what is often understood to be the bonds of a parent! Oh, this is rich!"
Oberon burst out into laughter while Tryamon grew flustered.
"That is NOT it! The time we've spent together was nothing more than a moment in our history! How could such a small time foster those feelings!"
Oberon could hardly stop laughing in order to get out his next utterance.
"HAHA, How should I know? You're the one who would know best!"
"Raagh! You're insufferable! I don't even know why I bothered coming up here to talk to you."
"It's because you still lov- "
*Smack!*
"Ooooowwww….!"
Tryamon doubled over, holding her wounded hand against her stomach.
~Why the hell is his head so damn hard…!~
Oberon's obnoxious laughter intensified tenfold as he struggled to keep himself upright.
"That's what you get for thinking you could just casually abuse me like you used to! My hardness had increased to levels that would leave you quaking for weeks longer than I used to!"
Tryamon's eyes shot over something fierce.
"Don't ever say something like that in front of me again!"
Oberon held his hands up in surrender.
"Okay okay I'll stop teasing, but you know I'm right though."
"SHUT. UP!"
Oberon brought his fingers to his lips, zipping them shut. The two of them lingered in each other's company in complete silence aside from a few pained grunts Tryamon let out.
"I'm going," Tryamon said so silently that it could be mistaken for a whisper. Still, Oberon heard her and stood aside as she walked past him and out of the throne room.
~Wow. Her temper really hasn't changed all that much now has it. Still, she should be more honest with herself. Oh Well. Guess I'll head back to the bedroom before Titania realizes that I've left.~