I walked beside Nirani down the massive steps of the gateway platform. She had several magic and ranged golems hovering nearby.
As soon as we reached the bottom, I saw a huge crowd of people surrounding us. They were pointing and shouting at Nirani in awe. Many of them cheered.
"Nirani! Look over here!"
"She's gorgeous!"
"Our protector!"
"So amazing!!!"
I rolled my eyes. I was used to that kind of treatment on Ignitus, but it had been a while since any of it was directed at me, luckily. I decided to just stand by as Nirani waved to her fans.
"Hello, everyone! I'm so glad to see you all! As much as I'd love to stay and talk, I have important business to take care of at Unity Castle. Won't you please let us pass?" She said hopefully.
They unanimously agreed and parted in front of us. Nirani waved and said her thanks as we continued down the road.
The street in front of me went straight down to the castle. It looked like it would only be a thirty-minute walk or so.
All around, I saw buildings with images flashing on the screens hanging from them.
Images of Nirani doing various things.
Posing for advertisements, modeling clothes, singing and dancing with a group of other girls, acting in movies, etcetera. She had done it all.
And as we continued walking, she would wave to her adoring fans on the sides of the road and say asinine things like: 'you can all count on me!' and 'don't worry, I'll protect everyone!'.
It made me sick just listening to it. The positivity and wholesome nature of her words made me begin to crave violence again.
Eventually, she turned to me and frowned.
"Is everything alright, Master? You seem troubled..." She said.
"You have a lot going on here..." I said.
"I know... It's so dreadfully boring and irritating having to say all of these silly things and act a certain way. I just want some excitement..." She said quietly.
"Acting isn't exciting?"
"Maybe the first few times it is, but after a while, it just gets old... Especially when you've done it for hundreds and hundreds of years... Ah...I hate this realm and everyone in it..."
Severe boredom led you to that...?
Another group of people arrived and began taking pictures of Nirani.
Instantly, she became bubbly and cheerful again. Smiling even before her picture was taken.
"Lady Nirani! Look over here! Gah...I'm in love!" One photographer said.
"Who is that guy? Is he your boyfriend?" Another said.
"Oh, settle down, you! This is Mizik Iratus, the captain of the ship hovering above the platform. He is here to help us in any way he can. I just thought it would be a good idea to introduce him to our wonderful governors!" Nirani said.
"She's so sweet... So pure!" One man said.
"She can even make an invader an ally! There's no end to her power and love!" Another said.
I wanted to laugh so badly that it almost hurt.
They actually believed she was a pure and kind woman who loved everyone and always put others first.
The reality was hilariously false. Nirani was a deranged pervert that hated her realm and its people. She had become so bored with them that she actively searched for an excuse to leave.
Regardless, they parted and we kept moving.
Eventually, we reached the castle gates and Nirani explained that I was an ally to the Peace realm. We entered the castle and walked through the halls.
It was somewhat reminiscent of Castle Albatross back in Avernia, except that it was much larger. It was made with a similar white stone, but seemed more sturdy and advanced.
There were lavish red carpets that lined the hallway floors, suits of silver and magenta armor, beautiful paintings, and even plants I had never seen before. All of it was breathtaking.
Soon, we entered a vacant part of the castle and Nirani stopped. Then she turned to me.
"By the way, we need to speak before we continue. Don't worry about the soldiers your second wife killed. The lives of the people in this realm are unimportant to me. I can say they were collateral damage from Aldaril or something," Nirani said.
"You love blaming Aldaril, don't you? Haven't you done enough to him?"
"I have... I deeply regret my actions. I basically ruined his life and have no means of atoning..." She said sadly.
"If you work hard, maybe he'll forgive you. Still, I wouldn't hold out too much hope."
"Thank you, Master. I'll do my best regardless. Now then, before we go any further, is Kestel the only one you're after?" Nirani said.
"He is. Although I'll gladly take any of you Avatars that want to join up."
"Well...you already have me. I'll gladly abandon this boring world for some excitement. There is a catch, however..."
"And that is?"
"You probably know this, but we're significantly weaker without the Elder Core to keep us strengthened. If you want us to help you at our full power, we need the Elder Core to be nearby."
"Right...and this thing is located where, again?"
"I cannot say. I only know it lies in the central realm. Sadly, no Avatar has ever been there. We are not permitted to set foot in the central realm," Nirani said with a frown.
"And why is that?"
"I don't know... That's just the rule. So I would be careful if I were you. If you intend to take the Elder Core, you'll likely encounter some resistance... And perhaps, that resistance may even be stronger than the Avarars themselves..."
"I'll keep that in mind. Anyway, we came here to meet your parents, right? How are they even alive? You're probably thousands of years old or something ridiculous like that, right?" I said.
"Ahn...to have even my age brought into question... Like being called an old hag! So insulting...amazing! Ahem...usually the parents of an Avatar rule the realm. In this case, my mother is the high-priestess. She communes with the goddess of Peace and is responsible for the separation and placement of the Eye of Peace. My father rules the realm as its King and deals with governing matters. They are immortal due to the Elder Covenant. That the realm's leader and high priest or priestess retain immortality as their reward for complying in their role. I am the protector of this realm. I am afforded eternal life because of the Eye of Peace, itself."
"I see. What happens if I remove you from Tanavol?"
"You force me to commit the same sin as Aldaril, then. My punishment is the loss of most of my power. If I return, I will be stripped of my Avatar Eye and my soul will be destroyed. But you need not worry, Master. You plan to take the Elder Core and I wish never to return here. I will go with you on your adventure."
"I'm assuming they can track you, right?"
"No. They can sense the power of my Eye and whether or not I still draw breath. But they have no way of knowing my exact location. They will likely brand you as a criminal for supposedly stealing me away, but I sense that won't bother you in the slightest. Although...if it does, you may punish me to your hearts content. You can put me in all sorts of vile and repulsive situations! I accept my fate as your personal doll for anything you desire-"
I held up a hand to silence her.
By the gods, this was getting weird already. It was what I had come to expect of Nirani, but she was also starting to pant like a dog.
I still wanted to get this over with and return to the ship. I didn't feel like indulging her weird fantasies.
"Let's go meet your parents and get moving to the Life realm. We have a job to do and as far as I know, we don't have an infinite amount of time to do it. Eris is probably already after me, anyway," I said.
"Ahn...my advances were ignored... So amazing..."
"Can you stop being a freak for five minutes?" I said.
Nirani moaned and squirmed in place at my words.
If she loves being insulted...what if I complement her?
"Ugh...you're very pretty, Nirani. I would love to date you if given the chance," I said.
It was a simple test...but...
She stopped immediately and frowned.
"Now why would you go and say a horrible thing like that!? I hear that nonsense every single day of my life! Gah...I was so close, too..."
"It was a test. And it seems to have worked. Can we go now?"
"Oh...my emotions are being played with now...? Ahn...so...AMAZING!!!"
"Please make it stop..." I said quietly.
* * *
We entered the throne room and found the King and high priestess sitting on two thrones.
We approached and Nirani kneeled in front of them.
I remained standing. A King did not kneel to anyone and I was no exception.
I retained efforts to appear as regal as possible.
The two on the thrones looked curiously at me.
"Who are you that you would disrespect us in our own realm?" The King said.
"I am King Mizik Iratus, the Destroyer of worlds. I have come to Tanavol in order to exterminate a dark substance plaguing your world. I have also come seeking the assistance of the Avatar of Creation in order to aid us in slaying the source of the infestation," I said.
Nirani stood up and smiled.
"Mother, Father, I have determined this man to be worthy of our assistance. I will be going with him to the Life realm for the purpose of locating the missing Avatar of Creation," she said.
"I disapprove. We need you here in this difficult time, Nirani. I won't allow-"
"Oh, Mother...you're so silly! I wasn't asking. Neither of you have the power to stop me and you know that. Even you, Mother. The goddess of Peace has vacated the realm due to the presence of Corruption. You have no power over me anymore. I will go where I please until this mess is cleaned up. I hope you understand."
I was surprised that she was so quick to shut them down. And what happened next was equally shocking.
"Guards! Arrest that man! Put him in chains!" The King shouted.
Several knights approached with their weapons drawn and Nirani placed her hand over her eye.
A small shard of power crystalized in her hand.
"I call upon you...Silver Peacekeeper!"
The shard grew into a handle...then a sword. Finally, the sword split down the middle and the handle curved to form the grip of a rifle.
The weapon she now held in her hand looked like a silver sword with a cannon in the center.
As soon as the weapon appeared, every soldier in the room dropped their weapons.
"I will not tolerate violence in my presence. All of you should know that by now," Nirani said.
"Nirani...you are making a grave mistake. This is treason!" The King said.
"Treason? For using my power to help the greater good? I think not. Perhaps your refusal to have me do anything other than dance around on stage and sing like a bird is the real treason. I will go with Mizik now. When I return, you will understand my actions. Goodbye, mother and father."
Nirani turned and began walk in away.
I regarded the King and high priestess with zero interest and did the same.
After we left the throne room, Nirani took us in a different direction...
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"Haaaa...that felt wonderful! And we're going to my room. I need to collect my things because I won't be returning. Ever."
"Fair enough..." I said.
Eventually, we reached a large room several floors up and Nirani shut the doors behind us.
The room wasn't anything I hadn't seen before. It was luxurious and beautiful. The carpets had complex, ornate designs and several paintings of Nirani hung on the walls. Her bed looked...much more comfortable than mine.
Actually, this entire room was far more extravagant than the Cursebreaker or even the castles in Albatross or Elysium.
A goddess lived here. Someone so far above the common people that even the gods would have trouble approaching her.
I stood by and watched as Nirani went through her things and began packing a suitcase full of clothes and cosmetics.
After a few minutes, she sighed.
"Ugh...if only I could take everything... I won't trouble Master to hold my things, but I can't afford to make multiple trips... Ah...where will I put everything...?" She said.
I approached her and tapped her shoulder.
"Maybe I can help?" I said.
"I would never presume to ask you for something so trivial, Master..." She said.
I rolled my eyes and tapped the area above her heart. I felt my magic being redirected to her eye and tapped her forehead afterward.
"Ahn...what are you doing, Master...?"
"Giving you a gift," I said.
I imbued her with status magic. I made sure to give her an extra large inventory as well.
"There...now you can store things in your inventory. This is status magic. A gift that will serve as a badge of office on the Cursebreaker. I'll also take this opportunity to formally welcome you to our crew."
"A...g-gift...? From...M-master...? Ahn..." Nirani said.
"Don't worry about it. Everyone on the ship has status magic, so-"
Nirani grabbed my shoulders and pushed me down in her bed. Her face had turned deep red and she was breathing like a dog in heat.
"Nirani!!! What the hell are you-"
She leaned over and kissed me.
"P-please...let me give you a gift in return, Master..." She said quietly as she pulled away.
I didn't typically allow women I had only just met to do this sort of thing...but I considered making an exception for Nirani.
She was almost just as beautiful as my first and second wives.
And since she would likely be another concubine...I decided to allow it.
With that in mind, I would make her unable to live without me. I placed my hand on Nirani's forehead after that and blasted her mind with sensory magic.